Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the University of Essex's Myth Reading Group to run a session on Japanese folklore. The group is part of the university's Centre for Myth Studies, which aims to support and promote the study of myth. For the past two terms, the Myth Reading Group has been focusing on trees... Continue Reading →
Tottori may be Japan's least populated prefecture in terms of people, but if it's yōkai you're counting then it will come out on top. In the city of Sakaiminato, they have taken over the streets with their somewhat disturbing charm. In Japanese folklore, yōkai are mischievous supernatural creatures akin to spirits or demons in Western culture. The... Continue Reading →
UPDATE: So thrilled that this story has now been published by the lovely folks over at Do You Know the Story? and is accompanied by an beautiful illustration by my friend Kimberley Ford. Support them by following on Facebook and Twitter to discover and share amazing stories and artwork from around the world. It is said that dogs are our best friends, and... Continue Reading →
In my experience, where there are castles there are also stories. Himeji is no exception. This vibrant, serene city is also home to one of Japan's most famous ghost stories. Japan has hundreds of ghost stories, known as 怪談 which is pronounced kaidan. Living near Himeji made it was impossible not to learn a kaidan called 'Banchō Sarayashiki.' Its... Continue Reading →
Ocean folklore kindles my imagination like nothing else.Salty wind, sandy toes, and the scent of seaweed are my home. Ocean folklore kindles my imagination like nothing else. Earlier this year, I travelled to Mie Prefecture on the east coast of Japan. It is a reserved, quaint place where the ocean's influence is inescapable. Here is the... Continue Reading →
Most people know that rice is a prevalent food in Japan. But apart from being a source of nutrition, rice also has cultural and folkloric significance attached to it. New Year Mochi Much of Japan's folklore is based on the concept of animism, due to the ancient Shinto belief that every object has a spirit. This... Continue Reading →
I feel a close affinity with deer. They can be timid creatures, but underneath their gentleness they hold wisdom and strength. Their timidness lends them an almost mythical reputation in some places. The elusive deer, somewhere in the woods, quiet and unseen. Maybe watching you. No harm in that. Just watching, and then slipping away. Deer... Continue Reading →
When I heard that Zoë Marriott had a new book coming out, I was excited. Then I discovered that this book was a retelling of the fairy tale 'Beauty & the Beast,' set in a fictional, magical version of feudal Japan. Then I started reading it, & realised it involved Yuki-Onna, one of the most fearsome... Continue Reading →
Imagine going to boil some water, but your kettle transforms into a raccoon and runs away. Or turning a light on, to find your paper lampshade grinning at you and waggling a long tongue. You might have a spirit problem, but these are no ordinary poltergeists. Meet the tsukumogami. Tsukumogami (付喪神) is the collective name given to a type of... Continue Reading →
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