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New Kickstarter!

Hey everybody! I am launching a Kickstarter in just a few days! The Palace of the Dragon King is my fifth illustrated yokai encyclopedia. Following in the footsteps…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Genshin of Mt. Hiei Saw Hell and Came BackBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Genshin of Mt. Hiei Saw Hell and Came Back

A-Yokai-A-Day: How Genshin of Mt. Hiei Saw Hell and Came Back

🦇 Happy Halloween!!! 🦇 Tonight's is the final story in this year's A-Yokai-A-Day. Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed these stories and my paintings (and my…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Hashii Yasaburō Ferried a GhostBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Hashii Yasaburō Ferried a Ghost

A-Yokai-A-Day: How Hashii Yasaburō Ferried a Ghost

Tonight's story is one of my favorites in Shokoku hyakumonogatari. Something about the ghost being upside-down is so creepy and visually striking. Not only that, it's part love…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How A Wager Led to a Child’s DecapitationBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How A Wager Led to a Child’s Decapitation

A-Yokai-A-Day: How A Wager Led to a Child’s Decapitation

With only three stories left in this year's A-Yokai-A-Day, it's time for me to plug my Patreon again. If you like these stories and illustrations, I do this…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How the Obsession in Love Letters Became an OniBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How the Obsession in Love Letters Became an Oni

A-Yokai-A-Day: How the Obsession in Love Letters Became an Oni

Tonight's story features another oni and another chigo. The chigo here is presented as a sex symbol, the embodiment of the ideal male youth. The oni is born…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Tanuki Who Transformed into an Old Woman at Nabari, Iga ProvinceBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Tanuki Who Transformed into an Old Woman at Nabari, Iga Province

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Tanuki Who Transformed into an Old Woman at Nabari, Iga Province

Tonight's story is another one featuring a tanuki, and like the one from last week, it has a bloody ending. This time, though, the yōkai is a lot…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: Watanabe Shingorō’s Daughter and Her Affection for a Chigo in WakamiyaBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: Watanabe Shingorō’s Daughter and Her Affection for a Chigo in Wakamiya

A-Yokai-A-Day: Watanabe Shingorō’s Daughter and Her Affection for a Chigo in Wakamiya

Tonight's story is another one dealing with attachment. And once again, snakes are used as a symbol for that attachment. One term that might be unfamiliar to some…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for (My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: How Hating a Stepdaughter Backfired in Shimōsa ProvinceBackground image for (My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: How Hating a Stepdaughter Backfired in Shimōsa Province

(My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: How Hating a Stepdaughter Backfired in Shimōsa Province

I'm resting my broken arm today to make sure I don't over-stress it, so my wife has kindly taken over for the illustration again. Tonight's story features a…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Arrogance of Ukita of Bizen Province’s WidowBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Arrogance of Ukita of Bizen Province’s Widow

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Arrogance of Ukita of Bizen Province’s Widow

Tonight's story describes the workings of one of the most popular yokai there is: a tengu. But first, there's a few cultural terms to talk about in this…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Elder of Saikōji in Bungo Province Who Was Attached to GoldBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Elder of Saikōji in Bungo Province Who Was Attached to Gold

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Elder of Saikōji in Bungo Province Who Was Attached to Gold

Tonight's story is another example of a problem caused by attachment to material things -- the core sin of Buddhism. That this story takes place at a temple,…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of Iga Province During the Keichō EraBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of Iga Province During the Keichō Era

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of Iga Province During the Keichō Era

Tonight's story is a short and strange collection of happenings that occurred at the house of "a certain samurai" in Iga Province during the Keichō era. Iga was…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Old Tanuki Disguised as a Samurai’s WifeBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Old Tanuki Disguised as a Samurai’s Wife

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Old Tanuki Disguised as a Samurai’s Wife

Tonight's story features a tanuki, a yokai that is beloved by almost everyone. I have to wonder what the tanuki was thinking when it decided to do what…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Illness of Lord Ikeda Sanzaemon of Harima ProvinceBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Illness of Lord Ikeda Sanzaemon of Harima Province

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Illness of Lord Ikeda Sanzaemon of Harima Province

Tonight's story is based on events that took place in 1611 in one of the most haunted locations in Japan: Himeji Castle. But first, two vocabulary words that…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Ao Oni of Kaga ProvinceBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Ao Oni of Kaga Province

