Yokai — what this word means
Yokai (妖怪) is not a specific creature but a term: Japanese mythology uses it for everything inexplicable and supernatural, from a fox spirit to a possessed umbrella. The first systematic catalog of yokai was the illustrated encyclopedias by artist Toriyama Sekien in the 18th century, and today they are studied by an entire academic discipline — yokaigaku.
“Yokai” is not the name of a single creature but the name of a whole shelf in the library: asking “what is a yokai” is like asking “what is a mammal.”
What the word “yokai” means
Yokai (妖怪) is a general Japanese word for a supernatural creature or phenomenon: a fox spirit, an animated object, a strange noise in the dark. The term does not distinguish origin — it includes animal shapeshifters (henge), animated objects (tsukumogami), and local monsters without clear classification. The only thing all yokai have in common is that they go beyond the ordinary order of things.
- Henge (変化) — animals that have gained supernatural abilities: foxes, cats, badgers.
- Tsukumogami (付喪神) — household objects that come to life after a hundred years of service.
- Yūrei (幽霊) — formally a separate category (spirits of the dead), but in everyday speech they are also often called yokai.
- Local creatures — most yokai are known only within a single region or village.
Where did this concept come from
The word has existed in the language for centuries, but the yokai bestiary was systematized by the artist Toriyama Sekien, who published a series of illustrated encyclopedias in the 18th century. He did not invent creatures from scratch — he collected and drew folk tales already circulating among the people, giving them a stable form.
妖怪 — “bewitching strangeness”
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 妖怪 | yōkai · yōkai | Supernatural creature |
| 妖怪学 | yōkaigaku · yōkaigaku | “Yokai studies” — an academic discipline |
| 画図百鬼夜行 | Gazu Hyakki Yagyō · Gazu Hyakki Yagyō | Famous encyclopedia of yokai by Toriyama Sekien |
| 妖しい | ayashii · ayashii | Suspicious, bewitching |
| 民俗学 | minzokugaku · minzokugaku | Folklore studies |
How to read 妖怪 and what each character means
妖怪 is read ようかい: 妖 “bewitching, seductive, ominous” plus 怪 “strange.” Each character individually carries a similar nuance of “wrongness” — together they form an extremely concise word for everything that does not fit into the usual order.
妖 — значение: seductive, bewitching, evil spirit — онъёми: ヨウ — кунъёми: あや.しい、なま.めく、わざわ.い — 7 штрих(ов). 妖 — “bewitching, ominous, seductive”: on the left is the radical “woman” 女. The same character appears in 妖精 (fairy, spirit) and 妖艶 (demonically beautiful).
Write 妖 along the guides and break down the stroke order.
Where yokai live today
- The Mizuki Shigeru Yokai Museum on Sakaiminato Island — dedicated to the artist who continued Toriyama Sekien's work in the 20th century and drew his own encyclopedia.
- The academic discipline yokaigaku studies the bestiary as part of folk culture, not just as scary stories.
- The word “yokai” has entered English and Russian as a direct borrowing, bypassing the translation “monster” or “spirit.”
- Annual summer kaidan (ghost story) festivals keep the tradition of telling yokai tales aloud.
FAQ
- Is yokai a Shinto concept?
- Yokai is not a Shinto concept, but a broader folkloric term for everything supernatural: fox spirits, animated objects, local monsters. It has nothing to do with the official pantheon of kami.
- What does the word “yokai” cover?
- Nothing specific — it is not a single creature with a function, but a generic word for an entire category. Each individual yokai, whether a kitsune or a karakasa, has its own distinct habits.
- How is yokai written in kanji?
- 妖怪 (ようかい): 妖 “bewitching, ominous” plus 怪 “strange.” The system of hundreds of such creatures was first compiled by artist Toriyama Sekien in the 18th century.
- In which anime are there yokai?
- Practically any series about the supernatural — from “Natsume's Book of Friends” to “Inuyasha.” The separate franchise Yo-kai Watch is built entirely around the word and concept of yokai.
- Are yokai officially studied in Japan?
- Yes, there is a separate academic discipline yokaigaku within folklore studies, as well as museums like the Mizuki Shigeru Museum dedicated specifically to the bestiary of supernatural creatures.
- Is a yokai a god or a spirit?
- Neither as a class: yokai is a general term that includes spirits, shapeshifters, and animated objects. Most yokai are not considered gods (kami) at all.
Sources
Updated: 2026-08-29