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Attack! #1
Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide
Forget Godzilla. Forget the giant beasties karate-chopped into oblivion by endless incarnations of Ultraman, Kamen Rider, and the Power Rangers. Forget the Pocket Monsters. Forget Sadako from 'The Ring' and that creepy all-white kid from 'The Grudge.' Forget everything you know about Japanese tales of terror before reaching for this book. Yokai Attack! is a nightmare-inducing one-stop guide to Japan's traditional creepy-crawlies and monsters. It will surely convince you that Japan's tradition of fascinating monsters is a long one yet far from being history."
211 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2008
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1429 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
April 2, 2025
Yokai are everywhere! What will you do if you encounter one? This book is a great 'field guide' that gives you specific advice on how to survive a yokai attack! If you like manga and Pokémon you will be amazed at how many yokai have influenced the characters that are so well known today. A great introduction to supernatural Japan!
June 1, 2015
I'll admit, I was a little worried about this one.
I'd heard the author talk on the Monstertalk podcast. Flipping through the book ran through some alarm bells. I remember a long string of monster books written with poor research and jokes that Mad Magazine wouldn't stoop to, and the art style made me wonder if this was a new one in that vein.Instead, I found an excellently researched, well-written, beautifully illustrated guide to Japanese folk monsters.
The Three-Buttholed Turtle Man: Coming to a Michael Bay Movie Near You
The introduction establishes the yokai: they each represent a superstition or struggle with traditional Japanese life. After excellently and succinctly summing up the traditions of Yokai, the books rolls on into 145 four-page entries on different entities. The art is great, comic-book-style and vivid. The entries include plenty of traditional woodcut depictions for the purists. While the chapter starts have some of those classic corny jokes, the entries themselves delve into the folkloric meaning and cultural significance of each monster without ever getting dry.
Man, that last season of Ally McBeal got weird.
As an additional bonus, it mentions dozens of sources and books I want to hunt down to keep on the research path. Come on, people. It's a book with a giant disembodied foot that smashes through your roof and demands you wash it. What else do you need?
I'd heard the author talk on the Monstertalk podcast. Flipping through the book ran through some alarm bells. I remember a long string of monster books written with poor research and jokes that Mad Magazine wouldn't stoop to, and the art style made me wonder if this was a new one in that vein.Instead, I found an excellently researched, well-written, beautifully illustrated guide to Japanese folk monsters.
The Three-Buttholed Turtle Man: Coming to a Michael Bay Movie Near You
The introduction establishes the yokai: they each represent a superstition or struggle with traditional Japanese life. After excellently and succinctly summing up the traditions of Yokai, the books rolls on into 145 four-page entries on different entities. The art is great, comic-book-style and vivid. The entries include plenty of traditional woodcut depictions for the purists. While the chapter starts have some of those classic corny jokes, the entries themselves delve into the folkloric meaning and cultural significance of each monster without ever getting dry.
Man, that last season of Ally McBeal got weird.
As an additional bonus, it mentions dozens of sources and books I want to hunt down to keep on the research path. Come on, people. It's a book with a giant disembodied foot that smashes through your roof and demands you wash it. What else do you need?
September 1, 2015
Yokai attack! I honestly had so much fun reading this book! I've recently been on a bit of a traditional Asian mythology flex. So I got this book. The book, it's self is very fun with bright pages packed full of art and history and tell you about the different "Yokai's" supernatural monsters. There's all kinds of crazy Yokai in this book! For me personally the reason why I love Yokai is the crazy art depicted of them from the Book of the 8th century Kojiki, (古事記; Record of Ancient Matters) The art always fascinated me so when I saw this I had to get it. A truly perky and wonderful book.
October 6, 2018
Totally awesome. A great collection of monsters, folklore, and tales.
Japanese monsters are pretty badass. There's a monster that's a giant skeleton made of other skeletons. Metal. There's a wagon wheel monster that'll slice your baby's legs off. There's the beloved, mostly harmless Tanuki, who is a raccoon-like creature that will tie up your betrothed and impersonate them so he can party at the wedding. Also, he has an enormous ballsack.
What's super cool and unexpected is this book talks about the development of yokai, which has to do with warning children to stay away from dangerous places, teaching kindness towards animals, and the development of language over time. The research in here is very solid, and you'll learn something AND get to read about a monster that tears your colon out through your butthole.
Japanese monsters are pretty badass. There's a monster that's a giant skeleton made of other skeletons. Metal. There's a wagon wheel monster that'll slice your baby's legs off. There's the beloved, mostly harmless Tanuki, who is a raccoon-like creature that will tie up your betrothed and impersonate them so he can party at the wedding. Also, he has an enormous ballsack.
What's super cool and unexpected is this book talks about the development of yokai, which has to do with warning children to stay away from dangerous places, teaching kindness towards animals, and the development of language over time. The research in here is very solid, and you'll learn something AND get to read about a monster that tears your colon out through your butthole.
February 17, 2020
Star Rating: 3.5 Stars
(?)
Not really sure how I feel about this atm. RTC
__________________//
Woo hoo just ordered this and its coming tomorrow! I am a bit obsessed with kitsune... always have been (even as a kid without knowing- Vulpix, NINE TAILS, ANYONE?)... and reading several books including Japanese mythology and folklore eapecially interested me in ALLOFTHE yokai! This looks SO FUN so excited 😊!
(?)
Not really sure how I feel about this atm. RTC
__________________//
Woo hoo just ordered this and its coming tomorrow! I am a bit obsessed with kitsune... always have been (even as a kid without knowing- Vulpix, NINE TAILS, ANYONE?)... and reading several books including Japanese mythology and folklore eapecially interested me in ALLOFTHE yokai! This looks SO FUN so excited 😊!
October 2, 2018
Every now and then I get a wild hair and decide to shine up one of my moldy-oldy reviews for the sake of posterity. It’s a little bit of a legacy thing, I guess. Reviewing a book is a bit of an art form all unto itself. A good review can be entertaining and informative and enhance the reading experience. This particular piece is one that I originally wrote for Amazon back when I was an active part of the Vine program. For those who don’t know, Vine is an invitation-only arrangement whereby participants are provided free products in exchange for reviews. It was fun, but that was then and this is now. My reviewing habits have evolved quite a bit over time. I have mostly given up the idea of short and sweet blurbs in favor of longer articles that give more depth to the books that I read. Partly this a function of my desire to properly catalog and track my reading experiences. I write reviews for my own pleasure and as a bit of a creative outlet. I am always gratified when other people find value in something that I have contributed, but in the end I still do it just for fun.
So bear with me, as this is a bit of a self-indulgent exercise on my part. It’s a legit review of a pretty cool book, but it’s also a way for me to dissect an old piece that I wrote and find a way to make it better. The subject in question is a small book titled “Yokai Attack!! The Japanese Monster Survival Guide.” The original review is in italics, new additions are in normal font.
