Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum

(Sakaiminato City, Tottori Prefecture)

【Yokai（妖怪）】 are supernatural entities from Japanese folklore, often depicted as mysterious and inexplicable beings. Unlike typical ghosts or spirits, Yokai encompass a wide range of creatures, from mischievous spirits to malevolent monsters. Ancient Japanese people believed that every object, even inanimate ones like tools or garbage, could possess a spirit. When unexplainable events occurred, they were often attributed to the actions of Yokai. These entities have long been a source of both fear and fascination, embodying the awe and respect people have for the unknown. They also played a role in disciplining people’s lives, especially for children.

Shigeru Mizuki, one of Japan’s most beloved comic artists, renowned for his works featuring Yokai, ‘GeGeGe no Kitarō,’ which became a TV animation in 1968 and sparked a nationwide Yokai boom.

His comics were influenced by his boyhood memories of folklore told by an elderly housemaid, who was a religious person. Around 1930, subways were opening in Tokyo and Osaka, and homes were starting to get electricity, gas, and running water. It was a time when life was gradually becoming more convenient. However, people still lived with superstitions, infectious diseases, and the constant threat of death from unexplained causes.

Tottori

The Street Mysterious Entities Gather Together