(For the same reasons, I don’t think I’ll ever take a cruise. What if a kraken or something pops up? I’m not going to take any chances.)

The Japanese don’t always have the luxury of getting to ignore the horrors of the ocean; while almost half of the states here in the US are completely landlocked, the sea is a pretty crucial part to Japan’s identity.

There are Japanese stories of sea monsters dating back centuries, covering all sorts of frightening creatures. Just take a look at the umibouzu, a massive sea spirit that haunts sailors and fishers; they’ve been a part of Japanese stories and paintings dating back for quite some time, and are still frankly very terrifying to this day.

But these mythical creatures were inspired by real life creatures which are still around today. After centuries of inspiring terror in sailors all over the world, a giant squid was photographed alive and captured for the first time ever by Japanese scientists just a few years ago.

The giant squid isn’t the only prehistoric-looking deep-sea creature that lives off the coast of Japan. In 2007, a frilled shark, a primordial-looking shark was recorded and captured in the waters near Japan. It looks less like Jaws and more like the love child a dragon and an eel.

Farther out in the waters though, there are even more bizarre, frightening things lurking in the ocean. In 1977, a Japanese fishing vessel called Zuiyo-Maru caught something unusual off of the coast of New Zealand. It was a dead, decomposing creature that they couldn’t quite identify.

Whatever the creature was, it was massive – over two tons and 30 feet long – but it didn’t look like any animal that the fishermen had ever seen. The only thing that came close was the Loch Ness Monster.

After some deliberation, the captain of the ship decided to throw is back into the ocean; he didn’t want the massive, decaying corpse to possibly contaminate the fish and generally just stink up the place. But before the Zuiyo-Maru threw the creature overboard, the crew snapped a few pictures, drew a few sketches, and took a few samples for scientists to analyze after they got back.

When the Zuiyo-Maru returned to port, the creature became a minor sensation in Japan. The Japanese called the creature “New Nessie” (ニューネッシー) after the Loch Ness Monster. The speculation about what the massive creature could be ran wild. Nobody seemed able to easily identify what it was — was it a plesiosaur, an ancient dinosaur that’d been hiding in the depths of the ocean? Or some entirely new creature that had never been seen before?

Within a year though, scientists were able to identify News Nessie as the rotted corpse of a basking shark. I can imagine that more than a few people were disappointed that New Nessie – a creature they thought could be something as fantastic as a dinosaur – turned out to just be a shark.

While it might be disappointing to discover that New Nessie was something so mundane, it certainly hasn’t been the last thing from the ocean to capture our imagination. Tons of different unidentified creatures from the sea (also known as “globsters”) have been found in the years since New Nessie, and caught people’s attention in the same way.

And when the mysterious fails, real, identifiable sea creatures can still take our breath away. I’m still fascinated by footage of a long armed squid taken off of the coast of the US:

For some people though, the real fails them altogether and they resort of stories and urban legends. There were some (completely unsubstantiated) rumors after last year’s tsunami that strange creatures had washed ashore from the sea. There have been faked videos of “bizzare animal[s] discovered in Japan.” There are stories of “ningen” humanoid creatures lurking in the deeps of the Antarctic.

All I know is that all of these bizarre creatures, whether real, fake, or somewhere in between, are enough to keep me inland. There are enough terrifying things on dry land as it is!

Traditional Japanese Ghosts

Traditional Japanese beliefs state that every human being has a soul called a reikon (霊魂). After death, the reikon exits the body and enters a temporal stage where it waits for the living to perform final rites and funeral rituals for them. If these are completed properly, the reikon is satisfied and it can be at peace in death, leaving spiritual limbo and continuing on to the afterlife. This sort of reikon will become a spiritual protector of its family, looking down on its ancestors with favor.

However, if a person dies an unnatural, traumatic death, or if their final rites aren’t properly performed, the reikon becomes a yūrei and starts wreaking havoc on everyone’s sanity. The yūrei wallows in temporal space, forever yearning for whatever needs to be done for it to finally achieve peace in the afterlife. If the yūrei has strong enough emotional ties to the physical world however, it can return as a ghost. A scary ghost. One that’s sure to give you the heebie-jeebies.