Prepare to enter the macabre world of the Yokai, strange creatures from the mists of Japanese legend and folktales. Some are ghostly and horrific, some are frightening and fantastic, some are even humorous and ALL of them are fun and interesting. Husband and wife authors Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt have teamed up with illustrator Tatsuya Morino to bring Yokai out of the shadows and let some light shine onto these incredible creatures.
Not a bad introduction. It’s always a battle between how much of YOUR time I want to take up, dear reader, vs. how much time I think a book really deserves to be explored. This is basically a pretty short overview of a significant Japanese cultural expression that really doesn’t translate particularly well to Western audiences. But it DOES fit in well with my reading habits around this time of the year, when my tastes tend to run towards dark and mysterious fare. And I’m also a big mythology buff. AND I was an anthropology major in college, and this little text easily qualifies as a piece of cultural anthropology. Yes, I’m overthinking the whole thing. I know, I know…..get on with it!
Yokai are creatures of myth and fairy tale. Their backstories almost always have an allegorical or moral spin to them. In a sense, they are almost like the creatures that inhabit many a tale told around the Western campfire. One can think of them as ghosts or monsters to a point, but those translations of the word "yokai" don't really catch all of the nuance. As the authors say in their introduction, "yokai are yokai.”
Well, yeah, ok…..all of that. There really isn’t a good Western analogue to the Yokai, other than perhaps the Native American concept of the manitou. The Yokai are an offshoot of the animism inherent in the Shinto religion, and while there are many Yokai that have been around for centuries, new ones have been added as time has gone by, giving the Yokai legitimacy as a true folk superstition rooted in the nuances of everyday Japanese life. The introduction to the book gives a short history of the Yokai phenomenon all the way up to its present influence as a precursor to the Pokemon craze. There are several good scholarly works on the market if your interest in Yokai is really stimulated, particularly Michael Foster’s “The Book of Yokai” and Matthew Meyer’s “The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.” Those make for GREAT multicultural spooky reading for your Halloween needs.
This field guide to the yokai covers 42 different beasties in detail, with a full-page illustration of what they look like along with several pages of text outlining a wealth of information on each entry. You get a glossary of yokai-related terminology, plus there's an index in the back for easy lookup. It's easy and fun to read.
Absolutely true. The book has a format much like a manga, although it reads left to right as opposed to right to left as traditional manga would. I completely neglected to mention that this book bills itself as a survival guide to Yokai encounters, so readers get handy tips on how to stay safe once a Yokai has been engaged. A few of the Yokai can be truly creepy and dangerous, but most are simply mischievous in nature and don’t pose much in the way of a real threat. There are also trivia sections and tales from around the Yokai campfire. Here are a few of my favorite Yokai profiled in the text:
The Kappa - Probably the most easily recognizable Yokai for Westerners, this water imp likes to challenge victims to wrestling matches. Keep a cucumber handy when near bodies of water so you can avoid grappling with this stenchy bog pirate.
The Tofu Kozo - A fairly recent addition to the Yokai pantheon, the Tofu Kozu has a dreadful weapon at its disposal….a jiggling block of tofu on a plate. Yes, that’s right. It’s primary offensive weapon is a culinary staple easily found in any grocery store. The defense? Don’t eat the tofu if offered, otherwise you get a horrible brain fungus that kills you in an awful way.
The Jinmenju - One of the truly creepier Yokai, it manifests as a fruit on a tree that takes the shape of a human head. Apparently edible, the Jinmenju made a shocking cameo in a video for the song “Obscure” by Dir En Grey, Japan’s entry in the extreme heavy metal sweepstakes. Watch the unedited version of the video at your own risk.
The Tanuki - Easily dismissed as nothing more than raccoons with enormous testicles, the Tanuki starred in a Studio Ghibli’s classic animation “Pom Poko.” The Tanuki are consummate pranksters, but can be dangerous when cornered. Don’t mess around with cuddly animals with absurdly large gonads. Seriously. Just don’t.
The Akaname - Also known as the “Tub-Licker,” this gross Yokai hides out in bathrooms and uses a long and slimy tongue to slurp up water left behind by bathers. Keep in mind that a Japanese bathroom is just that, a BATH ROOM. Toilets are kept in their own facilities for sanitation purposes. Bathrooms often have a social component in Japan, as public baths are a very common thing to experience. Make sure to keep an eye out for this long-tongued devil the next time you step into the shower....
My 12-year old Japanophile daughter loved this book, and I did as well. It's a great introduction to the yokai for Westerners who have any sort of interest in Japanese mythology or folk culture. I'd heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in J-horror or manga especially, as you'll find a wealth of great information here.
My daughter is 22 now, so I wrote the original review ten years ago. Time flies, but she is still quite the Japanophile. She draws a ton of anime and manga inspired art, and is taking Japanese as a language during her senior year at Texas State. She and I both had a ton of fun with this book back when we first got it, and it still comes out as a reference every once in a while. I definitely recommend this book if you have any interest at all in how the Japanese view their supernatural entities. The influence of the Yokai can be seen across the spectrum of Japanese media….anime….manga….j-horror…..all of these art forms owe a debt to the Yokai as inspiration for nightmare-inducing stories. The illustrations are fun to look at and the book as a whole is a fine, if somewhat sparse, introduction to the complex world of the Yokai.
If you have bothered to read this far, then I thank you. I try to make a sincere and consistent effort to get better at this reviewing thing. I owe that to myself, and I owe that to you. May your day be free from Tub-Lickers.
So bear with me, as this is a bit of a self-indulgent exercise on my part. It’s a legit review of a pretty cool book, but it’s also a way for me to dissect an old piece that I wrote and find a way to make it better. The subject in question is a small book titled “Yokai Attack!! The Japanese Monster Survival Guide.” The original review is in italics, new additions are in normal font.
Prepare to enter the macabre world of the Yokai, strange creatures from the mists of Japanese legend and folktales. Some are ghostly and horrific, some are frightening and fantastic, some are even humorous and ALL of them are fun and interesting. Husband and wife authors Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt have teamed up with illustrator Tatsuya Morino to bring Yokai out of the shadows and let some light shine onto these incredible creatures.
Not a bad introduction. It’s always a battle between how much of YOUR time I want to take up, dear reader, vs. how much time I think a book really deserves to be explored. This is basically a pretty short overview of a significant Japanese cultural expression that really doesn’t translate particularly well to Western audiences. But it DOES fit in well with my reading habits around this time of the year, when my tastes tend to run towards dark and mysterious fare. And I’m also a big mythology buff. AND I was an anthropology major in college, and this little text easily qualifies as a piece of cultural anthropology. Yes, I’m overthinking the whole thing. I know, I know…..get on with it!
