Abstract

The yokai(supernatural beings) that once roamed the ancient capital still dwell in Kyoto today.
This book explores tales of Kyoto’s yokai, using parody pages and rich visual materials to introduce their unique personalities and mysterious ways of life.
What if yokai lived in modern Kyoto?
Meet Shuten Dōji, who gave up becoming an acupuncturist due to his fear of needles, and Hashihime, a high school girl recovering from heartbreak. These and other yokai—22 in total—are reimagined as human-like characters with their own quirks and struggles, humorously brought to life through creative storytelling and illustrations.
In the second half of each chapter, detailed explanations delve into the origins and folklore of each yokai, accompanied by abundant reference materials and illustrations.
The book also features a special dialogue between yokai scholar Kunihiko Tsutsumi and illustrator Mutsuki Munk, titled “Yokai as Characters.”
A must-read for anyone fascinated by Kyoto’s unseen world, this book invites you to experience the feeling that yokai might just be lurking in your everyday life.

Author’s Information

Born in Tokyo in 1953. Professor Emeritus at Kyoto Seika University, Ph.D. (Literature).
A lifelong researcher of Edo-period ghost stories. In addition to his academic work, he leads the ghost-story reading group Hyakumonogatari no Yakata (“The House of One Hundred Tales”), performing at temples and shrines around Kyoto to bring the world of Edo ghost stories to life.