These ghosts dwell on Earth, haunting its fleshy inhabitants. While all Japanese ghosts are referred to as yūrei, there are a handful of specific types differentiated mostly by the circumstances surrounding their death.

Onryō – 怨霊

Onryō are female ghosts who were abused or neglected by their lovers in life. These ghosts dwell in the physical world seeking vengeance on those who wronged them. Strangely enough though, they rarely do actual harm to the lovers who hurt them. They are also the most common type of ghost seen in Japanese horror films. In the case of onryō, the emotions tying them to the land of the living are usually hatred or sorrow- sometimes both. So if you’re in Japan, be sure to not piss off any ladies because they might come back as onryō and ruin your life.

Ubume – 産女

Women who die in childbirth or without providing for their children before death are classified as ubume. The power of their motherly love allows them to remain in the physical world to attempt to help the children they failed in life. Usually they come back to help their child in a time of need or leave gifts for them mysteriously. A mother’s duty is very important in Japan, and the stories of ubume are many.

Appearing in the form common to most Japanese ghosts, ubume are clad in robes of white, have long, unbound, disheveled hair, and are creepier than your perverted uncle Mike. Given their grim origins, the stories revolving around ubume are more sorrowful than those of onryō and focus mainly on the mother’s quest to ensure her child’s continued safety.

There’s no haunting to be had in these stories; the mother’s spirit directly interacts with her child after death, serving as a sort of guardian angel. However, in her providing for the child, the mother inadvertently leaves clues that otherworldly devices are at work. The most common sign are coins and gifts left for the child that turn into dead leaves after they’ve been discovered. Worst. Birthday. Ever.

Goryō – 御霊

Goryō are malicious, vengeful spirits – martyred in life and returning for revenge in the form of widespread death and destruction. Usually these spirits were those of the ruling class (the more powerful the person, the more powerful the spirit). Out of all the yūrei, goryō are undoubtedly the most dangerous. They can be incredibly powerful. They are capable of everything from destroying crops to evoking widespread natural disasters.

In medieval Japan, it was a common belief that one’s social status carried over with them into the spirit world so goryō were almost always spirits of the aristocracy. The more powerful someone was, the more likely they would return as a ghost capable of great destruction, so naturally respecting the dead was very important. On the other hand, if some jerk assassinates you for no good reason, it doesn’t really matter if there’s a shrine built in your honor because you’re going to be mighty peeved regardless.

Goryō are vengeance ghosts similar to onryō. However, their destructive ways didn’t necessarily end with the death of those who had wronged them. Only the super-cool-mountain-powered yamabushi could put these spirits to rest for good.

Funayūrei – 船幽霊

Funayūrei (ship ghosts) are the ghosts of those who died at sea. They approach seafaring vessels and ask for a bucket or a ladle. If they are given one of these they will deviously scoop water into the ship so efficiently that it will sink (so if you’re driving a big boat, you’ll probably have the time to get to land first, I think).

Funayūrei are usually not the end result of military conflict at sea, however (those who die in battle or on a battlefield are considered separate spirits all their own). Just about any sort of general drowning will do the trick here. They’re simply upset that they died, and now they want to take everyone down with them. Hey, you’d be bummed out too if you drowned in a big puddle.

Their ghost ship will linger by the coast, waiting for fishing vessels to victimize. As one passes by, the ghost crew cries for help in repairing their woefully sinking ship. But if the passing fisherman are nice enough to help out the spirits, they’re screwed. What sort of ghost punishes those who are kind to them? A lousy one.

If the funayūrei are given a bucket or a ladle they will immediately use it to fill the fishing vessel with water and kill all those on board, ultimately creating more funayūrei and ruining a perfectly good boat. Funayūrei sound like a bunch of jerks to me. I don’t like ‘em.

Funayūrei are believed to look human, however some are said to take on a scaly sea-like appearance much like those under Davy Jones’ command. So much for helping out your fellow man at sea, eh?