Yokai are creatures of myth and fairy tale. Their backstories almost always have an allegorical or moral spin to them. In a sense, they are almost like the creatures that inhabit many a tale told around the Western campfire. One can think of them as ghosts or monsters to a point, but those translations of the word "yokai" don't really catch all of the nuance. As the authors say in their introduction, "yokai are yokai.”
Well, yeah, ok…..all of that. There really isn’t a good Western analogue to the Yokai, other than perhaps the Native American concept of the manitou. The Yokai are an offshoot of the animism inherent in the Shinto religion, and while there are many Yokai that have been around for centuries, new ones have been added as time has gone by, giving the Yokai legitimacy as a true folk superstition rooted in the nuances of everyday Japanese life. The introduction to the book gives a short history of the Yokai phenomenon all the way up to its present influence as a precursor to the Pokemon craze. There are several good scholarly works on the market if your interest in Yokai is really stimulated, particularly Michael Foster’s “The Book of Yokai” and Matthew Meyer’s “The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.” Those make for GREAT multicultural spooky reading for your Halloween needs.
This field guide to the yokai covers 42 different beasties in detail, with a full-page illustration of what they look like along with several pages of text outlining a wealth of information on each entry. You get a glossary of yokai-related terminology, plus there's an index in the back for easy lookup. It's easy and fun to read.
Absolutely true. The book has a format much like a manga, although it reads left to right as opposed to right to left as traditional manga would. I completely neglected to mention that this book bills itself as a survival guide to Yokai encounters, so readers get handy tips on how to stay safe once a Yokai has been engaged. A few of the Yokai can be truly creepy and dangerous, but most are simply mischievous in nature and don’t pose much in the way of a real threat. There are also trivia sections and tales from around the Yokai campfire. Here are a few of my favorite Yokai profiled in the text:
The Kappa - Probably the most easily recognizable Yokai for Westerners, this water imp likes to challenge victims to wrestling matches. Keep a cucumber handy when near bodies of water so you can avoid grappling with this stenchy bog pirate.
The Tofu Kozo - A fairly recent addition to the Yokai pantheon, the Tofu Kozu has a dreadful weapon at its disposal….a jiggling block of tofu on a plate. Yes, that’s right. It’s primary offensive weapon is a culinary staple easily found in any grocery store. The defense? Don’t eat the tofu if offered, otherwise you get a horrible brain fungus that kills you in an awful way.
The Jinmenju - One of the truly creepier Yokai, it manifests as a fruit on a tree that takes the shape of a human head. Apparently edible, the Jinmenju made a shocking cameo in a video for the song “Obscure” by Dir En Grey, Japan’s entry in the extreme heavy metal sweepstakes. Watch the unedited version of the video at your own risk.
The Tanuki - Easily dismissed as nothing more than raccoons with enormous testicles, the Tanuki starred in a Studio Ghibli’s classic animation “Pom Poko.” The Tanuki are consummate pranksters, but can be dangerous when cornered. Don’t mess around with cuddly animals with absurdly large gonads. Seriously. Just don’t.
The Akaname - Also known as the “Tub-Licker,” this gross Yokai hides out in bathrooms and uses a long and slimy tongue to slurp up water left behind by bathers. Keep in mind that a Japanese bathroom is just that, a BATH ROOM. Toilets are kept in their own facilities for sanitation purposes. Bathrooms often have a social component in Japan, as public baths are a very common thing to experience. Make sure to keep an eye out for this long-tongued devil the next time you step into the shower....
My 12-year old Japanophile daughter loved this book, and I did as well. It's a great introduction to the yokai for Westerners who have any sort of interest in Japanese mythology or folk culture. I'd heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in J-horror or manga especially, as you'll find a wealth of great information here.
My daughter is 22 now, so I wrote the original review ten years ago. Time flies, but she is still quite the Japanophile. She draws a ton of anime and manga inspired art, and is taking Japanese as a language during her senior year at Texas State. She and I both had a ton of fun with this book back when we first got it, and it still comes out as a reference every once in a while. I definitely recommend this book if you have any interest at all in how the Japanese view their supernatural entities. The influence of the Yokai can be seen across the spectrum of Japanese media….anime….manga….j-horror…..all of these art forms owe a debt to the Yokai as inspiration for nightmare-inducing stories. The illustrations are fun to look at and the book as a whole is a fine, if somewhat sparse, introduction to the complex world of the Yokai.
If you have bothered to read this far, then I thank you. I try to make a sincere and consistent effort to get better at this reviewing thing. I owe that to myself, and I owe that to you. May your day be free from Tub-Lickers.
July 30, 2017
Amazing! Yokai Attack is a wonderfully illustrated guide to all kinds of creepy, bizarre, cool things found in Japanese folklore. The book is well researched, with sources documented, but easy and fun to consume. Great for adults and teens. I recently learned the authors and illustrator have published two other books and I have already ordered all three books for my library.
May 28, 2019
Read as research for the sequel to Tanuki Tango Overdrive.
June 24, 2020
Thoroughly entertaining! Will be a great reference guide when it comes time to paint my miniature yokai.
July 28, 2013
Yoda, Hiroko & Alt, Matt, Yokai Attack: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide. Tokyo, Tuttle Publishing, 2008 (nonfiction)
Yokai Attack is part of a series by Yoda and Alt which also include Ninga Attack and Yurei (Ghost) Attack. Yokai is a kanji in Japanese for bewitching and mysterious. Yokai are part of classic Japanese folklore and are given a refreshed update in this compilation. Creatures are broken into categories such as “ferocious fiends” and “gruesome gourmets.” The book introduces the concept of yokai, provides basic vocabulary, and maps. Each creature is given a short profile page, a detailed illustration, and a longer summary or its origin and appearance in classic Japanese lore. The book’s second person narration giving the reader the impression that the information provides a use cache of knowledge when battling monsters.
Fans of the Yu Gi Oh card game or any fantasy game involving magic and monsters such as Dungeons and Dragons, Magic the Gathering, or Arkham Horror will appreciate a comprehensive guide feeding details to their collective imaginations. It seems there are often fervent fans of fantasy such as the Tolkein book who are happy to ensconse themselves in a fictional world as long as they have the details to develop their visit. Boys, grades 6-10 will pour over the details in this book, which would also be good inspiration for writing fantasy stories of their own.
Accuracy – There is a portion in the back of the book which reviews a bit of the research done by the author and illustrator including visits to the National Library of Tokyo and using microfilm of 18th century illustrations of creatures.
Authority – This is part of a similar series highlighting magic and creatures from ancient Japan.
Relevance – This certainly sparks reading interest and gives a leg up into research for students who are vary of research projects. It shows that reference materials can be exciting.
Appropriateness – While the creature is drawn in detail and its powers are detailed nothing is too gruesome for even upper elementary school readers. The reading level is between O and U, depending on whether the student is reading the profile pages or the more challenging summary pages.
Scope – The guide includes over 50 creatures with visual and imaginative details including body type, magical powers, and origin. Each creature is a comprehensive story in and of itself.
