University of California Press The Book Yokai: Mysterious Creatures Japanese Folklore

The book came in great condition. I have started reading it and the book is brimming with information & history on the beliefs of yokai. I also appreciate the wonderful black and white illustrations by Shinonome Kijin. It breathes life to the academic and insightful text of the authoelr Michael Dylan Foster. One should get a copy if you are into this kind of interest.

Part one is a history of yokai and it starts with an examination of works that either depict yokai or concern yokai before such a noun existed, he examines picture scrolls, mokkan, setsurra, scarce fragments of writing and the oldest complete texts, Hojiki and Nihonsnoki, in which the dragon called Yamata No Orochi appears. Part II is the yokai codex in which he attempts to classify yokai and he starts by pointing out that Toriyama Sekein was the first to make a catalog of yokai, a mix of traditonal yokai and those that he made up. Chapter 5 concerns yokai that are associated with the natural world, especially forests and mountians. Examples are Kodama, Oni, Yamahiko, Tsuchigumo, Tengu, Mukadie, Yamamba, Kijimuno, and Ninmenju. Chapter 6 concerns yokai that are associated with water and examples of these are Ningyo, Kappa, Kawauso, Hyosuke, and Moryo. Chapter 7 concerns Yokai of the countryside that are close to human habitations and while there are no repeats from Chapter 5 you are right to wonder if there is some crossover, the author explains that his methods of classification are not perfect as a number of yokai can be encountered in different places. Examples of yokai covered in this chapter are Sunake-Baba, Yuki Onna, Kamaitachi, Kitsune, Tanuki, Mujina, Babu, Raiju, Nue, Kuri-Kire_Uma, and Tuschinoko. Chapter 8 concerns Yokai that are affiliated with human settlements but the author points out that some of these are also found in the countryside. Some Yokai in this chapter are Tsogashi, Urume, Kamikiri, Bakeneko and Nekomata (supernatural cats that he opted to cover in one entry), Kudna, and the Toibe No Hanako San, the latter is a ghostly girl who haunts toilet. The final chapter covers domestic Yokai, some examples are Yanabi, Kasa-Bake, Akaname, Makuba-Gaeshi and Baku. Most of the illustrations are by Shinonome Kijin and are excellent and have a traditional look without looking like copies. There are a few photos, one is of a centipede that inspired a yokai, as some yokai are based upon real critters such as foxes, raccoon dogs, and weasels. There are also a few select examples of traditional art by unknown artists that are reproduced with the permission of museums. All of the pics are in monochrome This is a scholarly work but it is not a dry read and might appeal to those who have books such as Yokai Attack, and the entries in the second section are often detailed, something that those into yokai, and those into Japanese culture in general, will find a delight to read.

O livro é maravilhoso, profundo e rigoroso mas de uma escrita cativante e fácil. É um livro sério e apaixonado pelos yokais. Muito bom!

I'd had expected a little more illustrations but it is a helpful book to understand the yokai phenomena

Always had an interest in Yokai and have been looking for a book that neatly organizes and explains them. This is it! This book has great visuals and pictures that outline different Yokai and really go in to who they are and how they came to be. Also provides you with a reason or purpose behind each one. Great book, so glad I found it!

Wie schon bei "Pandemonium and Parade" angeführt, macht halt der Inhalt dieses Buch unumgänglich für Yokai-Fans, die auch an den geschichtlichen und anderen Inhalten interessiert sind, ohne aber in Japanologie gebildet zu sein oder Japanisch-Kenntnisse zu besitzen.Die Qualität des Buches selbst (Papier etc . ist etwas besser als bei "Pandemonium an Parade".Ich würds aber wahrscheinlich auch auf Klopapier geschrieben kaufen, der Preis ist halt im Vergleich zu unseren Taschenbüchern etwas hoch, aber man kanns halt auch nicht in der Trafik um die Ecke kaufen.