Zashiki-warashi – 座敷童

Zashiki-warashi are child ghosts who dwell in large, well maintained, fancy houses. They’re a squirrely bunch and really enjoy playing pranks on their fleshy housemates. However, seeing a zashiki-warashi or having one in your home is considered very lucky and can even bring fantastical fortunes.

These spirits usually appear as five or six year old children with bobbed hair and red faces. Zashiki-warashi are unique in the fact that they aren’t hell-bent on murdering everyone or seeking vengeance on those who wronged them. Instead, these ghosts just act like trouble-making kids. They’re brats, but at least they aren’t trying to drown you, right?

Once they’ve decided to haunt your home, they will demand your attention much like any bratty child would. If you choose to ignore the spirit, it will then begin to play increasingly devilish pranks on you until you acknowledge its presence. If you still don’t learn to love your forcibly adopted ghost-child, it will cry its little ghost eyes out and run away from home forever. Congratulations. You’ve failed as a ghost parent. When you die you’ll become an ubume for sure.

Despite their somewhat annoying nature, zashiki-warashi are considered lucky and are capable of bringing riches to those whose homes they inhabit. Should the family successfully adopt and care for the ghost child, they will be rewarded financially. But keep in mind, these kids are no angels. If you want those riches, you’re gonna have to work for ‘em, girl.

Additional Links

• Great post summing up the finer points of Japanese ghosts.
• Detailed post all about Japanese ghosts and ghost related things.
• List of Japan’s most haunted places!

Traditional Japanese Monsters

From the beginning of time, Japanese artwork and folklore has been littered with a baffling amount of unique goblins, ghouls, beasts, and demons. Known collectively as yōkai, these mythical monsters come in hundreds of recognized species complete with back stories, detailed strengths, weaknesses, hobbies, and favorite members of AKB48. A handful of the most famous and widely recognized yōkai are detailed below for your enjoyment.

Kappa – 河童

The kappa is easily one of the most famous creatures to come out of Japan. This angsty aquatic monster is a fusion of duck, frog, and turtle. By their powers combined, a kappa is born. A small pool of water atop the kappa’s head is its only means of functioning on land, and they have an unhealthy obsession with cucumbers. Why they like them so much I do not know.

Nowadays the kappa is loved by many and drawn up to be cute and marketable (even Hello Kitty has one among her diverse group of pals). In days past, however, the kappa was used by parents for psychological warfare against their children. Japanese tykes were warned that if they took a swim without adult supervision, a kappa would sneak up beneath them and suck out their insides through their anus like a hot bowl of ramen noodles. I’m serious. If you don’t believe me, just look at the above picture one more time. Go ahead. Look at it.

Tsukumo-gami – 付喪神

Tsukumo-gami is a yōkai subcategory comprised of inanimate objects that have sprung to life. Two of the most well-known tsukomo-gami are the Karakasa (umbrella ghost) and the Chochinobake (lantern ghost), but virtually any object is capable of transforming into a yōkai. The chances of this happening were said to increase with the object’s age, peaking around the 100 year mark. It was also essential that the object be somehow agitated. Most commonly this would be a result of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Just remember that the next time you think about throwing your XBOX controller across the room in frustration, k?

Kitsune – 狐

We talked about kitsune before in an earlier post (check it out!) so I won’t go into too much detail here.

Stories depict kitsune as intelligent beings possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. The most notable of these abilities is their adaptability to human form. While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this skill to trick folks, other stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, lovers, and wives.

Foxes were a popular pet in ancient Japan and this gave rise to many a legend concerning them. Kitsune became closely associated with the Shinto spirit known as Inari, and served as its messengers. This role reinforced the fox’s already supernatural significance.

The more tails a kitsune has (up to nine) the older, wiser, and more powerful it is. Because of their potential power and influence, some people also make offerings to them as to a deity (much like weeaboos worship Naruto).

Tengu – 天狗

Tengu are incredibly popular supernatural creatures found in Japanese folklore, art, theater, and literature. They also continue to make appearances in present day media such as anime and movies. Tengu are one of the best known yōkai and are sometimes worshiped as Shinto kami. Although their name comes from a dog-like Chinese demon (Tiangou), the tengu were originally thought to be birdlike, and they are traditionally depicted with both human and avian characteristics.

