Tonight's story features an onryō, the most terrifying of Japanese ghosts. Fans of yokai folklore might even think this story sounds somewhat familiar. There's a clear connection to one of Japan's most famous ghost tales, Sarayashiki. Everything from the ghost's name (Kiku), to the setting (Himeji castle; mentioned later on in the story), to the
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A-Yokai-A-Day: How Sandayū From Chikuzen Province Slept With a Ghost
Tonight's story deals with a yūrei, or a ghost. We've seen a few horrific monsters so far, but, while there is no shortage of terrifying ghost stories, tonight's…
A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bōrei of Tsuruga Province
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A-Yokai-A-Day: Munemushi
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A-Yokai-A-Day: Kanshaku
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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…
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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…
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Tonight's tale uses us the generic term "bakemono" in the title again. However, within the story the original text uses the word kijin—鬼神 meaning oni goddess—to describe her…
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A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono in the Outhouse
Tonight's story is very short and, if I'm being honest, doesn't translate too well into English. In Japanese, the language is creepy and evocative, but translated into English…
A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of Komatsu Castle in Ōshū
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A-Yokai-A-Day: The Bakemono of Onoderamura in Sagami Province
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Tonight's story is a variation on a folktale that is famous all over the world. The Tale of the Peony Lantern has been featured in A-Yokai-A-Day before, and…
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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…
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A-Yokai-A-Day: Hakoiri musume (page 22)
If you enjoy A-Yokai-A-Day, please consider joining my Patreon. Today Heiji comes up with a plan to make money (with the mermaid’s help, of course). From the two-page…
A-Yokai-A-Day: Hakoiri musume (page 24)
If you enjoy A-Yokai-A-Day, please consider joining my Patreon. It seems like Heiji’s scheme was a success! So successful, in fact, that is spawned copycat businesses. Today we’ll…
A-Yokai-A-Day: Hakoiri musume (page 6)
If you enjoy A-Yokai-A-Day, please consider joining my Patreon. Like yesterday’s page, today’s page is full of absurdities. Kyōden’s hyperbolic metaphors for the depth of love between man…
A-Yokai-A-Day: Hakoiri musume (page 20)
If you enjoy A-Yokai-A-Day, please consider joining my Patreon. A courtesan’s debut was a very big and costly event. Girls were expected to buy their dresses, beds, etc.…
A-Yokai-A-Day: Hakoiri musume (page 12)
If you enjoy A-Yokai-A-Day, please consider joining my Patreon. If this were a Disney story, you’d expect there to be a song by now. Well, in this scene,…
A-Yokai-A-Day 2022 Index: Shokoku hyakumonogatari
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A-Yokai-A-Day: Hakoiri musume (page 18)
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A-Yokai-A-Day: Hakoiri musume (page 30)
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