Fantastic Beasts

In Philippine mythology, Bakunawa is a giant sea dragon (or giant python) that can fly with wings. This mystical creature is described as having extraordinary strength and has up to 7 heads. Bakunawa's mouth is the size of a lake. It is depicted living in the deep sea at a time when the world had 7 moons. The Bakunawa dragon was fascinated by the moon's light so it always tried to swallow each moon. Accordingly, the dragon Bakunawa rose to the surface of the sea and jumped up to swallow the moon in its stomach. Every time the Bakunawa dragon swallows a moon, a lunar eclipse occurs. This the dragon flew up until it swallowed all 7 moons. The sky turned dark. The people became frightened. They prayed to the god Bathala who ordered them to bring all the pots and pans out and knock them to make noise. Bakunawa startled and released the last moon. Then the god Bathala appeared, sending Bakunawa out into space. Though Bakunawa tried to return home by way of the last moon's light,...

The phoenix (Latin: phoenīx; Greek: φοῖνῐξ phoînix) is a divine and sacred form of the firebird in several Western myths such as Greek, Egyptian and other related myths. or affected. It is said that the phoenix can live up to 500 or 1,400 years (depending on the source), it is a bird with beautiful yellow and red plumage. When it was about to die, the phoenix built it a nest out of cinnamon sticks and then set itself on fire; Both the nest and the bird burned so fiercely that only a handful of ashes remained, from which a new phoenix was born. The new phoenix lived as long as the old phoenix. However, in some legends this is not the case. The new phoenix marinated the old phoenix's ashes in an egg made of myrrh and brought it to the ancient Egyptian city of Heliopolis ("city of the sun" in Greek). The Phoenix is ​​also said to respawn after being injured, so it is virtually immortal and cannot be defeated; The phoenix rising from the ashes is an impressive image in Wester...

Onibi (Demon Fire) is a type of atmospheric ghost light in Japanese legend. One of the types of youkai that is shaped like a fireball and is extremely dangerous. Onibi is a beautiful but deadly phenomenon. They look like small fireballs, usually blue or white (red and yellow onibi are less common), and occur in groups of twenty to thirty individuals. Onibi spheres can range in size from three to thirty centimeters and often hover at eye level. They appear in places surrounded by nature, grasslands, forests, watersides, graveyards — most often during the spring and summer months, and especially on rainy days. According to folklore, they are spirits born from the corpses of humans and animals. It is not known what causes the onibi to be born; sometimes they show up and sometimes they don't. Intense grudges and malice can also create onibi. They are considered identical to the will-o'-the-wisps of English folklore. Onibi doesn't generate much heat, but is dangerous in other re...

Many birds, as well as other ordinary creatures, can transform into yokai with strange powers when they live long enough. Aosagibi is one such creature. They are believed to be herons - especially the nocturnal black-crowned heron. Other wild herons and birds, such as ducks and pheasants, can also develop the ability to transform into Aosagibi, although it is generally thought to be caused by nocturnal herons. Aosagibi depicts a heron with burning eyes and its white feathers burning brightly with a supernatural light. From a distance, the bird looks like a fiery ball of fire. This bird has the ability to hypnotize people who encounter them to the point of getting lost in the forest without finding a way out, if they can't get out, they will die. With each breath, they begin to blow a layer of iridescent yellow powder from their beaks and disperse them into the wind. In autumn, their bodies begin to emit a bluish-white light at night. Their fragrant breath ignites into bright blue f...

The Basan is a rare bird found only on the island of Shikoku, in the mountains of Ehime. They are roughly the size of a turkey and shaped like a chicken. Basans are easily recognized by their bright red crest and brightly colored plumage that looks like tongues of fire. Their most notable feature is their breath flowing out of a dragon's fire-like mouth. However, the flame does not give off heat nor ignite combustible materials. Wood and embers make up their diet According to legend, anyone who heard Basan flap his wings and saw the appearance of this ghost chicken would disappear without a trace. Basan are completely nocturnal species and little is known about their behavior. They make their homes in remote bamboo groves, far from human habitation. During the day it hides in bamboo groves, but at night it emerges and wanders into remote villages at night in search of remains of bonfires or charcoal. When pleased or startled, the basan fish flaps its wings creating a distinctive ru...