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Ao Oni of Kaga Province

Tonight's story is rather brief, but it's rather funny. The idea of all the bravest samurai from the three provinces of Kaga, Etchū, and Noto (comprising all of…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Three-Way Magic Contest in the Presence of MichinagaBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Three-Way Magic Contest in the Presence of Michinaga

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Three-Way Magic Contest in the Presence of Michinaga

Tonight's story features several famous figures from Japanese history: Fujiwara no Michinaga (966 – 1028), Kanshū (945-1008), Abe no Seimei (921 – 1005), and Tanba no Shigemasa (946-1011).…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Okushima Kengyō Climbed the Bureaucracy Thanks to a Mountain GodBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Okushima Kengyō Climbed the Bureaucracy Thanks to a Mountain God

A-Yokai-A-Day: How Okushima Kengyō Climbed the Bureaucracy Thanks to a Mountain God

Tonight's story doesn't feature a yokai, but a yama no kami (mountain spirit/god) instead. Well, that sort of begs the question of what is a yokai vs what…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Mayoinomono That Was Afraid of the Go’ō of NigatsudōBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Mayoinomono That Was Afraid of the Go’ō of Nigatsudō

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Mayoinomono That Was Afraid of the Go’ō of Nigatsudō

Tonight's story features a great word that I haven't heard in other stories: mayoimono! This is another word for ghost, and literally means "lost/wandering thing." I love it.…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for (My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Man Who Had His Bones Pulled Out by a BakemonoBackground image for (My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Man Who Had His Bones Pulled Out by a Bakemono

(My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Man Who Had His Bones Pulled Out by a Bakemono

Today's illustration was once again done by my wife, to give my arm a day's rest while it heals. I'll be back to painting again tomorrow though. Tonight's…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Onryō of Abe Sōbei’s WifeBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Onryō of Abe Sōbei’s Wife

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Onryō of Abe Sōbei’s Wife

Tonight's story features an onryō, the most terrifying of all Japanese monsters. (Yes, even more terrifying than the toilet stroker!) The fear of ghosts that come back from…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Attachment of Shirai Sukesaburō of Gōshū’s Daughter, and How She Became a DaijaBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Attachment of Shirai Sukesaburō of Gōshū’s Daughter, and How She Became a Daija

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Attachment of Shirai Sukesaburō of Gōshū’s Daughter, and How She Became a Daija

Tonight's story is a sad one, with tragedy upon tragedy piling up. The yokai is called a daija, which literally means "giant snake." However, when looking at Edo…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: Ōishi Matanojō and the Blessing From the ChijinBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: Ōishi Matanojō and the Blessing From the Chijin

A-Yokai-A-Day: Ōishi Matanojō and the Blessing From the Chijin

I've recovered enough movement in my arm to start painting again, which is a much more pleasant way to spend the day than sitting around and doing nothing.…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for (My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of the Outhouse in Kasamari, Ōmi ProvinceBackground image for (My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of the Outhouse in Kasamari, Ōmi Province

(My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of the Outhouse in Kasamari, Ōmi Province

Tonight's story is a tale that pops up time and time again in almost every prefecture. It's the story of kurote, or the hairy hand that reaches up…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for (My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Tengu Disguised as a Zatō in Iga ProvinceBackground image for (My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Tengu Disguised as a Zatō in Iga Province

(My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Tengu Disguised as a Zatō in Iga Province

My wife is continuing to pull weight for me with her illustrations. Today's yokai is a tengu, and he behaves in a typically tengu way: by punishing those…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for (My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Corpse That Came Back to Life in Echizen ProvinceBackground image for (My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Corpse That Came Back to Life in Echizen Province

(My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Corpse That Came Back to Life in Echizen Province

I took it easy and rested my arm today, while my wife did another illustration. She was very happy to read all of your comments! The good news…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for (My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono That Lived in the Pond on Lord Mori Mimasaka’s EstateBackground image for (My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono That Lived in the Pond on Lord Mori Mimasaka’s Estate

(My Wife Draws) A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono That Lived in the Pond on Lord Mori Mimasaka’s Estate

