Yokai of Tōhoku
The cold, mountainous northeast is the heartland of Japan's richest folk tradition. It was here, in Iwate, that Yanagita Kunio collected the Tōno Monogatari — and the snow country breeds spirits of blizzard and hearth alike.
Kurozuka
黒塚The hag of Adachigahara, who offered travellers a bed and kept a room they must not open.
menacing
Kokuri-baba
古庫裏婆The widow left in a dead temple's back rooms, who strips the skin from the corpses left at the gate.
sinister
Mayoiga
迷い家A house deep in the mountains with the kettle still boiling and nobody in it; take one bowl home and your family never wants again.
elusive
Namahage
生剥Ogre-masked visiting deities who storm into homes at New Year roaring 'Any crybabies here?'
fierce
Uwan
うわんA voice that suddenly bellows 'Uwan!' from an empty, dilapidated house—and nothing more.
harmless
Kamaitachi
鎌鼬Whirlwind weasels that slash a traveler's legs with sickle-like claws, leaving painless wounds.
swift
Zashiki-warashi
座敷童A childlike house spirit whose presence brings a family fortune.
benevolent
Yuki-onna
雪女A pale, beautiful woman of the snowstorm who freezes travelers to death.
mysterious
Kappa
河童A mischievous, turtle-like river imp with a water-filled dish on its head.
mischievous