Omukade is giant centipede youkai in Japanese mythology. Ōmukade is very cruel and ferocious. It is a threat to all living things where they appear. Its favorite food is people. It has a dark body, bright orange legs and head. The exoskeleton is so hard that it cannot be penetrated by a weapon. No one has clearly stated the size of an Omukade, but it is described as as big as a dragon, and in fact, the venom from its bites, even dragons are feared. What's more terrifying is, Omukade's venom is rarely enough to cause death but cause the victim to suffer a prolonged pain. It's very painful, but I can't die. That's why many people use this monster's venom for more torture purposes. Omukade usually lives in caves deep in the mountains, dark and damp places or anywhere that can accommodate its huge size. Omukade also transforms into a half-human and half-centipede form with the upper body of a maiden and the lower body a hideous centipede. It uses that form to lure m...

Tatsu, the Japanese dragon, is similar in appearance to the Chinese dragon. They have long, scaly bodies, zigzag tails, sharp teeth and claws, and often have horns, antlers, spines, and antennae. Some tatsu have multiple limbs or heads. Some of them disguise themselves as humans and are never seen in their natural form. Tatsu has a strong connection with water, such as rain, rivers, seas or oceans. They are considered water gods. They live in splendid palaces on the depths of the sea, or in other secluded places. They usually live far away from human-inhabited areas, but sometimes stay at home near Buddhist temples. Like Western dragons, they store large amounts of treasure and keep powerful magical artifacts in their homes. Many of them are great villains, tormenting humanity without words, while others are pure and kind, dedicating their wisdom and strength to those who seek it. Some tatsu even allow worthy heroes to visit them, and lend their magical items to noble warriors. Tatsu r...

Hōō are beautiful, peaceful, phoenix-like beings honored throughout East Asia and worshiped as gods. They are described as having the beak of a rooster, the jaws of a swallow, the head of a pheasant, the neck of a snake, the back of a turtle, the legs of a crane, and the tail of a peacock. Vibrantly colored with the five colors of the Chinese elements - white, black, red, yellow and blue. They have five distinctive tail feathers. Hōō are completely peaceful beings and they never harm other living things. They only eat bamboo seeds, and only nest on paulownia trees. When a hōō flies, it is said that the wind stops, the dust settles, and the birds and insects grow quietly. Because of their purity, they appear only in lands blessed with peace, prosperity, and happiness. The appearance of a hōō is an extremely good omen, said to herald the beginning of a new era in history. The hōō is a common motif in Japanese paintings, crafts, kimonos, and on shrines and temples. As a symbol, it symboli...

Yamata no Oroch (eight-headed giant snake) also known as Yamata no Orochi. This is a snake-like creature in Japanese Shinto. Yamata no Orochi is depicted with eight heads and eight tails. It has bright red eyes and a red belly. Yamata no Orochi's giant body is depicted stretching 8 valleys, 8 hills. Its body was covered with moss, cypress and cedar trees on its back so it looked like a mountain range. Born Izanagi, the male god who created ancient Japan, used the sacred spear Ame-no-nubuki to stir into the ocean, creating the eight islands that formed ancient Japan. He is married to the goddess Izanami. The one who conceived and gave birth to Hinokagu is the fire god of the earth. However, upon giving birth to Hinokagu, Hinokagu's flames flared up and caused the goddess Izanami to die. The god Izanagi got angry, cut Hinokagu into eight pieces and threw it into the sea. Each part of Hinokagu becomes different volcanoes. Hinokagu's spirit reincarnated as a human, becoming the...

Futakuchi-onna (two-mouthed woman) is a type of Japanese youkai or monster. They are characterized by having two mouths - one normally located on the face and a second one on the back of the head below the hair. There, the woman's skull split open, forming large, fat lips filled with teeth and a tongue, creating a completely functional second mouth. However, that's not the worst thing, if it feels hungry its mouth starts to mutter hateful things, threaten and demand food. If not fed, it will scream obscene words and cause pain to the woman. Eventually, the hairs around the second mouth turned into tentacles and snatched all the food from the woman. In Japanese mythology and folklore, Futakuchi-onna belong to the same story class as rokurokubi, kuchisake-onna, and yama-uba, women who suffer from a curse or supernatural illness that causes them to turn into youkai. The supernatural nature of the women in these stories is often hidden until the very last moment, when the real pers...