Well, my elbow has swollen up from the break and it was too painful to paint today. I'll likely be out of commission for another day or two…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Ōbōzu Bakemono at Lord Ogasawara’s HouseBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Ōbōzu Bakemono at Lord Ogasawara’s House

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Ōbōzu Bakemono at Lord Ogasawara’s House

After painting tonight's yokai, I slipped on the stairs and broke my drawing arm... Which is pretty upsetting on top of being painful. It's not a terrible break,…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How the Mistress of a Certain Man in Kii Province Died and Obsession Brought Her BackBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How the Mistress of a Certain Man in Kii Province Died and Obsession Brought Her Back

A-Yokai-A-Day: How the Mistress of a Certain Man in Kii Province Died and Obsession Brought Her Back

Tonight's yokai is another ghost. However, while yesterday's was described as a yūrei due to being faint and eerie, this one is much more violent. The story never…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Yūrei of the KirishitansBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Yūrei of the Kirishitans

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Yūrei of the Kirishitans

Tonight's yokai is a yūrei, or simply, a ghost. There are lots of ways to say "ghost" in Japanese. Yūrei literally means "faint spirit," and it is used…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Attachment of Saigō Iyo’s WifeBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Attachment of Saigō Iyo’s Wife

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Attachment of Saigō Iyo’s Wife

Tonight's tale takes place in Gōshū, which is another name for Ōmi Province, or what is today Shiga Prefecture. Sawayama is in what is now Hikone City, however…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How a Man From Gojō, Kyōto Was Punished For Scraping the Gold Foil Off of a BuddhaBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How a Man From Gojō, Kyōto Was Punished For Scraping the Gold Foil Off of a Buddha

A-Yokai-A-Day: How a Man From Gojō, Kyōto Was Punished For Scraping the Gold Foil Off of a Buddha

Tonight's story repeats some common themes — namely, a problem caused by attachment to material wealth, and snakes being used to represent that attachment. This story is interesting…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of Komatsu Castle in ŌshūBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of Komatsu Castle in Ōshū

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of Komatsu Castle in Ōshū

Before we get to today's yokai, I'd like to take a moment to point out that both this website and yokai.com are presented ad-free and paywall-free. That's because…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Horikoshi From Tōtomi Province Was Infatuated With His Daughter-in-LawBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Horikoshi From Tōtomi Province Was Infatuated With His Daughter-in-Law

A-Yokai-A-Day: How Horikoshi From Tōtomi Province Was Infatuated With His Daughter-in-Law

Today is the first day of October, and that marks the start of A-Yokai-A-Day! I hope you'll join me in sharing yokai on social media/blogs/wherever using the #ayokaiaday…

Matthew Meyer

Coming Soon: A-Yokai-A-Day 2023!

Hello readers and yokai lovers! It's been nearly a year since I've posted here, as I've been more active on various social media sites, Patreon, and yokai.com these…

Matthew Meyer

A-Yokai-A-Day 2022 Index: Shokoku hyakumonogatari

Thanks to everyone for reading 2022’s A-Yokai-A-Day selections from Shokoku hyakumonogatari! If you missed a day, or want to go back and read it again, here is an…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Farmer in Kumano Whose Wife was Taken by a HengeBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Farmer in Kumano Whose Wife was Taken by a Henge

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Farmer in Kumano Whose Wife was Taken by a Henge

Tonight's yōkai is once again referred to by the generic word henge. Essentially it's a shape-shifter, although we don't know what its true form is. However, I find…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Unshō, a Monk from Shima Province, Escaped from a Poisonous SerpentBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Unshō, a Monk from Shima Province, Escaped from a Poisonous Serpent

A-Yokai-A-Day: How Unshō, a Monk from Shima Province, Escaped from a Poisonous Serpent

Tonight's yōkai is another serpent like the one we saw a couple of weeks ago. Contrary to my normal pattern of leaving yōkai names untranslated, I use English…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Maō Who Turned into a Woman to Hinder a Monk’s PassingBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Maō Who Turned into a Woman to Hinder a Monk’s Passing

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Maō Who Turned into a Woman to Hinder a Monk’s Passing

Tonight's story talks about a maō. This word is made up of two kanji: 魔 (ma; demon, devil, evil spirit) and 王 (ō; king). It's a generic term…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Nekomata of Echigo ProvinceBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Nekomata of Echigo Province

