Japan’s most terrifying ghouls, monsters and demons come out to frighten the public on a street believed to border the spirit world.
yokai
The granddaddy of yokai anime, Gegege no Kitaro, gets an unexpected salute as it reaches the half-century milestone.
Why DO kappa flip their lids for cucumber? No better time to investigate that than June 14, recognized around the globe as Cucumber Day.
The Kappa is generally known as a clownish, mostly friendly water spirit in Japanese mythology, but a cursory web search recently revealed the creature’s darker nature.
Haunted by demanding ghosts but can’t afford to look like a dweeb? These tights are just what you need!
What could be scarier than looking in a mirror and seeing a demon staring back at you? How about being too engrossed in your smartphone to even notice…
Even the pets of Japan want to show their respects to the recently passed yokai author Shigeru Mizuki.
See this tanuki? Aren’t his balls cute? Welcome to Japan, where raccoon-dog genitals are universally admired.
The zashikiwarashi is a Japanese child spirit that’s supposed to bring good luck, and it’s supposedly been caught on video!
We’ve been telling our fine readers for literally years now about Yo-kai Watch, the Pokémon-esque game/manga/anime series that’s full of adorable yet mischievous collectible yokai monsters. And now that the series has been newly localised and adapted for the West, you’re finally going to see for yourselves what’s been driving Japanese kids to ritually torch bonfires of old Pokémon goods in favour of worshipping the new yokai overlords. Okay, we’re exaggerating, but only a little bit.
Of course, the success of any Japanese import into the Western market hinges on a heartfelt and thorough localisation process. It happened to Pokémon—Satoshi became Ash Ketchum, and many Pokémon were entirely renamed—and now it’s happening to Yo-kai Watch, too.
But is the very Japanese charm of the new franchise about to be seriously lost in translation?
The spirit world is highly revered in Japan. From sacred sites to encounters with shape-shifting animals, there are hundreds of tales involving other-worldly beings that hover around the shrines, temples and natural formations that dot the country.
This sense of mystery manifests itself in yokai; strange apparitions or supernatural monsters that exist in folklore and can often be seen in traditional woodblock prints. Ghoulish animals appear quite frequently, which has inspired one Japanese artist to create her own collection featuring mischievous cats, illustrating them as they get up to strange antics and perform magical stunts.
Cats in the yokai world are definitely still cute—just in a strange, creepy way!
With all the headlines Youkai Watch is grabbing these days, it’s easy to forget that these distinctly Japanese spirits can actually be pretty scary or, at the very least, pretty badass. But these legendary creatures have been around in myths and tales for quite some time, and there’s no doubt that they are nothing short of awesome, in one form or another.
And to help us remember just how cool youkai can be, one anonymous Internet user posted 19 ink illustrations online for the world to see. And once you do see them, we have no doubt you’ll be wishing for me, just like us!
MOST POPULAR
Now
An entire Tokyo anime company has apparently disappeared, leaving artists unpaid for their work
New cat hotel in Japan lets you watch kitties right outside your window for entire stay【Pics】
Japan’s bonenkai parties are the worst thing about the end of the year. Here’s how to fix them
Announcing the 2019 Junior and Senior High School Girls’ Buzzword Awards & 2020 predictions
Japanese lawyer comments on legality of tattoo ban at hot springs, netizens share thoughts too
Historical katana dessert knives turn your sweet snacks into a delicious duel【Photos】
How to improve your singing at karaoke with a deceivingly simple trick
Japanese cosplay comedians perfectly recreate Street Fighter II…if you close your eyes【Video】
Watch as these Japanese cats treat their brand new, giant cushion with extreme suspicion
We visit the new all-you-can-eat KFC buffet restaurant in Tokyo
Weekly
- Japanese lawyer comments on legality of tattoo ban at hot springs, netizens share thoughts too
Why do Pokémon Trainers “black out” when they lose a battle? This could be the real reason
Prominent boob-centric manga artist shocks fans by revealing she’s a beautiful buxom woman
Japanese hit song “Paprika” goes global with English version by new singers and dancers
High schooler “forced” to quit school sues Kumamoto prefecture for a single yen
Anime company president arrested for taking nude photos of teen girl who wanted to be voice actress
Believe it or not, those aren’t pantyhose that this woman is wearing
Japanese Network TV asks Twitter user’s permission for “photo” of a trash home…from Fallout 76
Pikachu is opening his own take-out Pokémon sweets shop in Tokyo!
Butt wing angel panties from Japan give us a lot to think about【Photos】
Monthly
Japan’s cheapest hotel charges just 130 yen (US$1.20) for a room, with a huge, no-privacy catch- We visit the new all-you-can-eat KFC buffet restaurant in Tokyo
Japan’s pre-sliced cat-shaped bread: The greatest thing since non-kitty sliced bread
Harajuku Station will be demolished after the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics
That time we got imprisoned in a Tokyo hostess bar- Japanese lawyer comments on legality of tattoo ban at hot springs, netizens share thoughts too
Japanese makeup tutorial shows how a middle-aged man can turn into a beautiful young woman
Manga about 40-something man’s relationship with daughter’s schoolgirl friend sparks controversy
Vandalism on rise at Japanese shrines as pro-Hong Kong protest prayer boards are defaced
Crazy-cheap Japanese apartment for less than 140 bucks a month comes with headaches every day
Yearly
Microsoft Japan’s experiment with 3-day weekend boosts worker productivity by 40 percent- Japan’s cheapest hotel charges just 130 yen (US$1.20) for a room, with a huge, no-privacy catch
Five reasons not to live in Japan (as chosen by Switzerland’s perviest otaku)
PewDiePie buys house in Japan, calls it “a dream come true”
Naruto’s author Kishimoto reveals what characters’ names would’ve been if editor didn’t intervene
Japanese Mame Shiba Inu banknote design pays homage to nation’s beloved dog
Why do Japanese toilets have double hooks on their doors?
Japanese Phantom Cheesecake: A sweet so popular 2,000 sold in ten minutes
You can now turn your smartphone into a Pokémon Pokédex thanks to Bandai【Photos】
Uniqlo announces new line of awesome Dragon Ball T-shirts and hoodies【Photos】
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Historical katana dessert knives turn your sweet snacks into a delicious duel【Photos】
How to improve your singing at karaoke with a deceivingly simple trick
Japanese cosplay comedians perfectly recreate Street Fighter II…if you close your eyes【Video】
Watch as these Japanese cats treat their brand new, giant cushion with extreme suspicion
We visit the new all-you-can-eat KFC buffet restaurant in Tokyo
Coca-Cola to release their healthiest cola ever in Japan this March
Star Wars is being turned into a kabuki play with one Japan’s biggest stars playing Kylo Ren
Do Japanese people like Dr. Pepper? Online poll seeks the truth, gets 28,000 responses
Chinese census finds hard facts about the differences between Chinese, Japanese and Koreans
Ultra-luxurious breakfast bus will give Tokyo commuters a break from the hell of rush-hour trains
We try it out: Does Uniqlo’s HeatTech Ultra Warm work on a motorbike ride in the dead of winter?
Japanese crane game serves up actual slices of cake – and we got some!【Photos】
The Straw Hat Students are back with a new One Piece Japanese high school anime short【Video】
Deep-fried ramen croquettes now exist in Japan, and we are all powerless to resist them
-