Dorotabou is a mud spirit that emerges from the black mud of a rice field and, although not entirely dangerous, is terrifying in appearance. Dorotabou are actually shapeshifting ghosts of old men toiling in their rice fields. They appear as one-eyed, three-toed humanoid figures that emerge from the mud at night. It is said that the five fingers of the human hand represent three vices and two virtues: anger, greed, delusion, wisdom, and compassion. The ghostly Dorotabou that appears with only three fingers represents evil. It was a spirit of vengeance and rage — angry at the ignorance and greed that it was now ashamed of with its life's work. Dorotabou often appears and wanders through the overgrown grasslands, calling out in a mournful voice, "Give me back the rice fields!" They haunt their fields after nightfall, disturbing the new inhabitants of their land and preventing their sleep. Dorotabou continued to haunt until the wasteful landowners changed their ways or gave u...

Azuki arai are mysterious youkai that only can be found in remote forests found all over Japan. They have many nicknames in different regions, a common nickname is azukitogi. These youkai live deep in the mountains where humans rarely go, and spend their time near streams. Very few actual sightings have been recorded, but they are said to be short and squat, with large round eyes and an overall look like Buddhist monks. They appeared cheerful with a silly grin with a goofy grin and big three-fingered hands. In fact, Azuki arai is more often heard than seen. Their main activity seems to be washing red beans by the river while singing a scary song mixed with the “shoki shoki” sound of beans being washed in a basket: Azuki araou ka? Hito totte kuou ka? (shoki shoki) Will I wash my red beans, or will I catch a human to eat? (shoki shoki) Despite singing such scary, terrifying songs, the Azuki arai are in fact a very timid, timid creature that does no harm to humans. Passers-by who hear the...

Ame onna  is depicted as a woman standing in the rain and licking her hands. Ame onna  is a class of youkai that appear on rainy days and nights. They summon rain wherever they go, and are blamed for kidnapping and killing children. They appear as depraved, revealing women, drenched in rainwater. They lick the rainwater off their hands and arms like wild animals. Ame onna  is said to be related to a Chinese mountain goddess that is a cloud in the morning, rains in the afternoon and becomes a woman in the evening. This goddess can be seen walking around the human world on wet, rainy nights. However, unlike the gods, Ame onna  is not benevolent. While the rains they bring can save a drought-stricken village or bring good luck to farmers, they have a more sinister purpose — under the cover of the rain, Ame onna  roam the mountains. village in search of newborn girls. If they found a child born that night, they would grab it and carry it into the dark, sending it of...

Nue is a legendary youkai aka a mononoke. It is described as having the head of a monkey, the limbs of a tiger, the body of a tanuki and the front half of a snake for a tail. It is sometimes depicted with the body of a tiger or the back of a tiger, the limbs of a tanuki, the tail of a fox, the head of a cat and the body of a chicken. Due to its appearance, it is sometimes called the Japanese chimera. But by any means, its name is synonymous with gloom, elusiveness, and cunning. It is said to make terribly eerie bird cry "hyoo hyoo" noises that resemble that of the scaly thrush. Nue is also said to have the ability to shapeshift, often taking the form of a dark cloud that can fly. There is a theory that Nue is a thunder beast because the monster appears every time there is a lightning strike. Yokai is also said to be nocturnal as most sightings of it occur at night. Nue is one of the oldest recorded yokai, first appearing in the Kojiki (712 AD), a record of Japan's early h...

Isumade is a creature from Japanese folklore. Itsumade are exotic birds. They have the face of a human with a pointed beak, and the body of a snake with huge wings and terrible claws. Itsumade appears in the night sky during difficult times, such as plagues and disasters, or flies over battlefields where many people have died. In particular, they fly back and forth to places of suffering or death, which have not yet eased the pain of the living or reassured the souls of the dead. Strange birds flew around all night, crying pitifully. According to the Taihei historical records, in the fall of 1334, this bird began appearing in the night sky above the capital's ceremonial hall, breathing fire and emitting mournful weeping sounds. in a wretched voice: “Itsumademo! Itsumademo” (how long! how long!). It's like asking the people below how long this suffering will go unnoticed. Panic flared up among the people of the capital. The same creature returned the next night, and every night ...