The earliest tengu were pictured with beaks, but this feature has since modernized into an unnaturally long nose (did you know that Pinocchio is actually a tengu?!?!), which is undoubtedly their defining characteristic today.

Buddhist dogma long held that the tengu were disruptive demons who brought both violence and death. However, their image gradually softened into protective, if still dangerous, spirits of the mountains and forests. Tengu are also associated with the practice of Shugendō, and they are usually depicted in the distinctive garb of its followers, the yamabushi.

Enma Daiō – 閻魔大王

Enma Daiō is the Japanese lord of death. He’s so popular they even let him on a TV show called Dragon Ball Z. What more do you need to know?

Other Popular Demons Worth Checking Out

Nekomata (cat monster)

Here kitty kitty kitty~

Jorōgumo (lit. “whore spider”)

Yeah, she gets around.

Kubire-oni (strangler demon)

Another peeping Tom meets his end.

Rokurokubi (long-necked woman)

It is like, soooo hard to find clothes in my size you have like no idea.

Onmoraki (bird demon)

Fire! My only weakness!

Tenjo-sagari (ceiling dweller)

Ceiling cat would be pleased.

Baku (dream-eating chimera)

I’s in your dreams, eatin’ yo’ dreams.

Yamasei (mountain sprite)

Yama say whaaa?

Rashomon no oni (ogre of Rashomon Gate)

You shall not pass!

Waira (mountain-dwelling chimera)

gtfo my mountain, fool.

Japanese Monster Fun Facts!

1. Monsters are tied with robots as Japan’s #1 export! Cool!
2. Japan invented several full genres of monster-centric entertainment! Can you name them all?!
3. Some Japanese people are highly aroused by monsters! Are you!?

Additional Links

• The top 10 strangest Japanese monsters.
• Interesting post about the anatomy of some of the quirkier Japanese monsters.
• Some nifty pictures and short descriptions of Japanese ghosts and monsters.

Want to know how to survive a yōkai attack? Check out this book!

P.S. Think yūrei are way scarier than yōkai? Like us on Facebook.
P.P.S. Does the monster living under your bed look like one of these yōkai? Tell us about it on Twitter.

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Matt Alt from AltJapan sent me this book he and Hiroko Yoda wrote about Japanese monsters. He must have known of my infatuation (perhaps long-term romance is another word) with Godzilla and other monsters, so of course, I enjoyed going through it immensely.

The great thing about this book is the general feel of it. It’s the size of a normal Japanese book (which tend to be smaller and sexier), but it also reminds me of manga that you would find in Japan. Still, on the other hand, the inside is more like a book (though with tons of pictures). The illustrations are really great, and the content is a mix between “facts” and “stories,” which is something I dig as a blogger (separating out information into categories makes things easier to read!).

There’s a little over forty “Yokai” featured in this book, all consisting of a few pages each (including illustration) spanning five chapters (Ferocious Fiends, Gruesome Gourmets, Annoying Neighbors, The Sexy & Slimy, and The Whimps). The stories are for the most part really interesting (think “Japanese Monster History Lessons.” Why couldn’t we have that in school?), and even include funny bits like “favorite foods” and “surviving an encounter.”

At the end of the book there are also some “Yokai Resources,” which I got a kick out of, including this one, which is the “Strange Phenomenon and Yokai Legend Database” (You’ll need to read Japanese for this one, though).

Overall, this was a really fun and smooth read, especially with the awesome illustration. I suppose I only have one complaint about it, and I’m sure many of you can guess what it is. No Godzilla. That makes Godzilla (and me) very very sad Godzilla Pandas.

But besides that, it was an awesome book, and I found myself wishing I had lifesized posters of some of the monsters on my wall. It’s on Amazon, and it’s pretty cheap, so if you like Japanese Monsters (or have a significant other that does), go get it before the rest of your stocks flo

*update: Aww, so I suppose Godzilla isn’t a Yokai. Oops on that one. Godzilla > Yokai ;)