— Mysterious and eerie entities woven into Japanese folklore —
Japan is home to countless legends of yokai and supernatural beings that have been passed down for centuries. These entities are not merely myths or ghost stories; they also reflect the fears, beliefs, and deep respect that people have for nature and the unknown. In this article, we explore ten of the most famous yokai and supernatural beings, delving into their legends and historical significance.
1. Ushi-oni – The Fearsome Ox-Demon
Ushi-oni is a terrifying yokai with the body of a massive spider or ox and a demonic, horned face. It is said to inhabit the coastal areas of western Japan, particularly in Shikoku.
🔹Legends & Traits
✅ Attacks fishermen and travelers near the sea.
✅ Often depicted as an ally of other dangerous yokai, such as Nure-onna (Snake Woman).
✅ Some temples and shrines have protective talismans against Ushi-oni.
The Uwajima Ushi-oni Festival in Ehime Prefecture celebrates this yokai, featuring enormous effigies paraded through the streets.
2. Nue – The Chimera of Japanese Mythology
Nue is a frightening hybrid yokai with the head of a monkey, the body of a tanuki, the legs of a tiger, and a snake for a tail. It is said to bring disease and disaster.
🔹Legends & Traits
✅ Causes nightmares and misfortune by emitting an eerie cry at night.
✅ Once terrorized Emperor Konoe in the Heian period until a warrior named Minamoto no Yorimasa shot it down.
✅ Its body was thrown into the sea, where it transformed into a new kind of spirit.
Nue continues to be a symbol of bad omens, often appearing in traditional art and literature.
3. Tengu – The Mountain Goblin with Divine Power
Tengu are powerful bird-like yokai with human and crow-like features. They are often depicted as protectors of the mountains and masters of martial arts.
🔹Legends & Traits
✅ Originally feared as mischievous spirits, but later revered as deities.
✅ Skilled in swordsmanship and known for teaching legendary samurai.
✅ Some believe that the famous warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune was trained by a tengu.
Temples dedicated to tengu, such as Mount Kurama in Kyoto, still attract worshippers today.
4. Kuchisake-onna – The Slit-Mouthed Woman
One of Japan’s most well-known urban legends, Kuchisake-onna is a ghostly woman with her mouth slit from ear to ear. She asks unsuspecting victims, “Am I pretty?” before revealing her horrific wound.
🔹Legends & Traits
✅ Wears a surgical mask to hide her disfigured face.
✅ If you answer “No,” she kills you instantly. If you say “Yes,” she slashes your face to match hers.
✅ The only way to escape is to confuse her by saying, “You’re so-so,” or throwing candy at her.
This legend became widespread in the 1970s, causing panic across Japan.
5. Ittan-momen – The Haunted Flying Cloth
Ittan-momen is a simple yet terrifying yokai—a strip of cloth that flies through the air at night and attacks people.
🔹Legends & Traits
✅ Wraps itself around people’s heads to suffocate them.
✅ Believed to be the spirit of an old kimono or funeral cloth.
✅ Despite its eerie nature, it is sometimes depicted as a playful spirit.
Ittan-momen is featured in the famous yokai anime GeGeGe no Kitaro, making it one of the more well-known supernatural entities in Japan.
6. Noppera-bo – The Faceless Ghost
Noppera-bo is a ghostly figure that appears as an ordinary human—until it suddenly reveals its featureless, blank face, terrifying those who see it.
🔹Legends & Traits
✅ Often encountered in lonely places, such as bridges or temples.
✅ Sometimes appears as a familiar person before revealing its faceless form.
✅ One famous story tells of a man who encounters a Noppera-bo at Kyoto’s Nijo Bridge.
This yokai is popular in horror stories and remains a staple of Japanese ghost folklore.
7. Wanyudo – The Flaming Wheel of Judgment
Wanyudo is a demonic, burning wheel with a tormented human face at its center. It is said to be the spirit of a cruel tyrant who was cursed after death.
🔹Legends & Traits
✅ Rolls through the streets at night, burning those who look at it.
✅ Sometimes seen pulling a ghostly ox-cart filled with tormented souls.
✅ Can only be repelled by chanting protective Buddhist prayers.
Legends warn that those who gaze at Wanyudo will be dragged into the underworld.
8. Kappa – The Mischievous Water Spirit
Kappa are water-dwelling yokai found throughout Japan. They are small, humanoid creatures with a plate (sara) on their heads that holds water, which is the source of their power.
🔹Legends & Traits
✅ Known to drag humans and livestock into the water.
✅ Love sumo wrestling and cucumbers, despite their fearsome nature.
✅ Said to extract a person’s shirikodama, a mystical ball from the anus.
Many regions have legends about kappas, and in Tono, Iwate Prefecture, there are numerous tales of encounters with these creatures.
9. Ame-onna & Ame-otoko – The Rain-Bringers
Ame-onna (Rain Woman) and Ame-otoko (Rain Man) are mysterious beings believed to bring rain wherever they go. They are often described as supernatural humans rather than yokai.
🔹Legends & Traits
✅ Their presence is said to guarantee rain.
✅ Encountering one during a journey was considered a bad omen.
✅ The belief in rain-bringers is tied to ancient rain rituals and agriculture.
Even today, people refer to themselves or others as “rain men” or “rain women” if it always rains when they go out.
10. Yasha – The Fearsome Demon God
Yasha are demons from Buddhist mythology, originally feared as malevolent spirits in Indian mythology. In Japan, they are seen as both terrifying and revered beings.
🔹Legends & Traits
✅ Demonic entities born from rage and hatred.
✅ Can take the form of a beautiful woman, like the famous Yasha-hime (Demon Princess).
✅ Some shrines and temples worship Yasha as guardian deities.
Places like Yasha Shrine and Yasha Pass in Japan are named after these legendary beings, showing their influence on local folklore.
Conclusion
- Ushi-oni – The terrifying sea beast
- Nue – The hybrid monster with mismatched animal parts
- Tengu – Mountain spirits feared and revered as deities
- Kuchisake-onna – The slit-mouthed woman from urban legends
- Ittan-momen – A haunted flying cloth
- Noppera-bo – A faceless ghost
- Wanyudo – A burning wheel of punishment
- Kappa – The mischievous water imp
- Ame-onna & Ame-otoko – The rain-summoning spirits
- Yasha – The fearsome demon-god
These legendary creatures continue to inspire horror stories, anime, and folklore in Japan. Which one intrigues you the most?