Japanese Folklore

Japanese folklore is one of my favourite things and I have decided to gather together some resources and keep them in one place in case any one else is interested in exploring this fascinating topic. I am constantly reading and learning so will update this post as I discover more.

An Imaginary Scene of the Origin of the Cat Stone at Okazaki, from the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road - Utagawa Kuniyoshi, ca. 1850

Folklore

Japanese Folklore and Mythology - New World Encyclopedia
Dictionary of Japanese Buddhist and Shinto Deities, Creatures and Demons (Onmarkproductions)
Japanese Mythology and Folklore
Japanese Folklore: Fushimi Inari-Taisha and Kitsune Fox Legends - Folklore Thursday
Japanese Folklore of the Ocean - Folklore Thursday
Uncanny Japan
Sacred Trees, Shinto Shrines, and the Takasago Pine Story
Lucky Rice Cakes and the Moon Rabbit
Sea Demons, Pearls Divers, and Ise Grand Shrine
Nekomata, cat myths and cat shrines of Japan
6 Things You Should Know About the Inari Fox in Japanese Folklore
Japan’s Folklore Chronicler, Shigeru Mizuki (1922-2015)
Urban legends from Meiji-period Japan
Kodama – The Tree Spirit
Folklore Figures - Traditional Kyoto
Japanese Folklore: Kitsune
Green Shinto Blog

'The Dragon Princess' - Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Folktales

Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan (Full texts) - Sacred Texts
Fairy Tales of Old Japan by William E. Griffis (full texts)
Japanese Fairy Tales by Lafcadio Hearn (full texts)
Japanese Fairy Tales by Theodora Ozaki (full texts)
Tales of Old Japan by Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford (full texts)
Japanese Fairy Tales, Folk Tales and Fables (Fairytalez - full texts)
Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai - Translated Japanese Ghost Stories
Japanese Folklore: Maruyama Okyo and the Ghost of Oyuki
Japanese Stories about Kitsune (Fox Spirits)
10 Classic Japanese Stories
14 Japanese Folktales in a Few Sentences
The Boy Who Drew Cats - Aaron Shepard
Urashima Taro – Japanese Folktale
Tsuru no Ongaeshi – Japanese Folktale
Japanese Folklore Podcasts - Myths and Legends (Podcasts)
Japanese Ghost Stories: Himeji Castle and Okiku’s Well
Tanuki no Kintama – Tanuki’s Giant Balls
The 13 Scariest Japanese Stories Starring Ghosts, Ghouls and Freaky Folklore

'The Ghosts' - Kuniyoshi Utagawa

Yokai - The Supernatural Creatures of Japan

My yokai post on this blog
Yokai.com
Yokai Grove
Tofugu's Yokai Series
Japanese Legends: The Three Most Evil Yokai of Japan - Folklore Thursday
Tanuki: Mischief, Magic and Change in the Japanese Countryside
Tengu: The Japanese Demon That's Basically a Mini-God
Kitsune: The Divine/Evil Fox Yokai
Tanuki: The Canine Yokai with Gigantic Balls
Kappa: Japan's Aquatic, Cucumber-loving, Booty-obsessed Yokai
Magical Mermaids of Japanese Folklore - Ancient Origins
Shinigami: The Grim Reaper of Japanese Folklore - Ancient Origins
10 Horrifying Demons and Spirits of Japanese Folklore
Ghosts and Demons of Japanese Folklore
10 Bizarre Creatures from Japanese Folklore
Choosing the Best Yokai Books for You
Ghosts on the Shore
Ghosts and Demons of Japanese Folklore
Ghosts in Ancient Japan
Yurei: The Ghosts of Japan
7 Japanese Folklore Stories to Know for Your Japanese Holiday
9 weird and terrifying monsters from Japanese mythology
The History of Yokai in Japan! - YouTube
Tengu: The Supernatural Spirit of Japanese Folklore - YouTube

Okiku, Hokusai

Yokai Art

The Yōkai in Japanese Art—What are They?
Yokai: Ghosts, Spirits and Demons - Ronin Gallery
Japanese Supernatural - Art Gallery NSW

Tanuki Priest - Yoshitoshi

Books

The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore - Micahel Dylan Foster
Kaibyo: Supernatural Cats of Japan - Zac Davisson
Yokai Attack by Hiroko Yoda & Matt Alt.
Yurei Attack - Hiroko Yoda & Matt Alt
Japan Supernatural - Art Gallery of NSW
Something Wicked From Japan: Ghosts, Demons and Yokai in Ukiyo-e Masterpieces
Japanese Folktales - Yei Theodora Ozaki
The Boy Who Drew Cats and Other Japanese Fairy Tales - Lafcadio Hearn and Others