Check out these articles
-
Video article 1:11
Fuku Otoko 2023 – Who Will Be This Year's Lucky Man?! The Annual, High-Profile Gate Opening Ritual of Hyogo's Nishinomiya Shrine Is Back After a 3-Year Hiatus!
NewsTraditional CultureFestivals & Events- 34 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:05
A Wedding at Namba Yasaka Shrine, the Iconic Shrine Shaped Like a Lion's Head! Experience a Traditional Japanese Wedding in the Heart of Osaka, Japan!
Traditional CultureTravelLife & Business- 6 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 10:56
Fukuzaki in Hyogo Prefecture Is a Place Where History, Literature and Nature Mingle. Visit the Town With Nostalgic Scenery and a Hint of Mystery...
Local PRTravel- 24 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 1:53
Feel the Spirit of Japan With the Beautiful Prayer "Kagura," at Ise Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture! Introducing Highlights of Popular Sightseeing Spots That You Won't Want to Miss When Visiting Ise-Shima!
Traditional CultureHistory- 343 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 6:40
Easy-To-Make Origami Cranes That Both Kids and Adults Can Enjoy! Origami Is a Japanese Art That Turns Squares of Paper Into Beautiful 3D Works of Art!
Traditional CultureAction & AdventureHistory- 147 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:54
The "Ako Lion Dance": A Dynamic, Traditional Japanese Lion Dance of Ako, Hyogo That Has Long Been Enjoyed in Japan; Watch the Lively Lion Dance Parade From the Roadside in This Video!
Festivals & EventsHistory- 613 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 1:00
"Katsuura Big Hinamatsuri" – A Spectacular Event With a Large Number of Hina Dolls Lined Up on the Stone Steps of an Elegant Shrine! Enjoy Japan’s Traditional Celebration "Hina Matsuri" on a Big Scale in Katsuura, Chiba!
Traditional Culture- 65 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 6:03
Okinawan Bullfighting - Experience a Fierce Battle Between 2 Beasts in Uruma, Okinawa!
Traditional CultureTravel- 139 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 4:45
The Spooky "Kumano Hongu Taisha Reitaisai Festival" of Tanabe, Wakayama. Enjoy the Ancient Japanese Festival Handed Down From Generation to Generation, With More Than 2,000 Years of History!
Festivals & EventsTraditional CultureHistory- 77 plays
- YouTube
Japan's Ancient Yokai - Learn About the Ghosts and Other Monsters and Their Importance in Japanese Culture!
Introducing a Video on Japanese Yokai
This video, titled "Yokai - The Monsters That Ward off Plagues With the Wishes of the People" (妖怪 〜疫病退散 ! 人々の願いを込めて〜), was uploaded by "Japan Video Topics - Japanese" (Japan Video Topics - 日本語).
In Japan, there is a culture of yokai, Japanese folklore which believes in the existence of numerous supernatural monsters and ghosts.
The yokai introduced from 0:19 are the ones that most Japanese people are familiar with.
The first one is the Tengu.
Tengu, who roam the mountains, are probably the most well-known yokai.
Next, there's Hitotsume kozo, a monster that appears out of thin air to scare and play with people.
The third yokai is Zashiki warashi, a monster that appears in the form of a child and is known as a yokai that brings prosperity to one's home.
Yokai Depicted in the Past and Present
The International Research Center for Japanese Studies has been conducting research on yokai, and one of the documents, the Hyakki Yagyo Emaki, depicts many yokai and appeared in the 16th century.
As time passed, these once feared monsters became a part of Japanese people's daily life.
You can see the Hyakki Yagyo Emaki at 0:48 in the video.
Even today, yokai are seen in a number of different works.
Gegege no Kitaro, which can be seen from 1:04 in the video, is a famous manga featuring yokai, and has also been made into an anime.
In addition, there are many other popular works in which yokai appear, such as "Natsume's Book of Friends."
Fukusaki, Hyogo - Revitalizing a Town Through Yokai
In Fukusaki, Hyogo, the birthplace of the folklorist Kunio Yanagita, author of "Yokai Story" (妖怪談義), the town is being revitalized with the help of yokai.
When a statue of a kappa jumping out of a pond was installed, it attracted attention from all across Japan.
On the benches of the town, visitors will find fascinating yokai sculptures, including kappa, oni, and many others.
There are also some unusual and humorous yokai sculptures on display, such as a yokai relaxing on a convenience store bench, an oni taking a selfie with a smartphone, and a tengu working in a suit.
