Fantastic Beasts

According to Japanese folklore, a cat that has lived long enough can become a type of yokai called a nekomata. Nekomata is said to have been transformed by old domestic cats (40 or 100 years old or more) and there is also a view that after a cat reaches ten years of age, its tail will gradually split into two tails, and later on. It will have more magic power. In many cultures around the world, cats tend to be seen as a metaphor for women, and in Japan people also liken Nekomata to the evil of a woman. Nekomata understands and speaks human language, after eating human flesh, it will transform into that person. In the book Nansō Satomi Hakkenden (published in 1814) by author Kyokutei Bakin also recorded this detail. The female nekomata sometimes appear in men's dreams and take all of their life energy. The Japanese also believe that people who often abuse cats will be harmed by it. If the Nekomata cultivates further, it will live indefinitely and be called Nekoshō . Nekomata will of...

According to legend, Kamaitachi are the most terrible yokai in Japan. They usually live in a cold mountainous area. They are 3 ferrets with sharp claws and always go together. Sometimes, they are depicted as triplets, but there is also a legend that they are a family consisting of: father, mother and child. Kamaitachi became the terror of the people when often cutting people's feet. The trio of Kamaitachi are described as having the ability to move at lightning speed, ride on winds, and move so fast that the human eye cannot see them coming and going. They cut the victim's leg without them even knowing it. When the victim is detected, each Kamaitachi will be assigned a separate task. Specifically, the first weasel is responsible for falling victim. The first one is responsible for pushing down the victim, the second one with extremely sharp claws (or carries a sickle) is responsible for causing cuts on the victim's legs. The other one is responsible for applying medicine to...

Hainu is a Yokai found in Japan. The Hainu is described as a dog with brown fur and wings. The Hainu is said to be very dangerous and aggressive unless it gets tamed then it becomes very loving and loyal.  This winged dog is a popular image in the city of Chikugo in Fukuoka Prefecture, and the dog itself is supposedly buried beneath a stone monument near the railroad station called Hainutsuka ("Winged-Dog Mound"). Two conflicting stories are usually told about the winged dog's origins. According to the first story, recorded in the Chikugo Kokorogashi in 1777, the winged dog was a ferocious creature which attacked humans and livestock. When Toyotomi Hideyoshi embarked on his Kyūshū Campaign of 1587, seeking to conquer the island, the dog stood in his way and had to be slain. Hideyoshi was so taken with the animal's pluck and courage, however, that he erected a memorial for it. According to the second version, the dog was Hideyoshi's beloved pet, which died in the p...

Like Kitsune (the fox) and Tanuki, Mujina is considered a master of transformation and specializes in deceiving people. Even among the three species, Mujina is said to be the most ingenious. It is said that, once, Mujina chose to live in an ancient temple and disguised herself as a monk; it went undetected for six years, until it carelessly revealed its tail. In reality Mujina (貉, Mujina) is an old Japanese term primarily referring to the badger. In some regions the term refers instead to the raccoon dog (tanuki) or fox (kitsune). The Mujina of Japanese folklore is an avid shapeshifter and deceiver of humans. One of the forms the mujina is purported to take, is that of a "faceless ghost" . The faceless ghost is often referred to by English speakers as a mujina, but the Japanese know it as Noppera-Bō. In Japanese folklore, Mujina is like the kitsune (fox) and the tanuki (typically a Japanese raccoon dog), mujina (which could be raccoon dog or badger) are frequently depicted as...

Baku (dream-eating yokai), are supernatural beings in Chinese and Japanese mythology that are said to be able to devour nightmares, so they are also known as "dream-eating yokai". Over time, Baku has come to be seen as a summoned beast in Chinese and Japanese folklore with the ability to eat nightmares. Baku's identity and beliefs have changed over thousands of years in Japan. According to legend, they were created from leftover puzzle pieces left over after the gods finished creating all the other animals, so they had the appearance of a mythical hybrid creature. Despite this, the fact that no one has ever seen a Baku has led to the fact that when asked to describe their identity, each person said something. The best known identification of Baku is from the Sankai Ibutsu, which describes it as a peculiarly shaped creature, bearing the body of a bear, the head and trunk of an elephant, and the tail of an ox. , rhinoceros eyes and sharp claws like tigers. Despite its stran...

Rokurokkubi is a traditional Japanese female youkai. They often appear in many places and especially in lavish and bustling cities. They have the special ability to lengthen their necks They love those who are greedy or conceited and don't like those who appear dignified and restrained. During the day they are no different from ordinary girls with a somewhat beautiful, nave side, but when night falls they are endowed with an extraordinary power that can lengthen their necks and can change their faces. Their beautiful face turned into a scary demon. In their human form during the day, Rokurokkubi live very normal lives, not many people notice them, they can even marry humans. In some cases, the Rokurokkubi get used to the environment and human society, they get married, have children with humans, and suffer a lot of pain when they have to hide their identity. However, by nature they are liars, and they cannot control their desire to tease people and frighten them. So some Rokurokkub...

Karakasa Kozo is also known as Kasa Obake, Karakasa Obake, which means "bamboo umbrella-boy". Karakasa Kozo is a youkai that is transformed into an old bamboo umbrella. It is an old umbrella made in the traditional Japanese style, the umbrella frame is made of bamboo spokes, the paper part is coated with waterproof oil. Umbrellas only have one handle, so when it becomes a ghost, it only has one leg. The parachute ghost looks a bit monstrous with one eye on its body, and its small leg carries a geta. Karakasa Kozo is like Noppera-bou , only likes to tease and scare people, not harm or kill people. When it's dark, Karakasa Kozo will show his true form, stick out his tongue and laugh and dance around the house. The characteristic of this youkai is that it does not harm humans, but only dances in the house when it is dark, when meeting people, it sticks out its red tongue to scare. So Karakasa Kozo is classified as not dangerous in the ranks of youkai. There is also another y...