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Nekomata of Echigo Province

Animal yōkai are always popular with readers, both abroad and in Japan. I found that with the reaction to my latest book, The Fox's Wedding! Tonight's story is…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How a Tsuchigumo Turned into a Woman in KagaBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How a Tsuchigumo Turned into a Woman in Kaga

A-Yokai-A-Day: How a Tsuchigumo Turned into a Woman in Kaga

Tonight's yōkai is a tsuchigumo: an interesting term with a lot of history. Literally it means "earth spider," and they are depicted in scroll paintings as gigantic monster…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Rokutan no Genshichi Saved an Adulterous WomanBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Rokutan no Genshichi Saved an Adulterous Woman

A-Yokai-A-Day: How Rokutan no Genshichi Saved an Adulterous Woman

While yesterday's story was quite Halloween-ish and creepy, today's is a bit more amusing. It still has plenty of creepy elements though. Since Shokoku hyakumonogatari is written as…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Samurai’s Shiryō from SendaiBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Samurai’s Shiryō from Sendai

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Samurai’s Shiryō from Sendai

The creature in tonight's story is referred to as a shiryō. This is essentially identical to the term bōrei, which we've seen several times so far this month.…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Rokurokubi of Fuchū, Echizen ProvinceBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Rokurokubi of Fuchū, Echizen Province

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Rokurokubi of Fuchū, Echizen Province

The first place that I lived in Japan was Fuchū, Echizen, so this story is very special to me. Although I never encountered any yōkai when I lived…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of Onoderamura in Sagami ProvinceBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of Onoderamura in Sagami Province

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of Onoderamura in Sagami Province

The yōkai in tonight's story is unnamed, but it is referred as both a bakemono and a henge. The assumption, then, is that it is probably a shapeshifted…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Attachment of a Goze at an Inn in Mitsuke, Tōtōmi ProvinceBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Attachment of a Goze at an Inn in Mitsuke, Tōtōmi Province

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Attachment of a Goze at an Inn in Mitsuke, Tōtōmi Province

The title of this story refers to a goze. Goze were a female counterpart to zatō, who we looked at earlier this month. The women were traveling entertainers…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Denzaemon from Amagasaki Met a Bakemono at a Hot SpringBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Denzaemon from Amagasaki Met a Bakemono at a Hot Spring

A-Yokai-A-Day: How Denzaemon from Amagasaki Met a Bakemono at a Hot Spring

Today's yōkai is another generic-sounding "bakemono." It may have been a shapechanged kitsune or tanuki, although they often prefer to play tricks rather than outright kill their victims.…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono Called Shunoban at the Suwa Shrine in AizuBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono Called Shunoban at the Suwa Shrine in Aizu

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono Called Shunoban at the Suwa Shrine in Aizu

These days shunoban is commonly known as shunobon. It appears as shunobon on yokai.com and in my book The Fox's Wedding. The reason for the spelling change is…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Killing Turned a Man’s Hair WhiteBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Killing Turned a Man’s Hair White

A-Yokai-A-Day: How Killing Turned a Man’s Hair White

Tonight's story may seem a bit weird to Western readers with its focus on "killing." What may seem to some as simple hunting or fishing, whether for fun…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Ghost of Honnōji Shichibyōe’s WifeBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Ghost of Honnōji Shichibyōe’s Wife

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Ghost of Honnōji Shichibyōe’s Wife

One thing I love about the stories in Shokoku hyakumonogatari is that they are so specific about the locations these stories take place. Some of them go right…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Kurita Genpachi Slew a BakemonoBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: How Kurita Genpachi Slew a Bakemono

A-Yokai-A-Day: How Kurita Genpachi Slew a Bakemono

As I mentioned, the Mononoke Ichi yokai market and hyakki yagyo night parade was yesterday in Kyoto. This was the first night parade since the covid pandemic, and…

Matthew Meyer

Featured image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bōrei of Tsuruga ProvinceBackground image for A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bōrei of Tsuruga Province

A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bōrei of Tsuruga Province

Today I am in Kyoto attending the Mononoke Ichi flea market and hyakki yagyo night parade. It's been 3 years since the last time this event took place…

Matthew Meyer