Literary Merit – The illustrations are intriguing in and of themselves. Strong adjectives and verbs describe the looks, powers, and attack of each creature painting solid mental images.
Value – Great inspiration for writing fantasy stories. Grounds a new idea such as Yu Gi Oh in ancient lore, much like a modern retelling.
Yokai Attack is part of a series by Yoda and Alt which also include Ninga Attack and Yurei (Ghost) Attack. Yokai is a kanji in Japanese for bewitching and mysterious. Yokai are part of classic Japanese folklore and are given a refreshed update in this compilation. Creatures are broken into categories such as “ferocious fiends” and “gruesome gourmets.” The book introduces the concept of yokai, provides basic vocabulary, and maps. Each creature is given a short profile page, a detailed illustration, and a longer summary or its origin and appearance in classic Japanese lore. The book’s second person narration giving the reader the impression that the information provides a use cache of knowledge when battling monsters.
Fans of the Yu Gi Oh card game or any fantasy game involving magic and monsters such as Dungeons and Dragons, Magic the Gathering, or Arkham Horror will appreciate a comprehensive guide feeding details to their collective imaginations. It seems there are often fervent fans of fantasy such as the Tolkein book who are happy to ensconse themselves in a fictional world as long as they have the details to develop their visit. Boys, grades 6-10 will pour over the details in this book, which would also be good inspiration for writing fantasy stories of their own.
Accuracy – There is a portion in the back of the book which reviews a bit of the research done by the author and illustrator including visits to the National Library of Tokyo and using microfilm of 18th century illustrations of creatures.
Authority – This is part of a similar series highlighting magic and creatures from ancient Japan.
Relevance – This certainly sparks reading interest and gives a leg up into research for students who are vary of research projects. It shows that reference materials can be exciting.
Appropriateness – While the creature is drawn in detail and its powers are detailed nothing is too gruesome for even upper elementary school readers. The reading level is between O and U, depending on whether the student is reading the profile pages or the more challenging summary pages.
Scope – The guide includes over 50 creatures with visual and imaginative details including body type, magical powers, and origin. Each creature is a comprehensive story in and of itself.
Literary Merit – The illustrations are intriguing in and of themselves. Strong adjectives and verbs describe the looks, powers, and attack of each creature painting solid mental images.
Value – Great inspiration for writing fantasy stories. Grounds a new idea such as Yu Gi Oh in ancient lore, much like a modern retelling.
April 1, 2013
When's the last time you asked yourself, "Gee, how do I keep my home safe from the Bathtub Licker?" Not recently, you say? And yet to a Japanese child, the mention of the name "Akaname" evokes the image of a large, red, demonlike creature with a long tongue and glaring eyes, that hides in the bathroom at night. Aren't you glad you were warned? Then thank your lucky stars you're buying Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide.
The detailed descriptions provide everything you'll need when faced with one of these legendary Japanese monsters. The first page of each entry is the "Stats Sheet" page, containing vital information such as monster height, weight, mode of locomotion, and any special abilities, as well as a full page color image (by talented illustrator Tatsuya Morino) of the yokai in question. The pages following contain information on the type of threat each yokai represents (whether it be just a scare, or a definitely-to-be-avoided disembowelment), as well as any defensive measures that can be taken, origin stories, typical location where found, regional variants of the monster, in addition to stories, facts, and legends surrounding that creature and its habits. Truly, the amount of information contained for each yokai is substantial, and will undoubtedly prove crucial to the would-be yokai hunter (or as often as not, the "yokai hunted").
The authors have made on-the-go referencing easier as well (very important when you're not sure if you're facing a Kuchisaki Onna or a Futakuchi Onna!) by separating yokai into groupings by type, from the ferocious to the feeble. What's more, each grouping has its own tab for flip-through ease, very convenient when you're running away from a creature at close to a full-out sprint!
In my time in Japan, I came across a number of the creatures described in this book, and can attest to the efficacy of at least a few of the defense techniques described therein. I can only say I wish I had had this handbook with me at the time, and that I will certainly be bringing it with me on any future excursions.
The detailed descriptions provide everything you'll need when faced with one of these legendary Japanese monsters. The first page of each entry is the "Stats Sheet" page, containing vital information such as monster height, weight, mode of locomotion, and any special abilities, as well as a full page color image (by talented illustrator Tatsuya Morino) of the yokai in question. The pages following contain information on the type of threat each yokai represents (whether it be just a scare, or a definitely-to-be-avoided disembowelment), as well as any defensive measures that can be taken, origin stories, typical location where found, regional variants of the monster, in addition to stories, facts, and legends surrounding that creature and its habits. Truly, the amount of information contained for each yokai is substantial, and will undoubtedly prove crucial to the would-be yokai hunter (or as often as not, the "yokai hunted").
The authors have made on-the-go referencing easier as well (very important when you're not sure if you're facing a Kuchisaki Onna or a Futakuchi Onna!) by separating yokai into groupings by type, from the ferocious to the feeble. What's more, each grouping has its own tab for flip-through ease, very convenient when you're running away from a creature at close to a full-out sprint!
In my time in Japan, I came across a number of the creatures described in this book, and can attest to the efficacy of at least a few of the defense techniques described therein. I can only say I wish I had had this handbook with me at the time, and that I will certainly be bringing it with me on any future excursions.
August 24, 2017
Very fun light reading with amusing puns and and jokey text, but also great illustrations and pictures, linguistic notes, and some fairy tales. Sometimes some of the entries seemed pretty poorly researched (the akaname is described as being harmless, but according to what I have read, the akaname has venom in its saliva, so if it cleans your tub with its tongue, you are in trouble! The tanuki is also described as being completely harmless, but one of the most popular fairy tales that feature tanuki, Crackling Mountain, has a tanuki trick a farmer into eating his wife!) Still, I greatly enjoyed reading this book from cover to cover!
May 23, 2017
A fun introductory into the world of Japanese tales and stories, Yokai (the Japanese word for demon or monster) Attack! is a "survival handbook" for when you encounter these bizarre beings. Heavily illustrated by both ancient drawings and their modern counterparts, readers will get a glimpse of the various types of bogeymen, critters and creatures that enrich the shintoïsm based folklore of Japan. Fun and easy to read, filled with humor, this survival guide might just be the difference between life and death when you encounter such a being!
August 14, 2016
Fun illustrated overview of Japanese preternatural creatures.
Just the title is a bit overselling. Most of the yōkai aren’t really aggressive. They won’t attack you unprovoked – or at all.
The Azuki Arai (小豆洗い) may sing about catching humans to eat, but they never harm anyone.
On the other hand, if you want to be on the safe side, you may want to bring along a bottomless ladle, so the Funa-yurei (舟幽霊) can’t bail your boat full of water when you meet them.
Just the title is a bit overselling. Most of the yōkai aren’t really aggressive. They won’t attack you unprovoked – or at all.
