October. Halloween, Beltane, the occult is within the air. What higher time to sort out Japan’s youkai tradition in all its various and generally puzzling kinds?
As anime and manga followers, we actually have our fair proportion of publicity to this aspect of Japanese tradition. Japanese is a little bit of an exception in the case of faith, as it’s in so some ways. It is among the most secular international locations on this planet in the case of organized faith. However non secular custom is extra deeply rooted in individuals’s each day lives than wherever else. And Youkai is a part of that. The supply of all that is Shintoism, the indigenous perception system that developed in Japan lengthy earlier than wherever right here had ever heard of Buddhism.
Let’s begin with the terminology, which itself shouldn’t be straightforward for Westerners to grasp. The phrase ‘youkai’ itself is a reasonably latest building (it was hardly used earlier than the nineteenth century). These days, it is actually the time period Westerners (and youthful Japanese) have most likely heard essentially the most. Within the context of the title of this text. youkai is commonly a form of umbrella time period that encompasses any supernatural being that’s not God (Kami). Each kanji that make up the phrase categorical the idea of ‘unusual’ or ‘questionable’.
‘Ayakashi’ is a a lot older time period. We’re coming throughout a distinction right here that you just would possibly assume Japanese individuals assume outsiders won’t ever perceive. Typically you might be informed that ayakashi is simply the archaic type of the phrase “youkai”. However there’s a clear historic connection between the phrase and supernatural beings particularly associated to water. Ah, however here is the place kanji (as at all times) rears its complicated head. As a result of there are two totally different kanji representations which are learn as “ayakashi”, and solely certainly one of them is the previous kind associated to water. There may be one other, which described a extra basic supernatural being. This ‘spelling’ has historic connections to Noh theater and is commonly used interchangeably with youaki.
As tempting as it’s to go away it at that, in actuality neither model of ayakashi is really synonymous with youkai. Ayakashi are nearly universally seen as malevolent spirits, whereas youkai can run the complete spectrum, from malevolent to mischievous to pleasant and useful in the direction of people. And that brings us to the third fundamental time period in query right here, “Mononoke”. Mononoke is historically at all times evil. Specifically, beings that possess individuals with evil intentions. In its mysterious kind, mononoke refers to beings born from onyro. And what’s, say, an onryo? A vengeful spirit of a human who died underneath darkish circumstances and possesses residing individuals with the intention of cursing them.
Contemplating that Shinto is a perception system with actually tens of millions of Kami, it isn’t stunning {that a} record of several types of youkai would hold us right here till Halloween. However just a few of the higher recognized examples:
- She – Classically, an ogre-like creature with two horns, and the center of the Setsubun vacation in February. Typically used interchangeably with “demon”, however that is not likely appropriate.
- Akuma – Nearer, I believe, to a Judeo-Christian thought of demons – or devils. Probably the most evil amongst youkai.
- Kappa – Water spirits with a plate on their head who love cucumbers. Typically portrayed as extra capricious than malicious, though they’ve been recognized to succeed in into an individual’s anus and steal it shirikodama. Nicely represented in anime with Troopers And Summer season days with Coo.
- Tengu – The lords of the mountains, individuals with crimson faces or crows with a penchant for shotacon and lots of magical powers.
- Kitsune – Trickster fox youkai, eponymous in manga and anime.
- Tanuki – An actual animal but additionally one of the well-known youkai. A shapeshifter and the heroic heart Uchouten Kazoku (The Shimogami household home, Tadasu no Mori, is 500 meters from my home).
- Yatagarasu – The three-legged crow from Amaterasu and the celebs of their novel and anime sequence of the identical identify Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai.
- Bakaneko/Nekomata – The 2 varieties of cat youkai. Nekomata have two tails and are usually extra inclined to malevolence.
- Zashiki Warashi – One other anime favourite, a protecting home spirit within the type of a small baby. Could be a harbinger of fine or unhealthy luck, relying on a sophisticated set of variables.
Lastly, let’s discuss in regards to the two types of “ghosts”. Obake is the much less threatening kind, which is what you think about as a baby dressing up for Halloween. Yuurei, then again, is a phrase that provides chills to Japanese kids and adults alike. The lingering ghosts of the stressed useless.
To place all this into anime, Nicc requested me to place collectively just a few lists, beginning with my high 5 youkai anime. And for God’s sake, that is just about unattainable – there are such a lot of of them. I’ve picked 5, however there are numerous others I may point out. As a substitute of the “5 finest anime with Youkai”, I attempted to choose 5 that have been actual about jijkai.
- Natsume Yuujinchou – It has to begin right here. Illustrates the theme.
- Uchouten Kazoku – A celebration of tanuki and tengu within the immortal metropolis of Kyoto. It should be a manifestation of my fool blood.
- GeGeGe no Kitarou – Certainly a very powerful and best-known youkai franchise in historical past.
- Ghost canine – An enchanting mixture of Shinto horror and Jungian psychology (which seems to be eminently suitable in narrative phrases).
- Zettai Shounen – One of many underrated masterpieces of the 2000s.
By way of movie, I might select the above Summer season days with Coo by the nice Hara Keiichi (whose Colourful is even higher and is certainly one of my favourite animated movies of all time). And most clearly, Mononoke Hime. You’ll be able to select any variety of Miyazaki movies right here, however Princess Mononoke is maybe most important as a pure Youkai story and in addition, for my part, Miyazaki’s best masterpiece.
Nicc additionally particularly talked about Halloween anime, however that one is more durable for a distinct motive. There aren’t actually any sequence about Halloween itself (I do know), however there are some good Halloween episodes. Koori Zokusei Danshi to Cool after Douryou Joshi had a cute one. Individuals neglect the Hyouka Halloween episode, nevertheless it was a superb one. And at last Hoozuki no Reitetsu (which may simply have been one of many 5 entries within the record above) had a hilarious Halloween ep within the second season the place Hoozuki and the gang went to the human world and have been shocked by the trendy celebrations of the vacation.
Lastly, Nicc requested me to decide on my finest Youkai characters. Whoa, boy. Completely merciless, however I’ll go forward and decide 5 as a random quantity.
- Nyanko-sensei/Madara (Natsume Yuujinchou) – Merely the very best. Inoue Kazuhiko fills this function with none debate. Kogitsune will get an honorable point out.
- Little (Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari) – An ideal sequence and Poco is the tanuki on the coronary heart of it. So rattling cute. By the best way, I may simply make a “high tanuki” record.
- Kitarou (GeGeGe no Kitarou) – In all probability essentially the most well-known youkai in anime and manga, and for good motive.
- Inuyasha (Inuyasha) – Sure, I perceive the criticism some individuals have of this sequence. It isn’t excellent. However it’s a youkai bonanza and an enormous a part of my growth as an anime fan.
- Hoozuki (Hoozuki no Reitetsu) – A former human, that is true, however now the usual bearer for Youkai. Hell has by no means been a lot enjoyable.
