Yokai are NOT Japanese Ghosts

If you’re a fan of Japanese anime and manga culture, I’m pretty sure you know about “妖怪 yokai.”
They are literally everywhere, from 夏目友人帳 to 犬夜叉, ぬらりひょんの孫, and recently 鬼滅の刃!
However, when yokai are explained in English, I’ve seen some translations that describe them as “the Japanese ghosts.”
To be honest, this translation is not accurate.
Japan has its original culture of ghosts called “幽霊 yūlei,” which also appears in many anime and manga too.
But… can you explain how yōkai and Japanese ghosts yūlei are different?
So today, as a big fan of yōkai and yūlei manga myself, I will explain about the three main differences between them.
After watching today’s video, I’m sure you’ll be able to enjoy manga and anime based on them even more.
Also at the end of the video, I will introduce three other names of Japanese demons and ghosts that I’m sure you’ve heard of somewhere before, so I hope you can stay with me till the end.
[Time codes]
0:00 Let's START!
2:00 1. Their definitions
4:07 2. Their histories
7:02 3. Their appearances
10:34 “Obake” “Mononoke” “Onryo”
13:29 Today’s conclusion
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Hello everyone, and thank you for watching my videos!
I’m Shogo, a Kyoto born & Hiroshima raised Japanese, that grew up in Michigan USA for 6 years, and studied Mandarin in Beijing university for a year!
I live in Kyoto now, as I train in Iaido(katana), Sado(tea ceremony), and Noh theatre(traditional stage art).
In this channel, you can take a closer look at Japanese traditional culture, tips on traveling to Kyoto, and social problems in Japan.
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#yokaivsyurei #japanesedemons #japaneseghosts #japanesedevils #yokaimonsters

[@ThatLurkingWeeb]

"A Yurei is a someone; a Yokai is a something." Got that from the Yurei Attack! book :D

[@0nullnil]

I like this short explanation!

[@TheDarkNinjaX9]

But Yurei are still considered Yokai no?

[@ThatLurkingWeeb]

@@TheDarkNinjaX9 Technically not cause Yurei are their own category. They're people who can't move on into the afterlife due to extreme emotions such as anger, sadness or vengeance. Basically saying Yurei are still yokai is like calling a western ghost a cryptid like big foot or the moth man, if that makes sense?

[@mohammedwheels9072]

Now I'm confused is kitsune Yokai or Yurei

[@ThatLurkingWeeb]

@@mohammedwheels9072 Kitsune classifies as a Yokai 👌

[@goldensus7778]

Shogo's presentation is basically like a typical school presentation but with much higher quality. What a huge testament from academic presentation lol

[@madarasamanta2494]

Somehow I remembered one movie it's called "Princess Mononoke". It was and still is my favourite movie from childhood.

[@iwantadamt-shirt8340]

OMG same!!!

[@JOXOcean]

I believe that if it once became your favorite movie from your childhood, then it always will be one.

[@madarasamanta2494]

@@JOXOcean I agree. That feeling follows you all through the adulthood. :)

[@Jordan-inJapan]

That is definitely one of my favorites too. I just love the feeling of that ancient forest and all its inhabitants, and the way it kind of blends history and fantasy. Miyazaki is a master...

[@allaboutandrewtate2850]

Yes I love that movie. Deff a all time fav anime. If you like that style. Watch spirited away. It’s of the same style of anime. Or howls moving castle. Another great anime. Those are from my top ten most fav anime.

[@malaquingtaku]

Now I understand where they get Pokemon ideas

[@ThanhTriet600]

And Personas

[@ecru_5819]

And monsters from Monster Hunter

[@jacupthegreat]

And yo Kai for yo Kai watch

[@PhonkinPlants]

I knew they were little demons.

[@MauM.]

Normally, I tend to translate "yokai" in my head as "folkloric creatures", "supernatural beings" or something like that.

[@fastgav]

I always translated it as monster.

[@kaminana144na2]

@@fastgav Monster doesn't really connote the spiritual or "magical" aspect of Youkai, though. Monsters are usually physical creatures like Bigfoot or Old Nessie...or the biological abominations of Resident Evil. Plus, obake is usually already translated as monster. Personally, I prefer Faefolk or "spirits of nature".

