Tengu: The Mysterious Yokai from Japanese Folklore

Tengu - Japanese Mythology

Tengu is a mythical creature from Japanese folklore that has captivated the imagination of people for centuries. This bird-like yokai has a long and diverse history, unique characteristics, and an interesting appearance that sets it apart from other creatures from Japanese Mythology.  In this article, we will explore its origins and history, appearance, behaviour and … Read more

Gaki: The Hungry Ghosts of Japanese Mythology

Gaki

Japanese mythology is home to some weird and wonderful creatures. One of the more intriguing are the gaki, sometimes known as the “hungry ghosts”. These ghostly beings are said to be the souls of people who have died in a state of extreme suffering, often due to starvation or other forms of deprivation. Read on … Read more

What are Jikininki in Japanese Mythology?

Jikininki

Jikininki are human-eating supernatural beings that are a prevalent feature in Japanese mythology. They are classified as gaki, which are hungry ghosts that are cursed with an insatiable hunger that can never be satisfied.  In Japanese folklore, Jikininki are some of the most feared and reviled of all gaki, as they consume not only the … Read more

Who is Yuki-Onna? The Snow Woman?

Yuki Onna - Japanese Mythology Snow Woman

We recently wrote about the “Slit-Mouthed Woman” in Japanese folklore, Kuchisake-onna, and today we’re discussing a similar spirit entity known as Yuki-onna. She is one of the most widely known yōkai throughout Japan and is a key feature in many folk tales across the country.  But who exactly is Yuki-onna? What did she look like? … Read more

Who is Kuchisake-Onna? The Slit-Mouthed Woman in Japanese Folklore

Kuchisake-onna - slit mouthed woman

There are some seriously creepy creatures in Japanese folklore, such as Jorōgumo and Tsuchigumo, but the one creature that seems to scare deeper than the rest is kuchisake-onna.  If you haven’t come across this dread-inducing entity before, then you may wish you had never seeked her out, Kuchisake-Onna is renowned within Japanese folklore for haunting … Read more