Illustrated yokai folktales

Iwana-bōzu

岩魚坊主

Yokai

In the depths of Akakawa village, where the mist-shrouded mountains cradled the river's gentle waters, there lived an ol...

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Ittan-momen

一反木綿

Yokai

In those long-ago days when the cherry blossoms first bloomed on the hills of Kagoshima's southern shores, the people li...

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Itsumaden

いつまでん

Yokai

In the shadow of Mount Fuji, where the mist curled like a lonely mourner, the city trembled beneath its feet. The once-v...

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Isonade

磯撫

Yokai

In the moonlit bay of Akashi, where the pines leaned out over the water like sentinels, there lived a fisherman named Ka...

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Ippon-datara

一本だたら

Yokai

In the mountains of Wakayama, where the trees grew twisted and the snowdrifts hid ancient secrets, there lived a lone tr...

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Inugami

犬神

Animal Spirit

In a village nestled between the mist-shrouded hills of Shikoku, where the wind whispers secrets to the trees, there liv...

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Ikuchi

イクチ

Yokai

In the somnolent hours before dawn, when the sea's darkness was illuminated only by the faint luster of bioluminescent j...

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Ikiryō

生霊

Spirit

In the moonlit streets of our village, where cherry blossoms bloomed in every corner, a young woman named Emiko dwelled....

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Ikazuchi-no-Kami

雷の神

God

In the village of Akakawa, nestled between two great mountains, the farmers were beset by an unending drought. The rice...

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Ichimoku-nyūdō

一目入道

Yokai

In the depths of winter, when the snowflakes danced in the darkness and the mountain paths were shrouded in mist, a lone...

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Ibaraki-dōji

茨木童子

Yokai

In the depths of autumn, when the mist-shrouded mountains of Arashiyama seemed to whisper secrets to the wind, I chanced...

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Hōkō

彭侯

Yokai

In the depths of Aki Province, where the autumn leaves rustled like golden whispers and the misty veil of dawn clung to...

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Hō-ō

鳳凰

Mythical Creature

In the misty dawn of a long-forgotten era, when cherry blossoms bloomed in every corner of the land and the air was aliv...

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Hyōtan-kozō

瓢箪小僧

Yokai

In the sleepy village of Akakawa, where the mountain mist veiled the valleys below, there lived an elderly woodcarver na...

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Hyōsube

兵主部

Kappa

In a small village nestled between two great rivers, there lived an innkeeper named Kaito. His family had run the humble...

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Hyakume

百目

Yokai

In the depths of autumn, when mist shrouded the mountains and leaves rustled in the stillness, there lived an old yamabu...

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Hyakki Yakō

百鬼夜行

Yokai

In the twilight hours when shadows grew long and darkness was yet to claim the world, a lone traveler made his way throu...

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Hotoke

仏

Spirit

In the village nestled between two great rivers, there lived an elderly woman named Okuni. She was known for her kindnes...

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Hone-onna

骨女

Yokai

In the village of Akakawa, where cherry blossoms bloomed in every season and moonlight glistened on rice paddies, there...

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Hoji

霍之

Yokai

In the depths of autumn, when the maple leaves whispered secrets to the wind, a young weaver named Emiko wandered into t...

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Hitotsume-kozō

一つ目小僧

Yokai

In the depths of autumn, when the wind whispers secrets to the trees and the moon casts an eerie glow on the streets, a...

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Hitodama

人魂

Yokai

In the small village of Kamakura, where the misty dawn kissed the mountains, there lived an elderly woman named Kikuno....

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Hihi

狒々

Yokai

In the mist-shrouded mountains of old, where wild beasts roamed and trees creaked with an otherworldly voice, there live...

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Hiderigami

日照り神

Yokai

In a small village nestled between two great mountains, the rice fields lay parched and barren. The sun beat down relent...

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