[@ri_mae]

agree, i also prefer the term of "supernatural things"

[@straypaper]

@@kaminana144na2 Yokai *does* encompasses things like bigfoot though. It's basically anything that looks extraordinary, like oni which are basically Japanese bigfoot. There's nothing supernatural about an oni at all. They're just mountain giants that likes eating people. They have a community, sometimes seen in groups, and they presumably reproduce (sometimes with humans too). Sometimes they practice magic but the point is they don't need to always be magical. Yokai is closer to the word "cryptids" and it's basically a throw bag. It's not exclusively supernatural. Nature spirits are more like mononoke, just like what Shogo said in the video. They're like yurei but non-human in origin and appearance. Some mononoke are yokais like the disease mentioned in the video, but not all of them are. It seems the definition expands into Shinto gods because the Princess Mononoke movie depicted them as forest god or some sorts. The word mononoke itself doesn't have a kanji though so it's hard to know for sure the real meaning. I think it's safe to translate it as "spirits" though it needs to be distinctly non-human. Yurei and onryo are easy. They're basically ghosts, straight and simple. Yurei is "lingering spirits" and it can be either regretful or vengeful, or even maybe hopeful since I've read some short story long ago about a parent that passed away but refuses to move on until their child's college entrance result is announced (they're not harming anyone and it's quite bittersweet in fact but I forgot the exact detail). Onryo is "vengeful spirits" and they *must* cause destruction. There's no exact standard of *why* they must harm people. It could be they were cursed by something or someone, could be they're bound by a deal with the devil, or maybe they're just super angry. The last one obake is not really a group of creature. It's just a general term for a phenomenon that spooks you. As explained in the video the root of obake is "to disguise", so the main thing is what it looks like. A yokai can be an obake because it spooks you, a yurei can be too if it spooks you, same with mononoke. The closest English word to obake is "apparition". It's not exclusively a creature, but what matters is that it spooks you. If I have to make a venn diagram, there are three big circles of "spirits of nature" mononoke, "lingering spirits" yurei, and "vengeful spirits" onryo. Those three circles never intersect, because they are mutually exclusive. The monoke circle intersects with the "cryptids" yokai circle, as some mononoke are yokai but not all, and vice versa. The yokai circle doesn't intersect with anything else because a human spirit can never be a yokai. Finally "apparition" obake doesn't have a circle. You can call anything you just saw as an obake as long as it spooks you (and you believe that you don't know it's exact nature, hence disguise, because if you had known the nature of something that spooks you, like a serial killer, then it's not an obake).

[@k.umquat8604]

@@kaminana144na2 Djinn is a very fitting translation for Middle Easterners.

[@krustygraze189]

As a Touhou Project player/fan, this video pleases my soul

[@maliejdieartist]

I am also a Touhou Project fan. :>

[@krustygraze189]

@@maliejdieartist 2hu gang gang

[@dava8058]

I expected this kind of comment

[@touhouyamaxmichezuch.1302]

Cool, it seems like Shogo knows Touhou.

[@Misakimori_NM]

ahh another 2hu user here

[@Bakenekodesu]

I've learned, that Obake are ghosts that changed in a particular way. To say it more easily: They are some kind of shapeshifters like Bakeneko, Kitsune or Tengu. I know they are also connected with Yurei but for me it makes way more sense to distinguish the Yurei from the term of Obake and to see Obake more of a specific kind of Yokai. Funny thing as well: In the Horror Game Phasmophobia we do have Yokai, Yurei, Onryo, Oni and Raiju - so they are somewhat confusing if you know Japanese mythology. Furthermore in the game the only ghosts that do not give footprints are wraiths and I'm still super confused that Yurei have footprints without having legs or feet xD

[@fabulousbandit5193]

congrats on your 100k you earned it

[@nicolaburgio-ferrara5584]

Woah when did that happen?

[@floppyearfriend]

I find it very interesting how yūrei are described as having no legs, as the western idea of ghosts also depicts them as having no legs. It's fascinating how different cultures can develop such similar ideas completely independently. EDIT: Also, that picture of the Nurikabe you used at 9:59 is absolutely adorable!