The Azuki Arai (小豆洗い) may sing about catching humans to eat, but they never harm anyone.
On the other hand, if you want to be on the safe side, you may want to bring along a bottomless ladle, so the Funa-yurei (舟幽霊) can’t bail your boat full of water when you meet them.
December 9, 2008
Brilliant. A guidebook to Japanese spooks - more along traditional lines than Sadako, say - that's written with humour. Illustrations within perfectly capture the personalities of the monsters, and they're ranked from incredibly dangerous to wimpy-as-hell.
If you're interested in Japanese mythology and folklore, this is a worthy read, presented in a fun way.
If you're interested in Japanese mythology and folklore, this is a worthy read, presented in a fun way.
April 29, 2015
A visually appealing, easy-to-read field guide to yokai, those pesky Japanese supernatural creatures. I was somewhat disappointed that shirime was not included. Maybe in a future edition. (A shirime is basically a man-creature with an eyeball shining out of its bottom).
August 24, 2016
It was the best book I read on the subject. It had plenty of information and pictures that were wonderfully drawn. Loved it!!!
March 26, 2013
قالو قديماً بأن الإله إيزاناقي عندما عاد لأرض يومي حتى يطهر نفسه وليغتسل . وهو يتطهر سقطت قطرات ماء على التربة، التي أكسبت هذه البقعة صفات غريبة، ومنها ولد اليوكاي. - وجدت في أشعار الكويجي اليابانية، وهي أقدم نص ياباني معروف، حيث كُتب باللغة اليابنيه لكن بإستخدام الأحرف الصينية. Kojiki (古事記; Record of Ancient Matters) ويعود للقرن الثامن الميلادي.
هذه القصة المعروفه عن إيزانامي وإيزاناقي - رغم تعقيدها الشديد، وعدة معانيها المختلفة- تقدم لنا وصفاً فلكلورياً مبدئياً لأصل هذه الكائنات العجيبة. وتقدم لنا أيضاً نبذة للفلكلور الياباني المعقد جداً بمعانيه وتوسعه وانقسامه لإنقسام القبائل والمناطق التي آمنت بهذه الكائنات المخيفة العجيبة.
في القرن السابع الميلادي، كان من الشائع تسمية اليوكاي بـمونونوكي -mononoke- أو باكيمونو - bakemono - أي شبح للأولى، ووحش للثانية. التسمية تنوعت على مر الزمن حتى أصبح الوصف الدارج هو " يوكاي” yokai في هذا الزمن، وأصبح وصفاً دارجاً تقريباً لمعظم هذه الكائنات الغرائبية.
بالطبع من الصعب أن نحدد الإسم الحقيقي أو المعنى الصحيح المركز لكلمة yokai، إذ أنها تعود بالمعنى لكل ماهو فوق طبيعي. وشمولها لمعظم المونونوكي والأوني يدل على تحولها إلى كلمة جامعة لهذا الجنس الغير بشري. وبالطبع أنا أستثني هُنا اليوري Yurei إذ إنها أشباح الموتى وما شابهها.
في عمل توراياما سيكين، 1776 تطرق إلى رسم العديد من اليوكاي، معظمهم كما أسلفت في تدوينتي السابقة ( تصوير الموكب الليلي للمئة شيطان .. Gazu Hyakki Yagyō – 画図百鬼夜行 ) كانت من وحي خياله ولغرض المتعه والإستهزاء بالوضع الإجتماعي السائد آنذاك.
في القرن الثامن عشر، تحول اليوكاي من قصص رعب مخيفة وترتعد لها الفرائص هلعاً إلى مادة غنية للفن والأدب. ففي بدايات عصر ميجي، وقبل أن تفتح اليابان أبوابها للعالم الخارجي، انتشرت موضة لعب الأطفال ببطاقات الكاروتا karuta وتسمى ب أوباكي كاروتا التي يرسم عليها صور اليوكاي. تمت مناقشة ( المسابقة الوطنية في لعبة الكاروتا ) في الأنمي المدرسي chihayafuru .
صفحة الكاروتا في ويكيبيديا: اضغط للإنتقال.
بعد الإنفتاح على الغرب وبروز التقدم العلمي والتقني الكبير الواضح جداً في الغرب وبين الشرق المتمسك بتراثه وأساطيره، خرج الفيلسوف والبروفيسور الجامعي د.إينريو إينوي DR.Enryo Inoue أو كما يعرف بدكتور اليوكاي أو دكتور الوحوش الذي كره تعلق أبناء جلدته بهذه الأساطير والخرافات التي تنافي كُل أساسيات العلم و تُهدد بتواجدها التطور المدني كما ظن، فألف كتابه الخاص لفرز اليوكاي بأسس علمية وهو yokaigaku أو yokai-ology أو - دراسة للوحوش study of monsters- الذي وبسخرية تامه أصبح مرجعاً للباحثين ولدارسي الفلكلور الياباني. حيث صُنفت هذه المخلوقات حسب أماكن عيشها، وأين تظهر عادة.
ولكن هذه الدراسة نفسها لم تشتهر بيوم وليله، فحين نفذت كان هوس اليابانيين باليوكاي والأعاجيب قد خفت نتيجة للإنبهار الثقافي والعلمي، ليعود لنا رجل متحمس في نهايات القرن الثامن عشر تحت اسم مستعار ياباني لينشر هذه الثقافة خارج اليابان ويفتح عيون الغرب على هذا النوع من الفلكلور الياباني، بالطبع أنا أقصد بهذا الكاتب lafcadio Hearn أو كما كان يطلق على نفسه في مؤلفاته Yakumo Koizumi. هذا الرجل عشق الميثيولوجيا اليابانية ونشر عدة كتب تتضمن هذا الموضوع بمساعدة زوجته اليابانية سيتسوكو منها: “ في اليابان الشبحية in ghostly Japan “ 1899 وأيضاً كوايدن Kwaidan 1903. هذه الكتب ألهمت الكثير من الدارسين الشباب فكونيو ياناقيتا Kunio Yanagita كمثال، ألف في كتابه” قصص تونو Tono Monogatari (遠野物語) قام بجمع عدة قصص فلكلورية وأخرى عن الأشباح من المناطق الشمالية في اليابان والتي أشتهرت كثيراً حال نشرها في عام 1912.
وفي عام 1960 أصدر الرسام المشهور Shigeru Mizuki سلسلة المانجا الشهيرة GeGeGe no Kitaro التي أقتبست معظم شخصياتها من القصص الفلكلورية والفن الكلاسيكي الياباني المأخوذة غالباً من عمل ياناقيتا.
