Yokai, ghosts and urban legends (novels and manga)
Fiction or non-fiction, manga or novel, if it features yokai, ghost stories, urban legends, or any kind of Japanese folklore, it belongs here.
怪しくゆかいな妖怪穴
Nonfiction
Nonfiction book which showcases a 100 yokai. While it's for children, it never feels childish or veers from the strictly informational. With two pages per yokai (one of which is a charming illustration), it's succinct and to the point.
Nonfiction book which showcases a 100 yokai. While it's for children, it never feels childish or veers from the strictly informational. With two pages per yokai (one of which is a charming illustration), it's succinct and to the point.
ゲゲゲの鬼太郎 1
Manga
The most famous yokai manga, responsible for popularizing yokai across modern Japan. The mangaka, Mizuki Shigeru, was an avid yokai scholar, and has written several non-fiction books on the subject too. Both he and Kitaro are household names. In the manga, Kitaro, the last survivor of the Ghost Tribe, helps people deal with yokai problems, making friends and enemies along the way. He is accompanied by what remains of his father, an adorable eyeball on legs.
The most famous yokai manga, responsible for popularizing yokai across modern Japan. The mangaka, Mizuki Shigeru, was an avid yokai scholar, and has written several non-fiction books on the subject too. Both he and Kitaro are household names. In the manga, Kitaro, the last survivor of the Ghost Tribe, helps people deal with yokai problems, making friends and enemies along the way. He is accompanied by what remains of his father, an adorable eyeball on legs.
妖怪アパートの幽雅な日常 1
Manga
A student finds cheap accommodation in a big, strange house, that so happens to be inhabited by ghosts and monsters.
A student finds cheap accommodation in a big, strange house, that so happens to be inhabited by ghosts and monsters.
准教授・高槻彰良の推察 1
Manga
A professor of folklore and a student assistant investigate urban legends and paranormal phenomena, hoping to finally come across one that turns out to be true.
A professor of folklore and a student assistant investigate urban legends and paranormal phenomena, hoping to finally come across one that turns out to be true.
狐火の辻
Novel
A series of deaths that appear to be of supernatural cause prompt a team to start an amateur investigation. Extensive reference to actual urban legends throughout history.
A series of deaths that appear to be of supernatural cause prompt a team to start an amateur investigation. Extensive reference to actual urban legends throughout history.
おばちゃんたちのいるところ-Where The Wild Ladies Are
Short Story
Modern takes on traditional ghost stories, with a touch of humour and a touch of feminism.
Modern takes on traditional ghost stories, with a touch of humour and a touch of feminism.
Fと成りうる者
Novel
Students feel compelled to test out the validity of a local urban legend.
Students feel compelled to test out the validity of a local urban legend.
山の霊異記 幻惑の尾根
Short Story
Ghost stories and strange occurrences in the mountains of Japan, as witnessed by hikers.
Ghost stories and strange occurrences in the mountains of Japan, as witnessed by hikers.
穴
Short Story
Straightforward ghost story connected to trains. Very short (about 8 pages).
Straightforward ghost story connected to trains. Very short (about 8 pages).
予言の島
Novel
An island with a curse. Is the curse true? Is there really an evil spirit on the island?
An island with a curse. Is the curse true? Is there really an evil spirit on the island?
夜市
Novel
A mysterious night market that only appears on very specific nights, and where you can buy whatever you wish - at a cost. And a road that exists sort of parallel to our reality, at hand's reach but invisible, difficult to enter and even harder to leave, inhabited by creatures not quite of this world.
A mysterious night market that only appears on very specific nights, and where you can buy whatever you wish - at a cost. And a road that exists sort of parallel to our reality, at hand's reach but invisible, difficult to enter and even harder to leave, inhabited by creatures not quite of this world.
きつねのはなし
Short Story
Behind regular, everyday lives, there's something mysterious, possibly supernatural going on. A strange beast is roaming Kyoto and affecting those who come across it.
Behind regular, everyday lives, there's something mysterious, possibly supernatural going on. A strange beast is roaming Kyoto and affecting those who come across it.
神去なあなあ日常
Novel
The book is generally rooted in reality, describing the forestry business in a remote mountain village, and the lives of the village people. There is however a slight touch of the supernatural in a mysterious local festival, and also in a small case of 神隠し.
The book is generally rooted in reality, describing the forestry business in a remote mountain village, and the lives of the village people. There is however a slight touch of the supernatural in a mysterious local festival, and also in a small case of 神隠し.
