Myth of the Week · Japan
Yokai for kids: meet Japan's mischievous spirits
· P.Sean Tales
What exactly is a yokai? In Japanese folklore, yokai are the mysterious creatures behind everything odd and unexplained — a strange splash in the river, a door that slides open by itself, socks that go missing. Some yokai are spooky, many are silly, and a surprising number just want a snack. Japanese families have told yokai stories for well over a thousand years, and kids in Japan still grow up drawing and collecting them today.
Here are four famous yokai every curious kid should know:
Kappa — the river prankster
A kappa is a green, turtle-shelled river spirit with a little dish of water on top of its head — spill the water, and the kappa loses its power. Kappa love sumo wrestling and are absolutely crazy about cucumbers. That's why the cucumber sushi roll is called kappamaki! Old stories say a polite bow works wonders on a kappa: it will bow back, spill its water dish, and have to scurry home to the river.
Kitsune — the nine-tailed fox
Kitsune are magical foxes that grow wiser as they grow older — and every hundred years or so, legends say, they grow a brand-new tail. The oldest, cleverest kitsune have nine tails and can shapeshift into human form. Some kitsune are tricksters, but others are loyal guardians who serve at Japan's fox shrines, where you can still see thousands of fox statues today.
Tanuki — the lucky raccoon dog
The tanuki is a real animal (a raccoon dog!) that folklore turned into one of Japan's best-loved shapeshifters — a round-bellied prankster who loves disguises and good food. Statues of tanuki stand outside shops and restaurants all over Japan, wearing straw hats and carrying sake bottles, to invite good luck and good business in.
Tengu — the mountain guardian
High in Japan's mountains live the tengu — proud, long-nosed spirits with mighty wings and legendary swordsmanship. In old tales they test travelers and teach secret skills to worthy heroes. Mountain shrines still honor them as fierce protectors of the forests.
Color the legends yourself
Every creature above — and dozens more — stars in our Japanese Myths & Legends read-along coloring books, each with big line art to color plus the real legend retold for kids, a "did you know?" fact, and a say-it-out-loud pronunciation guide:
- Japanese Yokai & Tricksters — kappa, kitsune, tanuki and friends
- Japanese Gods & Dragons
- Japanese Ghosts & Spirits
- Japanese Monsters & Heroes
Or start free: grab the free coloring pages, and meet a new legend with Luciano on every book page.