لم يقتصر الإقتباس من اليوكاي وطبيعتهم الغريبه لكتاب المانجا فقط، فحتى هاروكي موراكامي استوحى شخصيته “ الرجل الخروف” في رواية A Wild sheep chase من اليوكاي المسمى ياميكورو Yamikuro الذي ترجم للإنجليزية بمسمى Infra-Nocturnal Kappa ( بحثت عنه بالإنترنت لكن كما يبدو لم أجد أي نتيجة مفيدة، بدلاً من ذلك سقطت من جديد في حفرة الفوكالويد xD ).
ولا ننسى بالتأكيد هاياو ميزاكي وأفلامه التي تكاد تعتمد على الفلكلور الشعبي الياباني في بنائها ( الأميرة مونونوكي، توتورو، بونيو، و أخيراً سبريتيد أواي ) والكثير من باقي أفلامه التي تحوي حملاً ثقيلاً من الفِكر الشعبي الأقرب لحكايات العجائز الجميلة مصحوبة بموهبة إخراجية عظيمة وأسلوب مميز لا يمكن نسيانه “ بالطبع أنا أحد أكبر المشجعين والعاشقين لهذا المخرج ولأستيديو جيبلي العظيم”.
هُنا يأتي دور الكتاب، فيتعين عليه أن يشرح ويوضح، يبسط دون أن يخل بالمعنى أو يميل لحقيقة ما. وأتت سلسلة Attack! كمثال جميل ومقدمه رائعة لما ذكرته.
الكاتبان اللذان تعاونا على إنتاج هذا الدليل حرصا على أن تحوي كُل صفحة بأكبر قدر ممكن من المعلومات دون أن يُمللا القارئ بحجمها أو بجديتها، فأتى الدليل مقسماً وواضحاً ليعينك على أسس الهروب من مواجهة هذه المخلوقات الليلية القاتلة حيناً ومحبة المقالب حيناً آخر
يقدم لك الكتاب بمادته الغنية و أسلوبه السهل المبسط وصفحاته المليئه بالرسوم التوضيحية في كلا الأسلوبين الياباني التقليدي والغربي الهزلي ليشرح لك اليوكاي ويقدم لك دليلاً إنقاذياً لعدة مخلوقات قد تقابلها إن حدث وذهبت لليابان يوماً!
Yokai Attack!
يبدأ الكتاب بمقدمة نصية تحوي مقالاً يشرح تاريخ اليوكاي والأعمال التي ناقشت وتداولت القصص الشعبية والفلكلور الياباني المتعلق بهذه الناحية، مع الكثير والكثير من الإشارات لكتب وكُتاب ومخرجين وأفلام تحدثو عن هذا الموضوع وكانوا السبق فيه.
بعد ذلك يوجد صفحة خاصة بالتعريفات للمصطلحات المستخدمة في الميثيولوجيا اليابانية المصاحبة لليوكاي، فهناك الباكيمونو، المونونوكي، الأورغا و اليوري والأوني، والشينتو وغيرها الكثير.
يتم شرح كُل مصطلح على حده بشكل مبسط وواضح للمبتدئ مع ذكر مصادر خارجية إن لزم الأمر لإطلاع أكثر.
من ثم خريطة شاملة للجزر اليابانية توضح مكان نشأة اليوكاي واصولها حول الجزر .. ويُختتم بقائمة من المصادر الخارجية و الوصلات المساعدة لمن يحب أن يتعمق أكثر في الفهم.
ينقسم الكتاب إلى خمسة فصول، موزعة حسب تصنيف الكائنات وخطرها:
الوحوش الضارية : ببساطة أهرب بحياتك عندما تقابل أحدها!
بشعة لكن ذواقة: ببساطية كُن نظيفاً وخبئ طعامك وأحتفظ بكتبك في مكان أمين! فهذه الأنواع تأكل الأخضر واليابس
جيران مزعجين: كُل ماسيطالك منها هو الإزعاج المستمر، لكن بلا خطر داهم على حياتك
المثيرة والفاتنة: احذر، فليس كُل مايلمع ذهباً، وليست كُل امرأة حقيقية!
الضعفاء: أنت ستخيفهم أكثر مما قد يخفونك
الكتاب رائع جداً، وأؤكد لكم بأنكم لن تندمو أبداً لشراءه !! كمية المعلومات والروابط الخارجية كبيره! كما أنه مبسط جداً حتى ليكون مدخلاً مناسباً لكل من يرغب في دخول عالم اليوكاي وفهم طبيعتهم!
If you are an English speaker and wondering about the context of this post, i recommend you to buy “ Yokai Attack” book and read it :p. basically this host is to review the book with a few of explanation of the creatures mentioned in it.
- بالإمكان قراءة التدوينه كاملة في مدونتي الشخصية -
July 4, 2017
Muy cuqui y divertido! La información que ofrece sobre cada uno de los yokai es muy interesante y detallada
December 16, 2021
2 1/5
Informative and funny. I expected to like the world of yokais a bit more. Now I understand why Japanese horror movies tend to be so ridiculous.
Informative and funny. I expected to like the world of yokais a bit more. Now I understand why Japanese horror movies tend to be so ridiculous.
July 16, 2009
It's not easy being into world mythology and legends when there are very few books on whichever stories and characters you want to learn about written in the language that you comprehend. For me this has proven especially true when it comes to researching the lore of the creatures indigenous to the Japanese myth base, a group collectively known as Yokai, a name derived from the written form of the words "otherworldly" and "weird." I've was made aware of these spooks and monsters through years of absorbing Japanese movies, comics and TV, and theYokai are quite prevalent in all of those media and beyond, which comes as no surprise since they've been around for centuries and have become permanently ingrained into the culture. Best known in the States through what little has been made available in translated/subtitled form ofShigeru Mizuki's landmark manga series GE GE GE NO KITARO and its televison and movie incarnations, as well as movies like KAIDAN (1965), SPOOK WARFARE (1968), ONE HUNDRED MONSTERS (1968), ALONG WITH GHOSTS (1969) and THE GREAT YOKAI WAR (2005), the Yokai are an incredibly varied bestiary that includes some of the most bizarre horrors every seen anywhere, with their appearance and functions being especially perplexing to the uninitiated Westerner.
Well, be perplexed no more! From writers Hiroko Yoda (no relation) and Matt Alt comes YOKAI ATTACK! THE JAPANESE MONSTER SURVIVAL GUIDE (Kodansha International, 2008), a delightful and thoroughly-researched answer to the prayers of the Western Yokai-curious. Packed to the ghastly gills with Tengu — both Karasu and Hanadaka varieties — , Neko-mata ("the Forked Cat"), the Wanyudo ("the Firewheel"), the Onibaba, Rokuro Kubi ("the Long-Necked Woman") and many, many more, each as facinating as much of what we know from European-based legend, if not moreso by virtue of the Yokai's relative unfamiliarity. Some of the Yokai are even hardcore martial artists who enjoy kicking ass, as well as teaching combat skills to humans who later go on to military fame as warriors of incredible prowess, but my favorite of the ass-whuppin' monsters is the Kappa ("river-child"), a water creature with a number of interesting quirks that has turtle-like attributes, a Moe Howard hairdo and loves to challenge passersby to impromptu wrestling contests.