[@andripurwanto1732]

A culture could be born because there is a cause... And this ghost culture would always had similiarities even when the country are different and so far away. And when you think about it, this "ghost culture" date at a long time ago when trading information is really hard to get. Then why they could have similiarities?... That only means there are lot of people experience this phenomenon in a same way, and that's why this ghost culture born in a similiar way. This kind of study always lead to "pseudo science" territory, since proving "ghost" is plainly imposible (maybe it could be possible when human have technological breakthrough about particle). But one thing for sure, we could sense ghost or even worse, experience it but we couldn't pinpoint it (cause they are formless) and we ussualy only think of it as a mere "suggestion". That's it for my rant... Thank You.

[@starfishinamber]

When he wondered why I immediately knew - you don't hear them approaching, if you can't hear them walk, it makes sense they have no legs and float instead.

[@floppyearfriend]

@@starfishinamber oooh. fascinating

[@ulrikahaggard9923]

@@starfishinamber my theory is that the legs of a person connect them to the material world. They quite literally connect the body to the ground of the earth. So something immaterial and no longer connected to our plane of existed would not have that connection back to the earth.

[@blackknightjack3850]

Wait until you see the Edo period pictures of nurikabe. They look like derpy, blocky tigers or dogs. I've even seen someone describe them as looking like Falcor from The Neverending Story.

[@kieragard]

It's the a rectangle can be a square, but a square can't be a rectangle explanation.

[@halos-arthur]

I literally jumped and yelled at the mentioning of Yokai Watch hehehehe, it's so underrated here in the US, and I have loved it for many years.. I didn't know there was a difference! This video as well as many topics on the channel really clear things up for me. Thank you!

[@zozybb]

Yokai watch is the best!! I really wish it got more recognition as it’s such a great game series! I’m still playing it now😄

[@damyenhockman5440]

From what I've seen of it, it's essentially pokémon, except they can talk. They even copied Pokemon's strategy of releasing two games with very slight differences and version exclusives so you have to trade between them to obtain them all.

[@chickwithaknife6988]

Me too!!I used to watch it everytime!!

[@Halito-zn4co]

@@damyenhockman5440 First of all, they only made it in Yo Kai Watch 2&3. In Yo Kai watch 4 doesn't exist version exclusives anymore. When Yo Kai watch just had (we are speaking of: had) the version exclusives and the swap mode is it then like Pokemon only because of these 2 similar things? When you play the games will you see that it has nothing to do with pokemon.

[@andromedamessier3176]

I used to think of Yokai watch as a love child between Ben 10 and Pokémon 😂

[@inarifox3113]

Yōkai and yūrei. My favorite topic. Kitsune are my favorite. My favorite character is Tamamo No Mae

[@davio5225]

meine are kyubi und Núe

[@Detachedpoet224]

The tengu Is my favourite

[@faullus1352]

Chochin-Obake is one of my favorites.

[@davio5225]

sorry Mine are Kyubi and Núe

[@NathalieO]

I can straight from Linfami’s channel

[@annika5893]

Inuyasha! ❤️ Another great anime with a lots of yokai is Kakuriyo No Yadomeshi. Oni, tengu and a lot more. And as far as stories go... kuchisake-onna is a bone chilling one.

[@heartcrafts3426]

DEFINATELY! Inuyasha is a brilliant story that only gets better as you learn more and more of the story as it goes on..Its such an interesting and unique idea for antagonist....

[@PerfectPride]

I LOVE Kakuriyo. I’m sad there is no season two for the anime but I would like to read the manga, the world and characters are just so fun.

[@nottius1026]

I watched Inuyasha back when I was a kid, and Kakuriyo is really awesome, the girls are picking their monster-husbando back then (me and the boys are into monster girls instead haha)

[@LucasF25]

I love how i immediately knew which Yokais you were talking about in the intro, despite being Brazilian. Even the wall and the Piece of Cloth, just because of how much i like yokai xD Also didnt expect Natsume Yuujinchou and Nurarihyon no Mago to be brought up 💕

[@GudHunterYT96]

I wish natusme would be finished :( they never finished it

[@LucasF25]

@@GudHunterYT96 Sad times. But hey, if you havent checked out Nurarihyon, i recommend

[@GudHunterYT96]

@@LucasF25 will do

[@staybaboo]

Nurarihyon no mago is super awesome and worthy of watching! 👹

[@desmondscalaro3669]

When I think of yokai I think of gege no kitaro

[@StrawberryRaine]

Haha, I couldn't stop thinking of the game, Phasmophobia. The name literally means the fear of ghosts, and it's a game about figuring out what type of ghost is haunting a given area by finding different kinds of evidence. I'm pretty sure all three of the current developers are based in the UK, but the game has a lot of Japanese ghosts like the Yurei, Onryo, Oni, Obake, and more. Very interesting to learn more about the actual lore and history of said ghosts!

