yokai (Page 2)
Japan’s most terrifying ghouls, monsters and demons come out to frighten the public on a street believed to border the spirit world.
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?
In the mid-nineteenth century, a showman named P. T. Barnum exhibited an oddity named the Fiji mermaid. Barnum’s mummified mermaid, one of the most famous hoaxes of all time, is widely believed to have been the body of a young monkey sewn onto a fish tail, and had been bought from Japanese sailors for $6,000.
Ningyo (Japanese mermaids – the word literally means “person-fish”) have a long and interesting history, but they aren’t the only ancient fake taxidermy on show in Japan. Across the country are all kinds of other fascinating specimens: “mummies” of tengu, kappa and even dragons.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Universal Studios’ Sailor Moon theme park attraction is finally coming to America
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Japanese man drives truck that’s on fire directly to fire station, drops flaming potatoes[Videos]
We find the best “homestyle” onigiri at a super local chain of convenience stores
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
Weekly
- Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character- Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan- Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan- Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Monthly
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026- Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
- Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo- Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
- Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Yearly
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]- Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Universal Studios’ Sailor Moon theme park attraction is finally coming to America
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Japanese man drives truck that’s on fire directly to fire station, drops flaming potatoes[Videos]
We find the best “homestyle” onigiri at a super local chain of convenience stores
Randomly running into a great sushi lunch like this is one of the best things about eating in Tokyo
Peko-chan Milky Time Cafe opens in Chiba and we go to check out all of the pastries and merch
Studio Ghibli reveals mystery hidden on coat of arms and outdoor signs at Ghibli Museum
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Unusual flat-pack daruma voted Japan’s most fascinating souvenir
Smell like a Demon Slayer (or a Demon) with new line of Kimetsu no Yaiba fragrances
Hello Kitty Shinkansen Cafe: A delicious stop on the most kawaii bullet train in Japan
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Dark manga meets music — It’s Death Note the Musical!
How to play Totoro’s mysterious flute from My Neighbour Totoro【Pics & Video】
-
