Japanese Mythology

Japan has its own unique and varied range of mythological creatures that are integral to the country’s folklore and history, influencing everything from religious beliefs to creative fiction. Many are either yokai (supernatural monsters or creatures) or yurei (more spiritually ghost-like figures), and they can be good or bad, taking on unique forms or sometimes inhabiting specific places. Here is a small selection of some of the most common figures that you may encounter. Kitsune One of the most well-known and revered yokai, kitsune are shapeshifting foxes that often take human form, with many Japanese legends telling of how they transform into beautiful women. They are frequently benevolent and highly intelligent protectors but some are tricksters out to cause mischief, such as those known as nogitsune. Often used to highlight the duality between wisdom and mischief, these mythological beings have been a popular feature for many years in Japanese anime and manga. Kitsune are also strongly linked with the Shinto deity Inari, with the most famous being the Fushimi Inari in Kyoto. Tanuki Another of the shapeshifting trickster yokai, the tanuki is depicted as a raccoon dog. Similar in form to the real tanuki that exist in the Japanese wild,…