[@immersionlanguageclub]

As a longstanding student of Japanese culture, your video outperforms anything else I've seen on KZbin on this subject. Thank you for your continuing commitment to high quality and rigor!

[@danielromo3040]

A great video as usual, thank you Shogo!

[@Mabel_Pines]

This information is really helpful for separating differences, thank you for explaining!

[@ERJones-fd6oh]

i very much enjoy the summary at the end that wraps everything up neatly

[@ElMatador-ws3in]

Thank you for that explanation! I’ve always heard of Oni my whole life, but I definitely learned a lot today!! Thank you Shogo!!

[@megsullivan]

This video is super helpful. Thank you so much for making it!

[@JapanMediaTour]

Fantastic video! I always learn a lot from your channel

[@Munchkin.Of.Pern09]

I’m also curious about the etymology of “Ayakashi” and “Bakemono”.

[@WhatKindOfNameNow]

Another great video about a fascinating topic.

[@kiethashadow1813]

Thank you for teaching us shogo sensei Honestly I appreciate learning about this amazing culture and I pray that I continue to learn of its history and development through this entertaining channel

[@yunotaku91]

In one of my favourite video games "Okami" there's a obstacle called "Blockhead". I never noticed that it was probably inspired by that wall yokai. Anyway, I'm so happy that I found your channel! You explain everything in a way that even an amateur would understand. All your videos are interesting and inspiring. Thanks to you, I'm sure I'll visit Kyoto someday!

[@anaideviveiros6597]

Awesome topic!! Another great video ❤️

[@leonarddefusco269]

Love this video! Looking forward to learning more in your others.

[@hardboiledbrain]

So glad you covered that subject, thank you so much .

[@vitotigani]

Already 100k wow 😳 congrats!

[@zozybb]

Great video! I’ve learnt more about yokai & yurei thanks to your video😄 I find yokai so interesting!

[@isabeldegomez2248]

So well presented ❤ i really learned something from you today 🙏

[@jacobrodrig8]

I love how organized and professional you speak. No matter the topic you're always so calm and consistent, and i really wish i could be like that more. Keep up the great work!

[@Llewellyn2844]

This video is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thank you very much.

[@ninjasword2352]

cool I love your channel. And love listening to these story's.

[@ahirudesu]

Very informative! Never knew this, thank you

[@itsscott1813]

I am enjoying your work! Thank you!

[@pyrosinugami]

Very informative I was also under the impression that Onryō could also be generated from a living beings kind of like a poltergeist which are said to also show up even if people are alive due to a stressful or abusive situations sometimes even overly active or stressed out adolescents can cause them as well

[@Jumpoable]

Yes very true.

[@Meta_Meech]

No an Onryo is basically the violent variation of a Yurie. That’s Kayako from Ju-on the Grudge is

[@sayonarakid]

Congratulations for the 100k subs!

[@margooka1963]

thanks for the informative video !

[@nikonp5994]

My favorite yurei in anime and manga “Sai” from “Hikaru no Go”

[@CaptainPhen]

Just found your channel. Subbed, very entertaining and informative!

[@raptorlewis273]

Some of my favorite anime explore both Yurei and Yokai: Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Yu Yu Hakusho. Great video!

[@Jordan-inJapan]

Very cool video on an interesting topic. So... what (who) is your favorite YOKAI, everyone?

[@nicetomeetyoutsu]

Tengu! 👺

[@LetsaskShogo]

Hmm... I’ll go with the ぬらりひょん Nura😎

[@Jordan-inJapan]

I’ve always liked Kappa myself. 河童 (Cute or sinister, depending on the portrayal.)

[@16shokushu]

Rokurokubi!

