The japanese demons (oni) and other spooky and monstrous creatures are common in Japanese popular culture. From time immemorial, there has been talk of the presence of these monstrous creatures in the Japanese country.
Even the oldest historical source in Japan, Kojiki or Furukotofumi: Chronicles of Japan’s Ancient Factstells events related to the existence of youkai (ghosts) and oni.
It is interesting to note that oni, unlike youkai, were mostly human-like in appearance. Although they can also look zoomorfo or inanimate objects.
One of the most important sources on Japanese folklore is Gazu Hyakki Yakō either “The Illustrated Night Parade of Hundreds of Demons”book of Toriyama Sekien published in 1781. This draftsman is one of the most important representatives of the Japanese print, a genre of painting native to Japan. Sekien specialized in drawing folk motifs.
List of 19 Japanese Devils
1- Amanojaku
This demon is able to see a person’s darkest desires and provoke him to use those desires against him.
He amanojaku either Amanjaku It is considered a small demon and is usually depicted as a rock. He likes to goad people into fulfilling their darkest and most forbidden desires.
It is known for the folk legend of Urikohime or the Melon Princess. This legend tells that a little princess was born from a melon and was raised by an old couple who protected her from the outside world. One day the princess is deceived by the Amanojaku and andHe eats it in front of the old couple.
2- Joro-Gumo
Why do men disappear? The legend of Joro-Gumo tells that there is a giant spider capable of transforming into a beautiful woman and seducing any man.
This monster is dedicated to attracting men who have been lost in the woods or who wander incautiously through different cities without settling in any. According to legend, when men fall in love with the beautiful woman, she is her, she changes her shape and traps them and eats them.
3- Namahage
Are there any capricious children around? It is one of the questions that the devil asks namahagea traditional character of the folclore of the Oga Peninsula.
This character is considered to visit families’ homes on New Year’s Eve and punish children who misbehave or are whiny. This demon has become one of the main characters in Japanese festivals, as he teaches children to behave well.
It is considered that the devil can teach children who do bad things a lesson, so during this celebration parents remind their children to maintain good conduct.
4- Dodomeki
According to folklorists and culturologists, the legend of the demon Dodomeki It reflects the Japanese belief that people with long hands tend to steal. It is considered that this demon had long arms and hands full of eyes.
The eyes are also a reflection of old coins that were used in Japan and were called «bird eyes» or chōmoku. According to popular tradition, this demon shot fire and spit out a poisonous gas.
5- Kodama
The sound of the forest is a cry of a kodama. These They are spirits that inhabit the trees, although the trees are also called Kodama. According to Japanese legendsthe plants they can curse the woodcutter who dares to cut them down, that’s why many Japanese people pray to the trees for permission and forgiveness before cutting them down.
The echo in the mountains is usually attributed to these demons. Other legends say that people listen to the Kodama when they die and that you can talk to these trees in deep places in the forest.
6- Uwan
Does any noise scare you in an old Japanese house? If so, then a uwan is trying to talk to you. The uwan are considered to have no body and live in the old or abandoned homes.
His scream can pierce the ears of whoever listens to it. They do not physically exist and are just sounds that do not pose a great physical danger. On the other hand, there are various descriptions of these creatures. According to the legends of Edo Period, Yeah They have a body thatorIt contains various objects and fragments of the homes where they live.
7- kasha
Also called chariot of fire, is a demon or creature that steals the bodies of people who have died and who would have done evil and committed many sins during their lives. Kasha collects evil energy from graveyards and funerals to make herself stronger.
The Japanese have developed a methodology to protect the bodies of the Kasha. According to some legends, the Kasha are cat demons like Nekomata or Bakeneko, who kidnap the souls of sinners and take them to hell.
8- Demon women (kijo and onibaba)
Vengeful women turn into demons. According to japanese folk traditionwomen who have been betrayed by their husbands, or girls and grandmothers who have been abused or mistreated, can become demons or monsters. the jyoung Are calls kijo and the grandmothers are called onibaba.
One of the most famous legends of young devils is the story of Kiyohime. According to Japanese folklore, Kiyohime was the daughter of the chief of a village called Shōji. Her family received travelers who passed through the town.
Kiyohime fell in love with a monk who once visited her village. The monk Anchin also fell in love with her but he only admired her beauty without following her passions. This upset Kiyohime, who decided to follow the monk.
The monk escaped through the Hidaka River and asked the sailors not to help the girl cross the river, so Kiyohime jumped in and decided to swim to the other side. When she swam, her fury caused her to turn into a snake.