The Kappa are kind of like a less-endangered version of the Creature from the Black Lagoon, only sentient and really, really nasty when they want to be. I mean, how else would you describe a monster that stuffs its scaly mitt straight up your asshole to forage for your shirikodoma, "a mysterious organ said to be located in the colon?" Now that's something I would love to see depicted in a movie! In fact, I can just picture it:
(Scene: two samurai youths, Shigeru and Shinichi, dive into a river to cool off on a hot summer day, unaware that they're being watched from below the surface by a hungry Kappa.)
SHIGERU: Gosh, Shinichi! It sure feels good to cool off!
SHINICHI: You said it! (PAUSE) Hey! Something just stroked inside my thigh!
SHIGERU: Ha! You wish! There's nobody here but us. What the fuck are you talking about?
SHINICHI: Dude, I'm not kidding. Something's... Aaagh! Shigeru! My asshooooooole!!! Noooooooooo!!!
(Shinichi is then thrust from the water by a guffawing Kappa, it's forearm lodged up the young man's ass, blood, entrails and excrement showering in all directions and splatteringShigeru, giving the scene the aspect of a seriously twisted bit of hand puppet theater. Dr. Know's "Fist Fuck" is heard on the soundtrack.)
Hey, I've seen a lot of weird shit in Japanese horror movies, so this scenario isn't even a stretch.
Anyway, I can't recommend this book enough, both to those in the know and to those who may be casually intrigued. Far from what could have been a stodgy "scholarly" tome, the author's made sure that the text is engaging and loads of fun for the teratism advocate, and it's a bargain at $14.95)
Well, be perplexed no more! From writers Hiroko Yoda (no relation) and Matt Alt comes YOKAI ATTACK! THE JAPANESE MONSTER SURVIVAL GUIDE (Kodansha International, 2008), a delightful and thoroughly-researched answer to the prayers of the Western Yokai-curious. Packed to the ghastly gills with Tengu — both Karasu and Hanadaka varieties — , Neko-mata ("the Forked Cat"), the Wanyudo ("the Firewheel"), the Onibaba, Rokuro Kubi ("the Long-Necked Woman") and many, many more, each as facinating as much of what we know from European-based legend, if not moreso by virtue of the Yokai's relative unfamiliarity. Some of the Yokai are even hardcore martial artists who enjoy kicking ass, as well as teaching combat skills to humans who later go on to military fame as warriors of incredible prowess, but my favorite of the ass-whuppin' monsters is the Kappa ("river-child"), a water creature with a number of interesting quirks that has turtle-like attributes, a Moe Howard hairdo and loves to challenge passersby to impromptu wrestling contests.
The Kappa are kind of like a less-endangered version of the Creature from the Black Lagoon, only sentient and really, really nasty when they want to be. I mean, how else would you describe a monster that stuffs its scaly mitt straight up your asshole to forage for your shirikodoma, "a mysterious organ said to be located in the colon?" Now that's something I would love to see depicted in a movie! In fact, I can just picture it:
(Scene: two samurai youths, Shigeru and Shinichi, dive into a river to cool off on a hot summer day, unaware that they're being watched from below the surface by a hungry Kappa.)
SHIGERU: Gosh, Shinichi! It sure feels good to cool off!
SHINICHI: You said it! (PAUSE) Hey! Something just stroked inside my thigh!
SHIGERU: Ha! You wish! There's nobody here but us. What the fuck are you talking about?
SHINICHI: Dude, I'm not kidding. Something's... Aaagh! Shigeru! My asshooooooole!!! Noooooooooo!!!
(Shinichi is then thrust from the water by a guffawing Kappa, it's forearm lodged up the young man's ass, blood, entrails and excrement showering in all directions and splatteringShigeru, giving the scene the aspect of a seriously twisted bit of hand puppet theater. Dr. Know's "Fist Fuck" is heard on the soundtrack.)
Hey, I've seen a lot of weird shit in Japanese horror movies, so this scenario isn't even a stretch.
Anyway, I can't recommend this book enough, both to those in the know and to those who may be casually intrigued. Far from what could have been a stodgy "scholarly" tome, the author's made sure that the text is engaging and loads of fun for the teratism advocate, and it's a bargain at $14.95)
January 25, 2018
Fascinating look into yokai, Japanese culture, stories and legends. The origin stories of some of the yokai was also interesting. But my favorite part was seeing how deeply these yokai impact the culture of Japan. yokai are prevalent in artwork, card games, movies- even mascots. Several of the games I play, like Culdcept have yokai inspired creatures. Miyazaki's Spirited Away was clearly influenced by coming from a culture with yokai legends. Just to name a few things. This book is beautifully done, and captures the feeling, not just the details of yokai. I loved the illustrations and images of yokai represented in artwork.
Here's a quote from the introduction I found to be a particularly illuminating description:
"The yokai are the spookiest Japanese monsters you've never heard of, and it's high time they got their due. Written with Japanese characters for "otherworldly" and "weird," the work "yokai" has typically been translated in a great many ways from "demon" to "ghost" to "goblin" to "spectre"- all of which are about as imprecise and un-evocative as translating "samurai" as "Japanese warrior," or "sushi" as "raw fish on rice." Yokai are yokai.
The yokai in this survival guide are mythical, supernatural creatures that have populated generations of Japanese fairy tales and folk stories. They can be seen in museums worldwide on scrolls, screens, woodblock prints, and other traditional forms of Japanese art, menacing hapless citizens or being skewered by swashbuckling samurai. They are the things that go bump in Japan's night, the faces behind inexplicable phenomena, the personalities behind the strange hands that fate often deals us. They represent the attempt of the fertile human imagination to impose meaning and rationality on a chaotic unpredictable, often difficult-to-explain world. This is essentially what the yokai are: superstitions with personalities.
For centuries they have stalked the mountains, forests, fields, rivers, and coastlines of Japan. Some are animal-like, some are human-like. Others are inanimate objects that have taken uncanny sentient form. Some are personifications of natural phenomena. And still others are obviously tongue-in-cheek flights of fancy-physical incarnations of jokes, puns, idioms. Some are considered helpful. Many are mischievous. And more than a few are thought to be very, very dangerous. They are Japan's bogeymen, and once the lights go out, they are always there."
Here's a quote from the introduction I found to be a particularly illuminating description:
"The yokai are the spookiest Japanese monsters you've never heard of, and it's high time they got their due. Written with Japanese characters for "otherworldly" and "weird," the work "yokai" has typically been translated in a great many ways from "demon" to "ghost" to "goblin" to "spectre"- all of which are about as imprecise and un-evocative as translating "samurai" as "Japanese warrior," or "sushi" as "raw fish on rice." Yokai are yokai.
