Dai Yokai Journal
Guides, Japanese folklore, masks and workshop notes.
Japanese Dragon Ryū: Meaning, Types and Tattoo
Explore Japanese dragon types, meanings and myths: Ryūjin, Mizuchi, Yamata no Orochi, water symbolism, art and irezumi.
Yuki-onna: The Snow Woman of Japanese Folklore
What does Yuki-onna mean? The Japanese snow woman explained: name, early sources, Lafcadio Hearn's 1904 version, regional variants and sy...
Oni vs Hannya: differences, meanings and which mask to choose
Oni and Hannya are not the same. Compare their origins, visual codes and uses in tattooing or decor, then choose the mask that fits your...
Fudō Myō-ō Meaning: Sword, Rope and Flames
Learn who Fudō Myō-ō is, what his sword, rope, flames and rock mean, why he looks wrathful, and how to read his image without calling him...
Komainu Meaning: Japan’s Guardian Lion-Dogs
Discover what komainu mean, why one guardian has an open mouth, how they differ from Foo Dogs and shīsā, and where they appear in Japan.
Okami Meaning: Japanese Wolf Mythology and Folklore
What does Okami mean? Explore Japanese wolf mythology, okuri-okami folklore, wolf shrines, two extinct subspecies and a handmade mask.
Amaterasu: Meaning, Cave Myth and Japanese Sun Goddess
Who is Amaterasu? Explore the Japanese sun goddess, the cave myth, Ise Jingu, imperial regalia and her role in Shinto tradition.
Shōgun Meaning: Emperor, Bakufu and Real Power
Learn what shōgun meant, how the bakufu worked, how military government shared power with the emperor and daimyō, and why Tokugawa rule e...
Geisha Yokai Meaning: History, Folklore and Horror Masks
Is a geisha a yokai? No. Learn how geisha, courtesans, female yokai, Noh masks and modern Japanese horror differ.
Rōnin Meaning: Masterless Samurai, Musashi and the 47 Rōnin
Learn what rōnin meant in Japanese history, how samurai became masterless, and what is fact or later legend in the stories of Musashi and...
Inari Okami: Meaning, Fox Messengers and Shrines
Who is Inari Okami? Explore the Japanese kami of rice and prosperity, white fox messengers, Fushimi Inari, red torii and shrine symbolism.
10 Famous Japanese Yokai and Folklore Creatures
Meet 10 famous Japanese yokai and folklore figures, from Oni and Kitsune to Kappa and Gashadokuro, with meanings, powers and cultural con...
Yūrei: Japanese Ghost Meaning, Types and Stories
What is a yūrei? Explore Japanese ghost meaning, visual traits, onryō, ubume, ghost paintings, Obon and the candy-buying mother legend.
Samurai History: Bushidō, Weapons and Real Life
Explore samurai history, the changing meaning of Bushidō, real battlefield weapons, armour, women of the warrior class and the end of sam...
Gozu and Mezu: Ox-Head and Horse-Face Explained
Who are Gozu and Mezu? Meet the ox-headed and horse-headed warders of Japanese Buddhist hell, their roles, origins and link to Enma.
Watanabe no Tsuna: History, Higekiri and the Oni Legend
Who was Watanabe no Tsuna? Separate the Heian warrior from the legends of Ibaraki-dōji, Modoribashi, Rashōmon, Higekiri and Setsubun.
Chōchin-obake: Meaning, History and Lantern Yokai
What is a Chōchin-obake? Meet Japan’s paper lantern yokai, its visual history, its link to tsukumogami, and what the hundred-year rule me...
Daruma Meaning: Eyes, Colors and the Wish Ritual
What does a Daruma mean? Learn the Japanese doll’s Bodhidharma origin, eye ritual, color variations, Takasaki craft and perseverance symb...
Teke Teke: The Japanese Urban Legend Explained
Who is Teke Teke? Explore the Japanese urban legend, its uncertain origins, Kashima Reiko connection, escape rules and horror films.
Nekomata vs Bakeneko: Japan's Cat Yokai Explained
Nekomata vs Bakeneko explained: two tails, meanings, powers and history of Japan's supernatural cat yokai, from mountain beast to Edo gho...
Gashadokuro: The Giant Skeleton Yokai and Its Modern Origin
What is Gashadokuro? Explore Japan's giant skeleton yokai, its 1966 origin, Kuniyoshi print, name meaning, powers and unburied-dead legend.
Tanuki Yokai: Meaning, Folklore and Lucky Statues
What is a tanuki yokai? Learn about Japan’s raccoon dog, bake-danuki folklore, Shigaraki statues, eight lucky symbols and Bunbuku Chagama.
Kappa Yokai: Meaning, Folklore and River Legends
What is a kappa yokai? Explore its river folklore, head dish, shirikodama, cucumbers, sumo, regional names and changing image in Japan.
Dogū Figurines: Meaning, Types and Jōmon Mystery
What do Dogū figurines mean? Explore Jōmon clay figures, goggle-eyed shakōki types, ritual theories, broken examples and Dogū vs Haniwa.
Yokai Meaning: Japanese Spirits, Monsters and Types
What does yokai mean? Explore Japanese folklore, key types, famous examples, and the differences between yokai, kami, yūrei, oni and ghosts.
Kami: What Shinto Gods Are and How They Are Venerated
What are kami? Learn why Shinto gods are more than deities, what “eight million” means, how kami differ from yokai and where they are ven...