Top 10 Mystical Creatures from Japan

Starting off our list with touch of arachnophobia is the Joro-Gumo. Also known as the spider-woman, this Japanese creature is the epitome of a black widow. Joro-Gumo’s normal form is that of a giant spider, but can also transform itself into a beautiful woman. Her goal? She tempts men to join her in her quiet cottage, distracts them with beautiful music, then traps them in a web, only to slowly consume them. Alternatively, a Joro-Gumo may pose as a woman who asks passersby to hold her baby. But, surprise! The baby is actually an eggsack that holds thousands of baby spiders waiting for their first meal. Our suggestion? Use protection... like Raid.

Shirime takes the form of a rather normal human with just a few exceptions: it doesn’t have any facial features and it has an eyeball instead of a butthole. While there isn’t much information about people encountering the Shirime, there is one story detailing a meeting with the abnormality: as a lone samurai ventured down a desolate road, a man called his name an exposed his eye. Existing perhaps for no other reason than to cause hijinks; the Shirime was a muse for Japanese artist and poet Yosa Buson, as is evidenced by his many Shirime-related works.

The bogeyman exists in many different cultures, each having their own variations on the theme. The Akaname fills the bogeyman role quite satisfactorily in Japanese lore, with its name loosely translating to “Filth licker.” Often depicted as a red-colored monster, the Akaname is a monster that lives in filthy places, especially bathrooms, and will lick away the grime it finds. While the origin of the Akaname story is widely debated, many people believe that it was created by parents to motivate their children to keep their bathrooms spotless. That’d motivate us…

Like our last entry, Aka Manto’s main domain is the bathroom, but this monster acts much more violently. The story goes that if you’re alone in a public bathroom – and more often than not in the last stall – a strange voice will ask whether you want blue or red paper, or in certain accounts a blue or red cape. Pick blue and you’ll be strangled to death, leaving your face blue; pick red and you’ll be ripped apart until your clothing is the color of blood. Thinking of escaping? Not happening: choosing a different color will cause Aka Manto to drag your soul to Hell. The only way to outsmart this urban legend is to request no paper at all.

While folklore can be incredibly complex, even the simplest creatures are terrifying. Gashadokuro is one of those cases, as it’s merely a spirit that takes the form of a giant skeleton. The skeleton consists of the accumulated bones of people who’ve starved to death, and is always looking for new additions. If Gashadokuro finds you, it will bite your head off and drain the blood from your body. While you can try to escape, this indestructible monster will continue wandering until it finds you again. And here’s a warning: if you hear a ringing in your ears, look out: one might be nearby.

Call them devils, demons, trolls or ogres, but the oni are basically garden-variety monsters – with a twist. While its appearance varies quite a bit depending on who’s telling the tale, they are often pictured as giants with two horns and spiky talons. A common spirit in Japanese folklore, the oni is a rather brutish creature that wields a large club while wandering the country. Simultaneously thought of as invulnerable and strong as anything, the oni’s reputation has recently changed from that of a mischievous monster to more of a good luck charm. As such, these days they are sometimes used to defend against bad fortune.

Not all spirits have to be murderers, just mischief-makers. With Kitsune acting as the literal translation of the word “fox,” this symbol is a common one in Japanese culture. In ancient Japan, these animals co-existed harmoniously with humans, which is one reason why today foxes are widely considered intelligent, mystical beings. Though this view evolved as superstition took over, the kitsune are said to be able to shape shift into human form, whether it’s to play tricks on humans or to act as loyal companions. See: not all mystical creatures are bad.

Well, it’s back to the dark side with our next entry. Acting as the Eastern equivalent of the West’s Grim Reaper, the Shinigami are Japanese experts in all things “death.” These so-called “death spirits” tempt, encourage or invite people to die, in some cases by turning their thoughts towards bad deeds they’ve committed, in others by possessing them, and in others simply by making them want to end their lives. Now a common figure in Japanese manga and anime, descriptions of the Shinigami diverge from telling to telling, but we know for a fact that they’re one species of demon we’d rather not encounter.

With a name that loosely translates to “river-child,” this yōkai – or supernatural monsters from Japanese lore – is a mythological prankster, although sometimes those tricks take a turn for the serious or rape-y. With the appearance of a small, reptilian child – with other details varying from story to story – the kappa lives in Japan’s ponds and rivers from which it draws its powers, which is perhaps why some think it was invented as a warning to kids about the dangers founds in bodies of water. As such, some drownings have been pinned on the kappa. However, if you are able to trick one into subservience, their moral code makes them unable to resist.

Before we astonish ourselves with our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Kasa-obake
- Kamaitachi
- Tengu
- Kiyohime
- Tsuchinoko

Welcome to your new nightmare. Originating in the 1970s or possibly even before, this creature comes in the form of a woman wearing a surgical mask, who asks those she meets if she is pretty. Say no, and she’ll use her trusty scissors to cut you up. Answer yes, and she’ll reveal what’s beneath the mask: a face with a mouth cut from ear-to-ear. She’ll also make sure that by the end of your encounter, your face will match hers. With sightings of this spirit occurring as recently as 2004 in South Korea, the Slit-Mouthed Woman is said to have been disfigured by her own husband, and now she seems to spend her days chasing children.

Do you agree with our list? What mystical creature from Japan interests you the most? For more mesmerizing top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.