Daidarabotchi are giants that look like bald priests. They have large round eyes, long tongues, and ink-black skin. They have a lot in common with other giants, such as Ounyuudou and Umi bouzu, but they are the largest giants found in yōkai folklore. They are a type of omnivorous youkai, found in mountains all over Japan. They have tremendous size and strength. Daidara-botchi is so large that its footprints can create countless holes, ponds, lakes in the ground. They are also considered to be the forerunners of the Godzilla race, appearing before this beast hundreds of thousands of years ago, but the power is far superior to Godzilla many times. In addition to the great strength coming from their bodies, they themselves have very powerful abilities. They are also considered to be the creators of a branch of creatures that develop on the ground of many species of reptiles including crocodiles, snakes, pythons ... Daidarabotchi were so large that their movements contributed to the terrai...

Aonyōbō is a yokai in Japanese mythology. She took on the appearance of an old court aristocrat and dressed in an ornately decorated layered kimono of the ancient era. It used to be great, but it's now torn and patched. She has a white face covered in makeup, eyebrows are drawn high and teeth have been blackened. Unlike other youkai, Ao Nyobo is getting older and older, gradually becoming an old, ugly old woman, with sagging skin but still under the illusion that she is as beautiful as before. Aonyōbō lived in abandoned, empty mansions of bygone ages, covered with cobwebs and cockroaches lurking everywhere in the dark, formerly occupied by corrupt nobles and families dilapidated. The place was full of cold and used to the musty scent emanating from the cracked walls, sleeping on the rotten wood planks. Aonyōbō constantly put on her make-up, hairdo, and image retouching waiting for the arrival of visitors. They can be men who leave their wives, wanderers, flower lovers. She waited f...

Ao-andon is a yokai in Japanese culture Ao-andon is the embodiment of mass human terror, formed from the accumulated fear of large groups of people. It takes the form of a demon woman with long black hair, blue skin, black teeth, sharp claws, and horns. It wears a white or blue kimono and glows with an eerie blue light. Its staple food is fear of humans. However, there are also youkai that choose to eat humans to live alongside youkai that live by eating humans' fear of seeing them. Ao-andon is a special youkai, as it only appears during a ritual held. That ritual is called "Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai", which means "a gathering of one hundred ghost stories". People usually begin the ritual on moonless nights, when it is completely dark (between ten o'clock in the evening and two o'clock in the morning), in a three-room house with only the third chamber lit. In that room will be lit a hundred candles, and a small mirror placed on the table. Participants in...

Betobeto-san is a kind of Japanese yokai, and is said to follow people walking on the night road Betobeto-san is described as having a transparent body, except for its feet wearing getas which is visible. Even though it's said to be transparent, Betobeto-san is always depicted with a smile wide from ear to ear. But no one has heard this youkai laugh, people only mention its footsteps that always follow closely Betobeto-san is said to appear a lot in Nara, in the Kinki region of Japan. However, similar cases were found all over Japan, and since then Betobeto-san is said to be present all over Japan. If you've ever been walking at night and heard strange footsteps behind you, and turned around, you found nothing behind but the footsteps still circled around you, scaring you, you've met a yokai in the district Nara, Betobeto-san. It is said that if you stand on the side of the road and say "betobeto-san, please go first" the footsteps will stop and you can continue w...

Bakezōri (literally "ghost slipper") is a fictional creature from Japanese folklore that is a Tsukumogami, belonging to the group of Yōkais. It is a discarded slipper that turns into a Tsukumogami when abandoned for the 100th year. At night, they will return to their former owners' houses, running around chantting loudly "kararin, kororin, kankororin" (three eyes, three eyes and two teeth). The Bakezōri is described as a wandering sandal with two arms and two legs, but only one eye. He is said to spook inhabited households during the night, running around and continuously chanting: "Kararin, kororin, kankororin, managu mittsu ni ha ninmai!" ("Kararin, kororin, kankororin! Two eyes, three eyes and two teeth!"). Most possibly he's mocking his "more noble cousins", the famous Geta. "Eyes three" refers to the three holes where the sandal straps are attached and "teeth two" refers to the two wooden platforms which...

Kodama is the spirit of the tree. Kodama is also considered to be something that can be understood as forest gods, and a tree deity. Not all trees have Kodama, Kodama only appear in old trees. The people of Japan say that those who accidentally cut down the trees containing the Kodama, disaster will fall on their village. The sacred rope tied around the trunks of those trees is called shimenawa. According to the concept of the ancient Japanese, the sound of an old tree falling in the forest is the lamenting cry of Kodama residing in that tree. For the Japanese, all things in the world carry miracles and specialities, and so are the trees in the forest. Therefore, the concept of Kodama was born and became a special belief for the Japanese people. Kodama in the past were considered deities residing in tree trunks. They are not linked to only one tree, but can freely move from tree to tree, going around the forest to guard, protect and preserve the balance of nature. However, others belie...

