Pop Japan

When it comes to folklore, the Japanese ancient stories sure is a huge treasure trove. One of the more famous characters in Japanese folklore is the yokai.

A yokai, or literally bewitching or suspicious, is a kind of monster popular among Japanese legends and myths.Though the Japanese character for the word has negative connotations, some yokais actually bring good fortune. They can come in different forms and sizes. Most take the shape of animals like the traditional kappa or the famous Japanese river monster. Others don't have predefined forms like the bakemono or the obake, which is a Japanese shapeshifter. There are others who come in human form.

Tags: tradition, folklore, japan, yokai, kappa, river monster, shapeshifter, bakemono, obake