Yōkai

Yōkai (妖怪, "ghost"; "phantom"; "strange apparition") are a class of supernatural monsters, spirits, and demons in Japanese folklore. The word yōkai is made up of the kanji for "bewitching; attractive; calamity" and "spectre; apparition; mystery; suspicious". They can also be called ayakashi (あやかし), mononoke (物の怪) or mamono (魔物). Yōkai range diversely from the malevolent to the mischievous, or occasionally bring good fortune to those who encounter them.
Yōkai often possess animal features (such as the kappa, which looks similar to a turtle, or the tengu which has wings), yet others appear mostly human. Some yōkai look like inanimate objects (such as tsukumogami), while others have no discernible shape.
Yōkai usually have spiritual or supernatural abilities, with shapeshifting being the most common. Yōkai that shapeshift are called bakemono (化物) or obake (お化け).
In 3180, Yōkais exist and are all born in the Yōkai haven, they are humans who have become too attracted and exposed to magic, which may or may not include others from the other part from the other parts of the world.

Civilization and Culture

History

Yōkai (妖怪, "ghost"; "phantom"; "strange apparition") are a class of supernatural monsters, spirits, and demons in Japanese folklore. The word yōkai is made up of the kanji for "bewitching; attractive; calamity" and "spectre; apparition; mystery; suspicious". They can also be called ayakashi (あやかし), mononoke (物の怪) or mamono (魔物). Yōkai range diversely from the malevolent to the mischievous, or occasionally bring good fortune to those who encounter them.
Yōkai often possess animal features (such as the kappa, which looks similar to a turtle, or the tengu which has wings), yet others appear mostly human. Some yōkai look like inanimate objects (such as tsukumogami), while others have no discernible shape.
Yōkai usually have spiritual or supernatural abilities, with shapeshifting being the most common. Yōkai that shapeshift are called bakemono (化物) or obake (お化け).
Japanese folklorists and historians explain yōkai as personifications of "supernatural or unaccountable phenomena to their informants".
In the Edo period, many artists, such as Toriyama Sekien, invented new yōkai taking inspiration from folk tales or purely from their own imagination. Today, several such fabricated yōkai (e.g. Kameosa and Amikiri, see below) are commonly mistaken to originate in more traditional folklore.[2] Yūrei are called yuree in Okinawa, yōkai are called majimun (マジムン) and evil spirits are called yanamun (ヤナムン).

Lifespan

Varies, usually more than 100 years

Average Height

Varies, usually 5'5" to 5'7"