Japan
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Teke Teke/Shaka Shaka/ Pata Pata/ Kata Kata/Koto Koto/ Hijikake Babā
The Teke Teke is a form of ghost from Japanese urban legends. The name is an onomatopoeia meant to reference the sound of them dragging themselves with their hands. They are almost always women and look like people cut in half at the waist. Despite the fact that they crawl, they are thought to be capable of keeping up with cars when in pursuit, sometimes reaching 150km per hour. They commonly carry scythes or sickles. Teke Teke can be found in urban areas, commonly along dark roads. Getting attacked by a Teke Teke is horrific, but stories are often unclear about the specifics of these attacks. Commonly victims are cut…
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Tatsu/Lung/Ryo/Ryu
The Tatsu is a common term for a dragon in Japanese. They are thought to be descended from a primitive form of a three toed Chinese dragon. They are associated with the sea and rain and live in rivers or the sea. They give proper amounts of rain to those who properly appeased them, and cause droughts and whirlwinds when angered. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon, and DeKirk, Ashley. Dragonlore: From the Archives of the Grey School of Wizardry. United States, Red Wheel Weiser, 2006.
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Shinigami
The Shinigami are Yokai of death from Japanese myth. They are sometimes seen as spirits of the dead that possess the living and seek to harm them. They typically resemble humans with pale grey skin and inhuman features. They are drawn to death and linger around areas where people have just died. They thrive in areas where particularly gruesome deaths have occurred, as they haunt areas tainted by evil and look for people to possess. They haunt people and alter their behavior causing them to become obsessed with death and their own sins, eventually leading to suicide. They particularly like targeting bad people but will target anyone. Anyone who sees…
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Raiju
The Raiju is a Japanese Yokai. They are the companions of the god Raijin. Its name means “thunder animal” or “thunder beast.” This creature of lightning resembles a cat, badger, ball of fire, ball of lightning, monkey, raccoon, dog, weasel, white and blue wolf, or wolf made of lightning with a cry like thunder. They attack only during thunderstorms and are otherwise harmless. They may fall asleep in a person’s belly button, which kills the person when the god Raiden throws lightning bolts to wake the Raiju up. They become agitated in storms and jump from tree to tree. Lightning strikes on trees or houses are said to be Raiju claw…
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O-Toyo
O-Toyo is from Japan. She could take the form of a human or a leopard. She killed a courtesan to steal her face, body, and memories and used this form to seduce a Prince named Hizen. She gradually drained his life force until she was discovered by a samurai named Ito Soda, who then killed her. Citations: 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.
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Nozuchi
The Nozuchi is a yokai from Japan. They are comparable to the Tsuchinoko, and its name means “field hammer.” They have large bodies, wide mouths, and have no eyes, noses, arms, or legs. They are thought to be spirits of flora and greenery that eat humans. They supposedly originated with a monk who practiced Buddhism for selfish gain. Because he was skilled in talking, but lacked the eyes, hands, and feet for reaching wisdom, he was reborn as this creature. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Sekien, Toriyama. Japandemonium Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopedias of Toriyama Sekien. United…
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Kōjin/Samebito
The Kōjin is a creature from Japanese myth referred to as a yokai. The live in the ocean, especially around the South China Sea. They are thought to resemble mermaid-like creatures with inky black shark skin and ugly human-like faces with emerald green eyes. They are known for weaving and can frequently be found using looms with special silk that doesn’t get wet. They are carnivorous creatures, but they aren’t known to be particularly hostile towards humans. When Kōjin cry, their tears are pearls and jewels. Citations: Meyer, Matthew. The Book of the Hakutaku: A Bestiary of Japanese Monsters. United States, Matthew Meyer, 2019.
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Yurei
Nozuchi
Teke Teke/Shaka Shaka/ Pata Pata/ Kata Kata/Koto Koto/ Hijikake Babā
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Kejōrō
The Kejōrō is a form of Yokai from Japan whose name means “hairy prostitute.” They live in brothels and red-light districts and target young men. They appear as women with their heads and bodies concealed by long black hair. Typically only the hair on their head grows unnaturally long, but sometimes they are entirely covered in hair. It is unclear whether they have normal human faces under their hair, deformed monstrous forms, or no face at all. Men approach them from behind and while they stand in shock when she reveals their monstrous appearance, the Kejōrō wraps him in her hair and slices him to pieces. They may sometimes cut…
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Kamikiri/Kamikiri-Mushi
The Kamikiri is an obscure form of Yokai from Japanese myth. The name Kamikiri means haircutter, and the name Kamikiri-Mushi means “hair cutting insect.” The name is very similar to the Japanese word “Kamakiri” which means mantis, often leading to a connection between the two. They had no witnesses but were still visualized and depicted in the Edo period. They have bird-like faces, pincer hands, and big eyes. They’re often depicted with the hair they cut off falling to the ground. Some believe they may be arthropods. They live in urban areas and are sometimes found near toilets and alleyways. They can quietly sneak into places and may hide under…
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Kamaitachi
The Kamaitachi is a form of Yokai from Japanese myth. Its name translates to “sickle weasel” and is often depicted as weasels holding tiny sickles. They work together in groups of three. The first Kamaitachi slashes at the victim to knock them down, the second one slashes the body before it even reaches the ground, and the third then magically heals the wound, spilling almost no blood. Attacks from the Kamaitachi often happen in swamps, and sometimes those who have been attacked will become incredibly sick and then die. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United…
