Yōkai March

What are Yōkai?

The word Yōkai was coined in Edo period Japan to describe all kinds of spirits and supernatural creatures. They could include nature spirits that could benevolent or violent, or objects reborn from our everyday tools and appliances.  They appeared in all sorts of places, from Ukiyo-e prints to paper talismans given out at temples but they have continued to be a popular theme for Japanese artists and writers to the present day.

The Yōkai March Project

Years ago I started producing small pictures inspired by Yōkai folklore. Each day of March I would try and create a new picture and while it was never finished, it became the basis of a print series that I would go on to sell at my first comic conventions. The Yōkai March refers not only to the month they were originally made, but to the Hyakki Yagyō: a night parade of a hundred Yōkai that would spirit away those who crossed its path. With each picture I wanted to stay true to the creature’s origins while bringing in my own artistic take.

The Yōkai below have all been made into A5 prints and are based on traditional nosatsu (votive slips) that were given out at Japanese shrines. Each print is produced on luxury textured paper and comes with an explanation of their different legends on the other side. This way I wanted to spread my knowledge of Yōkai and open up a new world of mythology. Please feel free to click on the pictures below for a short introduction to the folklore:

With the exception of a few prints that are out of stock you can purchase these prints at my etsy store following the link here

Tsukumogami

In Japanese folklore it is said that an object that has been service for over one hundred years gains a soul and is reborn as a type of Yōkai known as a Tsukumogami. These spirits are generally mischievous, but if they have been mistreated in their past life then they will become angry and spiteful, seeking vengeance against their former owners.  It was not uncommon for people to visit temples to have their tools blessed, pacifying the object spirits.

This set of A6 prints are double sided with information about the legend on the back. They are available as a set of 6 at my Etsy store here

Also available is a limited set of 20th Century Tsukumogami, imagining inventions and fashion from one hundred years ago coming to life. These are also available as a set of 6 that can purchased from my Etsy store here

Yōkai March: A Ghostly Journey

In 2017 I compiled many of the Yōkai March prints into a single booklet. This included revised entries for the Yōkai and several new additions that are unique to the book, including the fearsome Oni, the mischievous Tanuki and the bizarre Rokurokubi.

Selling over one hundred copies, the book is now in its second edition and is a perfect introduction to the world of Yōkai. You can pick up a copy of the booklet through my Etsy store here.

The Kappa Survival Guide:

The Kappa are water sprites found all across Japan in many shapes and forms. They can be helpful but they can also be dangerous, and this double sided A5 mini booklet is a handy guide for those who may encounter one in the field. This set comes with the double-sided Yōkai March Kappa print as well as two Kappa warning stickers, and perfectly complements the Yōkai March book.

Copies of the Kappa Surival Guide are available at my Etsy store here