Japan
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Ubume
The Ubume is a yokai from Japanese myth. They’re believed to be the ghosts of women who have died in childbirth. They sometimes appear as ghostly women soaked in blood from the waist down. In some versions, the Ubume wanders around saying “be born” over and over. Many stories of the Ubume say they cannot rest until they find a guardian for their child. They may continue to watch over their child, and do not become violent unless their child is harmed. In some versions, they sit on bridges and ask people passing by to hold their child for a moment. When the person holds the child, the Ubume disappears,…
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Jet Baba/Turbo Granny
Jet Baba is a figure from a Japanese urban legend. Baba means old lady and may be translated as “hag” or “granny,” and “Jet” refers to her running speed. The story goes back to July 2001. In the story, a university student was returning home after visiting his parents for the holiday of Obon. To avoid traffic, he decided to take mountain roads at night. He pulled over to pee in some bushes, and when he finished, he looked up and saw a floating old woman in a white kimono. Her eyes were wide open and staring at him, and she was completely still. Upon closer inspection, he realized the…
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Yuki-Onna/Yuki-Ona/Yuki-Joro/Yuk-Musume/Yuki-Onba/Yukionna/Yuki-Onne/Yukinko
The Yuki-Onna is a ghostly Yokai from Japanese myth. Its name translates to “snow woman.” They are typically described as beautiful and tall women with long hair and unnaturally pale skin. They hover above the ground, wearing a pure white kimono or appearing totally naked. Sometimes they may be seen cradling a child. They aggressively hunt human victims, but are only active in the winter months. They are perfectly camouflaged in the snow, especially with their ability to shapeshift into a cloud of mist or falling snow. They lead travelers astray, either leaving them to die of hypothermia or speeding up the process with their icy breath. They are known…
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Shachihoko
The Shachihoko is a mythical creature from Japanese and Chinese myth. They’re known to have a striped tiger head or the head of a dragon. The body is described as resembling a carp covered in poisonous spikes or scales. It’s believed they can crawl onto land to transform fully into a tiger. Carvings of Shachihoko are used similar to Gargoyles in Japan. Duer to their ability to make rain, it was thought their statues deterred fire. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us,…
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Bake-Kujira
The Bake-Kujira is a Yokai from Japanese myth. They’re believed to be ghost whales that appear as whale skeletons. They seek revenge against those who eat whale meat and whale hunters. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Spirits and Ghosts in World Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Yokai
Yokai is a name shared by many forms of mythical creatures from Japan. The term Yokai refers to pretty much any unknown creature or being. The study of Yokai is called Yokaigaku. Yokai take various forms and are morally ambiguous. Some may have deceptive features, being attractive and dangerous, or ugly and friendly. Many have both human and animal features and various kinds of powers, frequently shapeshifting. Some have no physical form at all and are only noted by sounds or feelings. There are some specific forms of Yokai called Tsukumogami created when objects reach a great age. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Spirits and Ghosts in World Mythology. United…
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Koryo
The Koryo is a form of yokai from Japan and a variation of the Kitsune. It’s a fox spirit whose name translates to “ghost fox.” It’s thought to haunt and bewitch people. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006. Picken, Stuart D. B.. Essentials of Shinto: an analytical guide to principal teachings. United Kingdom, Bloomsbury Academic, 1994.
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Kawauso/Kawaso
The Kawauso is a form of Yokai from Japanese myth sometimes equated to the Kappa. They’re known to cause mischief like Kitsune and Tanuki. They are related to river otters and can be found all across the country. Despite this, the real Japanese river otter was declared extinct in 2012. They have been depicted walking upright and wearing sedge hats. They commonly take the form of attractive people, often women, sometimes attempting to lure in victims they then kill. Other times they challenge humans to sumo wrestling matches. Citations: Foster, Michael Dylan. The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore. United States, University of California Press, 2015.
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White Robed Death Goddess
The White Robed Death Goddess is a mysterious figure recorded in a story posted on the internet. The author was sick with pneumonia and ended up being hospitalized for half a month. Nurses would regularly check on them, but there was another person who repeatedly entered the room. The author assumed this person was a nurse in her thirties, who would come in and do nothing but stare at them. The author later asked a nurse who it was, only for her to say there was no one who would have the time to do that. Eventually, they got out of the hospital, only to return later after breaking a…
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Nuppeppō/Nuppefuhō
The Nuppeppō is a yokai from Japanese myth. Its name may be a corruption of slang referring to someone wearing excessive makeup. Some think these creatures are related to Nopperabō, while others believe they’re the botched transformations of shapeshifting yokai. They’re the size of a child, but resemble humanoid masses of flesh with undeveloped hands and feet, with indiscernible facial features. They’re notably hideous and smell strongly of rotten meat. They appear at night and cause no harm other than disturbing those who see them, though they do enjoy the sickening effect they have. They’re incredibly fast and difficult to catch despite their passive demeanor. They can be found in…