It is a famous Chinese sacred animal, but it is also found quite a lot in ancient books and stories of ancient Japan. The kirin is one of the rarest, most awesome and powerful creatures ever known in East Asia. It is a regal animal, holy and highly revered. The kirin is often considered a god in its own right. Resembling a deer with scales like a dragon’s covering its body, the kirin is a chimerical beast. It has a tail like an ox and a flowing mane. Its body and mane are covered in brilliant, holy fire and its face is the picture of utter serenity. It is also sometimes depicted with one horn, so some people associate it with the unicorn of the West, though it is more commonly depicted with two horns. It is also sometimes depicted with one horn, so some people associate it with the unicorn of the West, though it is more commonly depicted with two horns. A gentle animal, the kirin never eats the flesh of other beings, and takes great care never to tread on any living thing, even insects...

Ippon-Datara is a yōkai from Japanese folklore. Ippondatara has one thick, trunk-like leg and a single saucer-like eye. It lives deep in the mountains of Japan. It is especially well-known in the mountains bordering Wakayama and Nara Prefectures (old Kii and Yamato Provinces), though sightings have been reported in other neighboring prefectures as well. Ippondatara is a shy yōkai, and tends to stay away from inhabited areas. It moves about by hopping around and doing somersaults. It avoids humans, though on winter days it is not uncommon to find the unique prints of this yōkai’s large, single foot in the snow. While it is mostly harmless, once per year on December 20th, the ippondatara turns violent. Those entering the mountains on that day who run into the ippondatara are squashed flat under its powerful foot. Because of this, December 20th is considered an unlucky day in the areas where this yōkai lives. People stay out of the mountains then. The name ippondatara comes from tatara, t...

In Japanese folklore, Hitodama ("human souls") are floating fireballs that glow amber, pale blue, or ruddy in the moonlight. There are even a few that can be seen during the day.They also have a tail, but it can be short or long. They hover at not very high altitudes.  They are said to be "the souls of the dead that have separated from their bodies," which is where their name comes from. They are often confused with onibi and kitsunebi, but since hitodama are considered "appearances of souls leaving the body and flying through the air", a different kind must be mentioned here. In terms of their shape and nature, there are features common throughout Japan, but there are also some regional differences.  In Okinawa Prefecture, hitodama are known as tamagai, and in the Nakjin region they are said to appear before a child is born, in some other regions they are said to be mysterious flames that cause people to die. In Kawakani, Inba Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture...

The fearsome yōkai known usually appears at night on the roads of the island of Shikoku. In the dark, they are indistinguishable from ordinary young women, unusual only for their loose, disheveled hair but the tip of each hair is fitted with a needle-like, barbed hook - although if you are close enough to notice these hooks, it is probably already too late. Hari-Onago usually wander the streets searching for victims - usually young, single men walking alone. When a Hari-Onago comes across a suitable man, she smiles coyly at him. If the smile is returned, she attacks: she releases her hair, and the barbed ends lash out with blinding speed and a will of their own, sinking deep into her victim’s flesh. A Hari-Onago’s strength is so great that even the strongest man can be overpowered by her hooks. Once her victim is ensnared and rendered helpless, she rips him into pieces with her hooks and devours the remains. If it is enough fast, he can escape a Hari-Onago. If he can get himself safely...

Bakekujira is described as a giant whale skeleton that appeared off the coast of Shimane, accompanied by a variety of strange fish and birds. A fisherman tried to fire his javelin at it but was unharmed, then the whale disappeared with its mystery. And the legends about it are stories passed down by the fishermen, In the middle of that night, the fishermen of Okino Island suddenly saw a translucent white mass floating in the sea and roaring fiercely. By experience, they thought it was a stranded whale, and a team of muscular fishermen sailed close to find a way to hunt for this "gift of heaven". But strangely enough, arrows, javelins or any other sharp weapon all disappeared into nothingness. Then, they realized a fact: the whale they were hunting was just a white skeleton, without skin and larger than any whale they had ever seen. It moved again like when it was alive, making everyone startle in horror. At that moment, they realized that the surrounding sea was covered with ...