[@Jordan-inJapan]

@@16shokushu Hey, so where is your web comic about Yokai? (It sounds like something I’d be interested in.) I was GOING to subscribe to your channel for that...but no content yet! 😆

[@naotoudagawa6207]

I love you and your vids. Thank you

[@ranger81270]

Thank You very much, Shogo-san... Allways enlightning on your videos. I enjoyed this chapter very much. Greetings from Chile

[@TheLillasol]

This was so interesting. Thank you!⛩

[@nastyHarry]

I love your channel. Your personality and presentation skills will guarantee a million subscribers soon

[@MarkFromHawaii]

In Hawaii, Japanese as well as folks from other cultures call ghosts "obake". There are also "hitodama" which are described as fire balls - flying orbs of light.

[@eepyJay]

I had no idea! VERY interesting! Thanks for the lesson, Shogo!

[@The.Mr.JBiggs]

I'd like to hear Shogo run through some of the more famous yokai and yurei stories. Particularly any that are specific to the Kyoto region

[@robertomainetti4836]

I like your talking. Clear, essential and interesting. Thank you and go on like this.

[@jillbailey7311]

I’ve just found your channel and now I’m binge watching all your videos 💜💜💜💜💜🇬🇧🇬🇧💜💜💜💜💜

[@lordvmm6076]

Same, i discovered his Chanel 4 months ago and I've been obsessed with his content 🇩🇰 🇩🇰

[@bellinghamcharles4485]

Hey

[@WildBillCox13]

Very useful, Shogo. Thank you. Gladly liked and shared.

[@PerfectPride]

Such a fun video! InuYasha is one of my favorite anime and is what made me fall in love with yokai and Japanese folklore and monsters. 🐶

[@ChainedThoughts]

NATSUME YUUJINCHOU. YEEEESS. I had somehow guessed that Yokai and Yurei were very different. So Ayakashii is more Yokai? I heard that Kyoto is the centre of Ayakashii and Onmyouji in the past.

[@rinatail7248]

I've been wondering what ayakashi are, as well. I was hoping it would be explained in the video...

[@Meimoons]

Yesss someone who also knows about Natsume Yuujinchou!

[@ChainedThoughts]

@@Meimoons Comrade!! *^*

[@baylog9679]

You are becoming my favorite channel, I so wish I knew about your channel when I lived in Japan

[@NegiTaiMetal011]

I remember watching Princess Mononoke in my college. It's sure fun and memorable. I also get to know these that have yokai in them: Inuyasha, Nura Rise of the Yokai Clan, Omamori Himari, and Shonen Onmyouji.

[@Varies16]

I recommend you watching also Spirited Away!

[@MysticMuttering]

Thanks for the videos about Japanese folklore! I’ve been into it since I was a kid. I had relatives living in Japan who sent me a book series from the Kodansha English Library called Once Upon A Time In Japan. I loved the stories so much I told them to other kids on camping trips. I would love to hear about some of your favorite folktales. It may be worth doing a review of the series- I don’t think anyone else on KZbin has done that, at least from a couple cursory searches in English.

[@zac8033]

Great video, thank you!

[@laurabustos6560]

Another great video!! But like others who've commented, it'd be nice to see a second part with Ayakashi, Yasha/ Yaksha and others that aren't mentioned as much.

[@danielantony1882]

Never heard about Yasha and Yaksha tbh.

[@trkimura]

I would love it if you covered more videos like this! ♥️♥️♥️

[@yuar7926]

Thank for your video!

[@user-hr9zt2dm6v]

So interesting! thank you:)

[@traeandrepowell9348]

Great and informative Thank you for your knowledge!!!!👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@ungaikyoprod.4727]

Very interesting video !

[@ten7554]

Nurarihyon no Mago was one of my favorite series growing up, I'm so sad it got cancelled... 😭 Nioh 2 is another recent--and I think, super cool--instance of Japanese media displaying yokai in a fantasy setting. It's an action RPG where you play as a loosely based fantasy interpretation of Toyotomi Hideyoshi during various warring times in Japan, whilst seeing various Japanese historical figures like Oda Nobunaga, good/evil yokai, and all sorts of lovely things. I really enjoy the care that the developers--at least seemed--to put into the cultural themes, and the raw action of fighting yokai, samurai, shinobi, onmyo practitioners, warrior monks, "yokai slayers", and more. The story itself may not always be the most coherent as far as plot structure goes, but the game brings plenty of fun experiences and themes in my opinion. As an anime fan, it's also nice to see something other than anime represent that stuff for once. (It's similar to Dark Souls, but also based on Ninja Gaiden, another Koei Tecmo action game.)

