The Folklore of the Japanese

The modern nation of Japan was once a beautiful realm of varied elevations and climates. Its residents are likely ancestors from the Jōmon and Yayoi people who settled on Japan's shores Before Christ. The influence of Buddhism in China also altered the Japanese culture and gave it many of the elements of traditional buddhism, thus creating one of the most unique and widely practiced religions of its day (called Shintoism) and giving rise to a fascinating folklore with an assortment of deities, creatures, and traditions which are ingrained into Japanese culture today.

There are several important Japanese deities. Among them are:

• Inari Ōkami: God/Goddess of rice, fertility, foxes, agriculture, and industry. This deity is among the most widely worshipped in Japan.

• Amaterasu-ōmikami: The Goddess of the sun. The sun plays an important role in Japanese folklore. Also believed to be the direct ancestor of Jimmu, the first emperor of Japan.

• Susanoo: The god of the sea and storms, known for his banishment from heaven and the subsequent slaying of eight headed serpent Yamata no Orochi. Brother to Amaterasu.

• Izanagi and Izanami: Two of the first beings. When Izanami died at childbirth, Izanagi travelled to the land of the dead, called Yomi, to bring her back, but failed. By washing the filth from Yomi off of his face in a spring, he involuntarily gave rise to the kami Amaterasu, Susanoo, and Tsukiyomi.

Print of  Susanoo defeating the eight
headed serpent, Yamata no Orochi

Aside from wide Pantheon of deities, Japanese Folklore is famous for its tales of the supernatural and how the real world is affected by it, as many mythologies are. The Yōkai are strange monsters of 

Karabasa Obake, a Tsukumogami of a
parasol which comes to life

another dimension which haunt this world, out of spite, hatered, misery, or boredom. Some may be kind and benevolent, but many are malevolent and wicked. Some famous Yōkai include Kappa, turtle like beings who must carry water on their heads to survive; Tengu, winged demons with a lengthly 

Oni Mask

nose or beak which symbolize bigotry and pride; Kitsune, foxes (often with multiple tails) which possess magical powers used to seduce men; Tanuki and Mujina, racoon dogs and badgers respectively which can shapeshift; Tsukumogami, objects said to attain human characteristics and magical abilities after a certain amount of time; Kamaitachi, weasels bearing sickles for hands and riding the winds, cutting at unsuspecting travellers; and the infamous Oni, ogres said to come from the Northeast which brought terror and suffering.

An example of how Japanese Folklore impacts us today.
The Pokemon, Ninetails, is based off of the Kitsune