
A-Yokai-A-Day: The Apparitions in Yoshida Sōtei’s House; or, The Power of Poetry | MatthewMeyer.net
I'm back from Kyoto's Uzumasa film studio. It was an exhausting event, but really fun! According to the studio, it was the greatest attendance the park has seen in 20 to 30 years! This just goes to show the international appeal of yokai, and how they've become a major tourism force in recent years, especially
Matthew Meyer
A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of Himeji Castle, Banshū | MatthewMeyer.net
Tonight's yokai is a famous one that has appeared not only on yokai.com and A-Yokai-A-Day before, but even in Shokoku hyakumonogatari. Although she is not referred to by name in this story, Osakabe hime is the spirit who inhabits the top floor of Himeji Castle's keep. According to legend, she appears to the lord of
Matthew Meyer
A-Yokai-A-Day: The Obsession of the Woman from Peony Hall | MatthewMeyer.net
Tonight's story is a variation on a folktale that is famous all over the world. The Tale of the Peony Lantern has been featured in A-Yokai-A-Day before, and also appears on yokai.com. It's inspired Toriyama Sekien to create the yokai hone onna, who also has appeared in A-Yokai-A-Day before. This version is clearly based on
Matthew Meyer
A-Yokai-A-Day: Learning the Art of War from Yuzuru no Kannon | MatthewMeyer.net
Tonight's story is from Shimōsa Province, which today covers part of Chiba, Ibaraki, Saitama and Tokyo Prefectures, however, the precise location of Sano nor of the Yuzuru Kannon are not known. It's a strange story in which the main character gets teleported across the country from Shimōsa to Sado in the pursuit of military knowledge.
Matthew Meyer
A-Yokai-A-Day: How the Power of Sake Overcame a Bakemono | MatthewMeyer.net
October has arrived and Spooky Season is upon us! Welcome to another year's season of A-Yokai-A-Day! Every day this month I will translate, illustrate, and post one spooky Japanese folktale on this site. Feel free to join me in sharing yokai online using the #ayokaiaday hashtag! This year continues where last year left off: the
Matthew Meyer