Shapeshifters
Japan's best-loved yokai are the henge — animals and spirits that slip into human shape to trick, seduce, or serve. A fox grows tails and wisdom with age; a cat or a tanuki learns to walk as a person; and the oldest of them weave illusions no human eye can catch.
Gyobu-danuki
隠神刑部The tanuki who commanded eight hundred and eight others beneath Matsuyama castle, until a retainers' quarrel turned the whole clan out.
proud
Tasaburo-tanuki
太三郎狸The tanuki of Yashima, who would replay the Heike's last battle in the air for anyone who fed him well.
benevolent
Gotoku-neko
五徳猫A two-tailed cat wearing a hearth trivet as a crown, puffing the embers back to life.
playful
Kasha
火車A fiery cat-beast that descends at funerals to snatch away the corpses of the wicked.
sinister
Tamamo-no-Mae
玉藻前A nine-tailed fox disguised as a beautiful court lady who bewitches an emperor.
cunning
Nekomata
猫又An old cat whose tail splits in two as it becomes a powerful yokai.
sinister
Bake-danuki
狸A jolly shapeshifting raccoon dog, rival prankster to the fox.
playful
Kitsune
狐A shapeshifting fox spirit that gains tails and wisdom with age.
cunning
Bakeneko
化け猫A cat that gains supernatural powers with age and walks on two legs.
vengeful