The yokai in this survival guide are mythical, supernatural creatures that have populated generations of Japanese fairy tales and folk stories. They can be seen in museums worldwide on scrolls, screens, woodblock prints, and other traditional forms of Japanese art, menacing hapless citizens or being skewered by swashbuckling samurai. They are the things that go bump in Japan's night, the faces behind inexplicable phenomena, the personalities behind the strange hands that fate often deals us. They represent the attempt of the fertile human imagination to impose meaning and rationality on a chaotic unpredictable, often difficult-to-explain world. This is essentially what the yokai are: superstitions with personalities.
For centuries they have stalked the mountains, forests, fields, rivers, and coastlines of Japan. Some are animal-like, some are human-like. Others are inanimate objects that have taken uncanny sentient form. Some are personifications of natural phenomena. And still others are obviously tongue-in-cheek flights of fancy-physical incarnations of jokes, puns, idioms. Some are considered helpful. Many are mischievous. And more than a few are thought to be very, very dangerous. They are Japan's bogeymen, and once the lights go out, they are always there."
January 21, 2010
Buku ini bisa dibilang merupakan 'buku pintar' yang khusus membahas dunia youkai (siluman, makhluk halus, jin) di Jepang. Setiap youkai diulas secara mendetail, bahkan sampai memiliki data-data khusus.
Pengarangnya adalah sepasang suami istri beda negara, Matt Alt dan Hiroko Yoda yang sepertinya punya pengetahuan banyak seputar dunia ghaib. Isinya diulas dalam bahasa inggris, jadi kamu yang tidak bisa nihon-go tidak perlu kuatir.
Yang membuat buku ini semakin menarik, adalah desainnya yang seolah-olah ada youkai yang mencoba merusak buku ini. Seperti pada cover, terlihat bekas cakaran, lalu pada chapter Wanyudo terdapat bekas kertas terbakar. Ada juga sample kulit ular Nure Onna. Dan pada halaman pertama, disertakan juga peta yang menunjukkan lokasi2 asal youkai. Kreatif..
Saya berharap akan ada buku lanjutannya yang membahas soal yuurei, seperti Ubume, dll. Setidaknya buku ini sukses menambah pengetahuan saya soal youkai Jepang.
Buat yang suka horror, ini buku wajib untuk kalian! :D
Pengarangnya adalah sepasang suami istri beda negara, Matt Alt dan Hiroko Yoda yang sepertinya punya pengetahuan banyak seputar dunia ghaib. Isinya diulas dalam bahasa inggris, jadi kamu yang tidak bisa nihon-go tidak perlu kuatir.
Yang membuat buku ini semakin menarik, adalah desainnya yang seolah-olah ada youkai yang mencoba merusak buku ini. Seperti pada cover, terlihat bekas cakaran, lalu pada chapter Wanyudo terdapat bekas kertas terbakar. Ada juga sample kulit ular Nure Onna. Dan pada halaman pertama, disertakan juga peta yang menunjukkan lokasi2 asal youkai. Kreatif..
Saya berharap akan ada buku lanjutannya yang membahas soal yuurei, seperti Ubume, dll. Setidaknya buku ini sukses menambah pengetahuan saya soal youkai Jepang.
Buat yang suka horror, ini buku wajib untuk kalian! :D
October 7, 2019
This is like a Pokemon guide, but for adults. Filled with illustrations, historical art, and monster stats as though it was a journal, Yokai Attack! is a fun and intriguing look at Japan's folklore. I already somewhat knew of the Kitsune and Tanuki, but DANG the rest of those monsters? Incredible.
This book was also split up into some great categories from deadly to sexy to really non-threatening. And not to mention those illustrations--it really played up the monstrous and sexy, and the artwork was just so colorful. Even the stats were so entertaining to read, what with their weight, height, and most powerful attacks.
Overall, this was a great bedside read, and just perfect for the Halloween season!
Review cross-listed here!
This book was also split up into some great categories from deadly to sexy to really non-threatening. And not to mention those illustrations--it really played up the monstrous and sexy, and the artwork was just so colorful. Even the stats were so entertaining to read, what with their weight, height, and most powerful attacks.
Overall, this was a great bedside read, and just perfect for the Halloween season!
Review cross-listed here!
March 9, 2014
Instead of calling this a guidebook the authors billed it as a survival guide. Interesting device to get into what's essentially a short encyclopedia of yokai or what can most closely be translated as monsters. Though the authors are quick to explain it's a word that should stand on its own. Like sushi or toque for us Canadians.
Yokai Attack is an interesting way to take a quick look at some of the folk creatures of Japan. Some parents may even want to borrow a few to keep the kids on the straight and narrow.
Yokai Attack is an interesting way to take a quick look at some of the folk creatures of Japan. Some parents may even want to borrow a few to keep the kids on the straight and narrow.
December 13, 2008
A pop culture look at traditional Japanese spirits. A nice little book for anyone interested in the cultural characters that show Japanese anime and other pop culture movies. The book has different categories for the creatures. Each entry has modern interpretations of the creatures as well as 18th or 19th century drawings of the myths. There's also a pronunciation guide and a brief description of the create. Also what to do to avoid the creature.
November 25, 2015
Wonderful survey of Japanese urban legend/mythological monsters/demons/ghosts/spirits. Scholarship is good, with references to the classic Japanese works on spirits (authors are in Japan, and speak Japanese). Pictures aren't scary, but some of the text might creep out younger readers.
A very good introduction, and of particular interest to J-horror fans . . . many of the tropes that you'll see in "the Grudge" and "the Ring" etc, are very traditional in Japanese culture.
A very good introduction, and of particular interest to J-horror fans . . . many of the tropes that you'll see in "the Grudge" and "the Ring" etc, are very traditional in Japanese culture.
July 3, 2017
This book provides a look at some of the monsters that inhabit Japanese folklore. Most of the major creatures are featured. Be aware that this is written as a humor book, so if you're looking for something more serious, this is not the book to get. As someone who has read several books about Japanese folklore, there wasn't much new here. However, if you don't have any exposure to this topic, this is a good place to start.
October 8, 2021
Just like the other two books in the trio (Yurei attack and Ninja attack), this book is a feast of information about Japanese mythical(?) monsters, culture and folklore.
It is written in a light-hearted, often tongue-in-cheek style and accompanied by some humorous artwork. It gets the message across and has plenty of references to other works should you wish to explore further. All three are fully recommended.
It is written in a light-hearted, often tongue-in-cheek style and accompanied by some humorous artwork. It gets the message across and has plenty of references to other works should you wish to explore further. All three are fully recommended.
February 12, 2009
This is a great book to have lying around the house. I wouldn't say it's something to sit down and read cover to cover. But I found it great fun to pick up and read for a little while, learn a bit about the monsters of Japan and have new material for my nightmares. The illustrations where great and the inclusion of old woodblock prints of the beasts was great. Loved it
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