Yokai of Kyūshū
The southern island is one of the kappa's great homelands, where the water-imp goes by a dozen local names. From the Nabeshima cat of Saga to the forests of Yakushima, Kyushu's folklore runs deep.
Basho no Sei
芭蕉精The spirit of a banana plant that takes a woman's shape on rainy nights and speaks to whoever answers.
mysterious
Yamawaro
山童A one-eyed, hairy mountain child—the kappa's winter form—that helps loggers in exchange for food.
ambiguous
Sagari
下がりA horse's head that dangles from an old hackberry tree, neighing to frighten passersby.
eerie
Suiko
水虎A fierce, scaled water-tiger relative of the kappa that drags victims beneath the river.
fierce
Hyosube
兵主部A hairy, grinning river yokai—cousin of the kappa—that loves eggplants and startles bathers.
mischievous
Koto-furunushi
琴古主A forgotten koto that comes alive to sound old melodies no one plays anymore.
sorrowful
Seto-taisho
瀬戸大将A little general armored in cast-off cups and plates who marshals the household crockery.
playful
Amabie
アマビエA three-legged, beaked mermaid-like being that rises from the sea to foretell and ward off epidemics.
benevolent
Kodama
木霊The spirit that dwells in an old tree; felling its host brings misfortune.
benevolent
Nure-onna
濡女A serpent-bodied woman by the water who lures victims to their doom.
sinister
Bakeneko
化け猫A cat that gains supernatural powers with age and walks on two legs.
vengeful
Kappa
河童A mischievous, turtle-like river imp with a water-filled dish on its head.
mischievous