Japanese Folklore Yokai Figures
1) Ame Onna- Ame Onna closely translates to "Rain Woman". In Japanese folklore, she is a supernatural entity associated with rain and storms. She is often depicted as a beautiful woman who appears during rainy weather, sometimes seen near roads and bodies of water. Stories and portrayals vary based on regions in Japan. In some stories, Ame Onna is considered a benevolent spirit that brings rain necessary for crops and life, symbolizing fertility and renewal. In other tales, she is a more ominous and mysterious figure associated with thunderstorms and heavy rain that causes flooding and hardship, depicted licking herself in the rain and haggard. In these depictions, she carries a black sack to take children and eat them. This highlights the duality of rain life life-giving yet destructive.
3) Rokurokubi- Rokurokubi are supernatural beings that are a type of yokai or spirit. They are depicted as ordinary humans during the day and transform at night. At night, their neck stretch great lengths but do not detach from their bodies like the Nukekubi. Another key difference is that the Nukekubi drink blood while the Rokurokubi drink lamp oil at night. They often spy on others and frighten them. They are portrayed as normal women who appear normal during the day, but the night reveals their true nature, engaging in mischievous and eerie acts at night. Some are pranksters while others are more malevolent, causing harm and instilling fear in others. A Rokurokubi is believed to have transformed due to their own actions. They may have been greedy, selfish, or cruel to others, and the punishment was being made into a yokai. Although in some stories, they are women wronged by men and haunt them at night for revenge, or are cursed by the actions of their husband or father.
4) Yamachichi- Yamachichi is a lesser-known yokai that is associated with mountains and rural areas. Yamachichi translates means "mountain child" or "mountain baby". It is depicted as a monkey-like creature with a pointed mouth and sucking lips. It eats the life force of human in their sleep by sucking their sleeping breath. It would then tap the vicitim on the chest and flee into the night. The following day, the unsuspecting victim would die. But if caught in the act, the victim would instead receive a longer life.
5) Dodomeki- The Dodomeki is a type of yokai or supernatural creature known for its eerie appearance. The name Dodomeki translates to "the woman with long arms", which reflects its most notable feature. It is depicted as a woman stretched with long arms; she is able to stretch her arms to extraordinary lengths. Her arms are covered in bird-like arms, adding to her unsettling appearance. This yokai is associated with jealousy, vengeance, and the consequences for thievery and immoral actions. When portrayed as a wronged woman whose negative emotions and desire transformed her into a demon, she becomes a fearsome figure who attacks and frightens others. When depicted as a punished thief, she is cloaked to hide among humans. Her transformation serves as a reminder of how unchecked greed, hate, and jealousy can lead to one's downfall.
3) Rokurokubi- Rokurokubi are supernatural beings that are a type of yokai or spirit. They are depicted as ordinary humans during the day and transform at night. At night, their neck stretch great lengths but do not detach from their bodies like the Nukekubi. Another key difference is that the Nukekubi drink blood while the Rokurokubi drink lamp oil at night. They often spy on others and frighten them. They are portrayed as normal women who appear normal during the day, but the night reveals their true nature, engaging in mischievous and eerie acts at night. Some are pranksters while others are more malevolent, causing harm and instilling fear in others. A Rokurokubi is believed to have transformed due to their own actions. They may have been greedy, selfish, or cruel to others, and the punishment was being made into a yokai. Although in some stories, they are women wronged by men and haunt them at night for revenge, or are cursed by the actions of their husband or father.
5) Dodomeki- The Dodomeki is a type of yokai or supernatural creature known for its eerie appearance. The name Dodomeki translates to "the woman with long arms", which reflects its most notable feature. It is depicted as a woman stretched with long arms; she is able to stretch her arms to extraordinary lengths. Her arms are covered in bird-like arms, adding to her unsettling appearance. This yokai is associated with jealousy, vengeance, and the consequences for thievery and immoral actions. When portrayed as a wronged woman whose negative emotions and desire transformed her into a demon, she becomes a fearsome figure who attacks and frightens others. When depicted as a punished thief, she is cloaked to hide among humans. Her transformation serves as a reminder of how unchecked greed, hate, and jealousy can lead to one's downfall.
Source:
Meyer, M. (n.d.). Yokai.com. Yokai.com. https://yokai.com/
About Japan: A Teacher’s Resource | Yōkai: Fantastic Creatures of Japanese Folklore | Japan Society. (n.d.). Aboutjapan.japansociety.org. https://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/yokai-fantastic-creatures-of-japanese-folklore
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