The monk, seeing this, took refuge in a temple asking the temple priest to hide him.iese in a bell Kiyohime followed him and found the bell. Spitting fire out of his mouth, he melted down the bell and apparently killed the monk. Kiyohime is considered to be a snake woman who kidnaps men in villages.
9- Onibi
Have you seen a floating blue fireball? It can be a Onibi. The onibi They are floating fireballs that are formed with the spirits.ors of humans and vengeful animals, who have stayed in the world of the living.
in the perIn the Edo period, flying torches were considered to have the ability to steal the souls of people who approached them. According to some legends these torches accompany other more powerful demons.
10- Tengu
Are they birds or dogs? Despite the fact that the word tengu translates as «heavenly dog», these creatures are considered to be birds. They are considered youkai by some and gods by others.
In folklore sources it is described to the Tengu as humanoids with wings, which can also tranyesfully formed in birds. In many stories, the Tengu are ravens.
The Japanese Buddhist tradition considers them to be demons of war who announce bad news. The Tengu live in mountains that they protect with their powers.
11- Nopperabo
Why don’t the Japanese walk through dark streets at night? It is due to the presence of Nopperabo.Is about a faceless ghost who walks through the dark streets looking down.
If someone greets it, this monster turns around and attacks the greeter or scares it. That’s why the Japanese are afraid to greet strangers on dark streets.
12- enter
Only people with a pure heart can see the enenra.These pyres of fire are considered to be youkai, who can take human form. The first time this monster was described in the Konjaku Hyakki Shui in 1781 The legend was told of an enenra, who emerged every night from the fire of the pyre and walked through a town.
13-Tsuchigmo
Why don’t Japanese hunters go into the forest at night? The Tsuchigumo are strange creatures with the bodies of a tiger, the legs of a spider, and the face of a demon.
These monsters are relentless, eating unsuspecting explorers who walk at night. Fear usually paralyzes the victim due to how grotesque these creatures are.Yoheights.
14- Ningyo
Are there mermaids in Japanese mythology? The Ningyo or peC in the shape of human are beingslike the sirens in folk tradition europetowhich in Japan are considered a symbol of calamity.
According to some legends, Japanese mermaids tthey have monkey mouth and fish teeth, its skin shines, as its scalesmace are golden. SYour voice is soft like the sound of a flute.
Besides HE considers that they areeitherngevas and if someone tastes their meat they will also be able to live for many years. They can hide their true form by turning into ordinary fish.
The legend of Happyaku Bikuni tells that a fisherman invited his friends to dine on the fish he had caught. One of the ones he caught could talk and asked him not to eat it.
The man understood that this fish was not normal and left it in the kitchen, while he ate dinner with his friends in the living room. But his daughter, who did not know anything about this fish, killed it and cooked it. Her father, noticing her, tried to stop her, but it was too late.
At the end of the party, the father explained to his daughter what had happened, but apparently nothing was wrong with her. Time passed and both forgot this event. After father’s deathwhen the girl was married and was already a young womaneithercome, she saideither account of that did not age
Her husband grew older every year, while she stayed the same. Her husband died and the woman emigrated to another city and married again. Thus 800 years passed, and the woman married multiple times without growing old.
In the end, she became a nun and traveled to many places. But her loneliness was too much, so she returned to her hometown and took her life.
15- Kamaitachi
Who attacks the peasants and steals their crops? The Kamaitachi are weasel-like monsters that usually attack in groups of three.
They usually inflict deep wounds on the legs of peasants with sickles tied to their legs. Kamaitachi’s wounds are painless. These beings attack so quickly that they are imperceptible to the human eye.
16- Gashadokuro
Drought and famine cause the death of peasants and create monsters like the gashadokuro. This demon is un giant skeleton that is formed from the bones of all the people that died during droughts and famineyes.
This monster attacks the living, as it wishes to satisfy the famine of those who died during the time of crisis. This monster is full of negative energy from all the victims.
17- Hyousube
Who eats the harvest of the Japanese peasants? hyosube is a demon looking like dwarf who come eggplants and lives in the orchards of the peasants. is naughtyeither and reckless, since anyr human who looks at the eyes, will die slow and painfully. These beings they walk blatantly in the night.
18- The Yamamba
It is considered a demon by some and a deity by others. She is an old-looking creature who sometimes helps those who get lost in the woods find their way home, but other times she eats the…