Yokai Cats Vol. 1

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Matcha Admin. (2019, October 1). The Kagurazaka Bakeneko Festival: Become a cat and join the parade (C. Mischke, Trans.). Matcha. https://matcha-jp.com/en/6661 Kappa is a popular water monster, often depicted as a cute cross between a turtle and a boy. However, Kappa has a long and dark history. It is said that Kappa lives in the water, and if anyone gets too close to the water edge, they will lure them into the water and then drown them. The Yama Uba yokai is depicted as being a hideous old looking witch. She’s often described as having long shaggy hair, withered skin, and a huge gaping mouth. The most distinct feature of the Yama Uba would be her tattered kimono.

There are literally hundreds (and counting) of yokai monsters that are known across Japanese folklore. Let’s get to know some of the most popular ones now. The 20 Most Popular Yokai in Japan 1. Tengu Curran, Beverley; Sato-Rossberg, Nana; Tanabe, Kikuko, eds. (2015). Multiple Translation Communities in Contemporary Japan. Routledge. p.30. ISBN 978-1-138-83170-4. The film is no longer showing in cinemas but we look forward to its release on alternate platforms. Visit the link below for the film’s trailer.Other versions of the story include men approached by a beautiful woman at the red light districts. Whilst walking together, he would notice her shadow cast by the moon’s light was that of a cat’s. Nekosho 猫魈 The Kasa-obake is one of the first known instances of yokai that is not specifically an animal but rather an object. In Japan, objects are believed to be capable of having ‘spirits’, and so when things get older, it is more likely that they’ll possess a spirit. Grant blessings like good / big catch (for fishing), and safety from disasters (When a cat washes its face, it means it’s going to rain soon).

Type of Japanese yōkai The Bakeneko of the Sasakibara Family ( 猫) from the Buson Yōkai Emaki by Yosa Buson. It depicts a cat in Nagoya that would wear a napkin on its head and dance. Unlike nekomata which have two tails, this cat has only one tail. [1] a b Fujiki, Hideaki; Phillips, Alastair, eds. (2020). The Japanese Cinema Book. British Film Institute. p.301. ISBN 978-1-8445-7678-4. Davisson mixes each chapter with the origins of the kanji used to describe each kaibyo, a history of their emergence (mainly in the Edo period) and their respective powers, some fantastic artwork of the cats themselves to help you visualize how their creators saw them, and a short story or two featuring that particular type of kaibyo, often with a moral message for the audience. Perhaps it is out of revenge. One theory says there is a correlation between the power of a Nekomata and the amount of abuse it has suffered. The ukiyo-e below shows a nekomata playing the shamisen (the shamisen is an instrument traditionally made of the skin of cats). The cat is also singing a sad song about the plight of her species. So take this as a warning to treat your pet cats with all the kindness and love they deserve A Nekomata Playing a Shamisen Cat Yokai Classification

Nekomata, on the other hand, are evil, plain and simple. Nekomata is often translated as “forked cat,” but it may also mean “again cat,” have something to do with monkeys, or mean something entirely different that has been lost to time [4, 5, 10]. There are several different forms of the word, all sharing the same character for neko, “cat,” but with different characters after [4]. The first written mention of nekomata in Japan was in 1233 [10], so there has been a lot of time for the word to evolve. That first mention came when Fujiwara no Teika recorded in his journal that in August in Nanto, a nekomata killed and ate several people in one night [4, 5, 10]. He described the nekomata as having cat eyes but “a large body like a dog” [5, 10]. There are also stories of bakeneko getting revenge for a wronged owner [1]. Sometimes, bakeneko just want to live their lives. They may transform into a human and then live as a human would, not bothering anybody [1, 5]. In an odd tale from Aji Island and the Oki Islands, a bakeneko turned into a human and wanted to compete in sumo [2]. These yokai are complex creatures. Nekomata The Zashiki-Warashi are house spirits that take on a child-like form. They are described as looking like 6-year-olds with blushing faces. They are cheeky and friendly and often reside in the reception areas of traditional Japanese homes.