Since then, the town has held the "National Yokai Modeling Contest" and sold plastic models of kappa and other yokai, leading to an increase in the number of tourists.
The Many Yokai Towns of Japan
Fukusai is not the only town in Japan with yokai.
The town of Yamashiro in Tokushima Prefecture is known as Oboke Yokai Village, where yokai folklore is still passed down to this day.
In addition, yokai have appeared in various places such as Mizuki Shigeru Road in Sakaiminato, Yokai Street in Kyoto, and in Yokaichi , Shiga, yokai are being used to revitalize towns.
Amabie - A Yokai as a Symbol to Ward off Plagues
Amabie, introduced from 2:30 in the video, are yokai that are said to have appeared in the sea in Higo Province, present-day Kumamoto Prefecture, during the Edo Period (1603-1868 AD) in Japan.
They are said to have predicted good harvests and warded off epidemics, saying, "If an epidemic should appear, show the people my image, that their plagues shall spread unto me," before disappearing into the sea.
Amidst the difficult situation caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus, information about Amabie began to spread.
The cute Amabie, a half-human, half-fish, but not in a ghost story kind of way, triggered the Amabie boom.
The boom, known as the "Amabie Festival," is just as Amabie once said it would be, and people have been posting pictures and illustrations of Amabie on social networking sites.
Using the hashtag "#アマビエチャレンジ" (#AmabieChallenge) it has become an internet phenomenon.
Many amabie goods have also appeared, including figurines, Japanese sweets, cafe items, origami, and even coloring books.
The mascot craze has become so popular that it has even made the news outside of Japan.
Summary of Japan's Yokai Culture
With the Amabie boom, shrines around Japan, including Gokoku Shrine in Himeji, began to hand out charms depicting Amabie to worshippers.
In addition to Amabie, there are also Amabiko and Arie, yokai that are very similar to Amabie.
In the past, when there was an epidemic of cholera in the late Edo Period, Amabie was also popular as a way to ward off cholera.
Japan's yokai culture has been around for hundreds of years.
From the distant past to the present, they continue to be a part of Japanese people's lives.
AccessMap (Google Maps)
-
Video article 4:03
You've Never Seen a View Quite Like This! The Beautiful Tulip Fields Covering Alps Azumino National Government Park in Azumino, Nagano Prefecture, Are a Sight You’ve Got to See to Believe!
Travel Local PR- 412 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 4:03
The Video That's Making Headlines Around the World! This Video Introduction to Japan, Which Captures the Eyes of Viewers Moment by Moment, Is Both High Quality and Inspiring!
Travel Action & Adventure Modern Culture- 2.97K plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 4:22
Oshino Hakkai – Breathtaking Scenery at the Foot of Mt. Fuji!
Travel- 645 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:41
The Goto Islands - A Holy Land for Christians, this Popular Tourist Destination is a World Heritage Site Full of Beautiful Churches and Nostalgic Port Town Scenery Off the Coast of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan's Kyushu Region!
Travel- 84 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:46
Chinoike Jigoku (The Blood Pond of Hell) – A Blood Red Hot Spring at Beppu Hot Springs...
Travel- 692 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:34
The Beautiful Neon Glow of Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, the City That Never Sleeps! Be Intoxicated By the Mysterious Atmosphere of the Best Shopping District in the East!
Travel- 299 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 33:29
The 20 Best Tokyo Cherry Blossoms Spots in 2023 + Information About Cherry Blossom Season in Tokyo
Travel Nature- 15 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:05
The Mt. Omuro Mountain Burning – A Traditional Event Heralding the Arrival of Spring on Japan's Izu Peninsula. Witness the Roaring Flames of This 700-Year-Old Tradition in Shizuoka Prefecture
Travel Traditional Culture Nature- 26 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:35
The Beautiful Landscape of Kumano Kodo, A World Heritage Site in Wakayama Prefecture. This Historic Power Spot Is Full of Stone Steps and Sacred Waterfalls, Perfect for Your Instagram!
Travel- 784 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:50
Kyoto at Night - Like a Scene From a Movie! Enjoy the Magnificent Scenery of Kyoto in Beautiful 4K!
Travel- 604 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:50
Yumori Tanakaya: 100% Natural Spring Water, Outside Bathing Areas, and Amazing Grilled Dishes. This Secluded, Luxury Hot-Spring Inn Is a Must-Stay!
Travel- 325 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 4:46
A Look at the Cute Eurasian Red Squirrel of Hokkaido! These Critters Are Something Out of a Fairy Tale!
Travel Nature Living Things- 110 plays
- YouTube
2 Comments