[@crowdemon_archives]

Nioh 1 and 2 skim on actual Japanese history with some fantastic directions, but the people depicted are hella badass, no matter which side they're on. Also what's more interesting is the depiction of Yokais being closer to the classical arts yet visually they're able to exist together in the world without looking out of place. The art direction is very cohesive.

[@shampaghosh1241]

Nurarihyon no Mago is one of my favorite anime!! I'm so happy to see others talking about it it too!😭 I hardly see people mentioning it. It had some of the best yokai representation in anime! I miss it soo much 😔

[@Ray-di4xq]

The way shogo explains it so smoothly..! I love you shogo please make more videos about Japan!

[@lennarthoekveen9339]

I love this channel!

[@ShintoWays]

Great video a lot of ppl needed this

[@wiccabessa]

Dude I waited so long for this😍😍😍😍😍

[@mimisheean6648]

Awesome as usual!

[@autumngalix4616]

Thabk you for clearing that up!

[@danae5578]

Lots of words here to learn. Great video!

[@archiebalidoy948]

Thank you so much, Because of you're burning passion and desire to share Japan to us, Watching you're video makes me feel like im being toured to Japan 😊💖 Honto ni Arigato 😊💖

[@eragonnici]

A very interesting video! I always thought that Yokai and Yurai are the same, but thanks to you i know that better now=)

[@TylerJC1212]

Great video, mate

[@cormoranoimperatore8413]

Hi I have recently discovered your channel and it has been pretty interesting so far! I’m fascinated by Japanese culture and folklore, as well the social problems which make me feel quite bad about Japanese people who suffer from them, so your channel is very helpful in learning more about this all. I did a few research on yokai myself after watching “Mononoke” (not the princess, just “Mononoke”) which portrays some horror stories with different types of Mononoke that get “exorcized” as protagonists and I was wondering how accurate the depictions might have been due to contradictions or infos I couldn’t find when I did my research, so could you look into it please? Or just talk some more about yokai and other traditional Japanese mythological creatures and stories? I don’t want to tell you to do what I want or to be mean obviously I just thought they might be nice video ideas and I’d enjoy watching them, either way thank you for what you do!

[@frons79]

I just finished watching the Amazon TV series The Terror - Infamy (HIGHLY suggested!) and your video helped me to understand more the Yurei, what they are and how they are perceived.

[@FranciscoAssis-ui3cv]

Can you talk about shinigami? I love your videos!

[@KatrinaRainsong]

I really enjoyed this one! Can you please talk about kitsune?

[@mare-trending7332]

Hi Shogo, good day to you. I am Win and I am one of your newest subscriber here in Manila Philippines. So far I've already watched most of your videos and i must say it is very interesting, informative, well explained. Thou i have some few Japanese friends still i am not very much immerse in your culture. Thanks to you i was able to know and understand clearly the traditions and culture of the Japanese people. I hope you could have insights about the Japan and Philippines international relationship. Keep up the good work and i am ready for your next video.

[@japanontology]

Thank you for your hard work! Great video...from Japanontology

[@GreatSmithanon]

I find it very interesting how many parallels there are with Shinto beliefs and Pagan Celtic beliefs. Similar ideas on the soul, animism, etc, and yet at opposite ends of the world as it was understood until the discovery of the Americas.

[@chickensandwich8808]

I think the same. The ideas behind the Yōkai and the Sidhe are similar from an animist aspect. Animism itself is nothing unique I'm human history, but the similarity between Japanese Shinto folklore and Celtic Pagan folklore is uncanny. But not with some underlying reason other than coincidence. It's still fascinating and a neat way to bridge cultures that otherwise may find it difficult to identify with each other.

[@Misakimori_NM]

after joining Touhou fandom for 8 months, finally i understand Youkai history and what are they after watching your video, thank you shogo!

[@Dreikoo]

I always translated yokai as "traditional folklore monsters". You know like the boogieman or something like that. Also one of my pet peeves is when they translate Oni as demons, when it's actually Ogre that fits the best.

[@danielantony1882]

Ogre doesn't really fit Imo. Oni are the in-between of Demons and Ogres. Cuz they're not just clumsy Ogres. They're pretty demonic and smart. That's why they created the 魔 Kanji, to define the Magical Evil of Oni.

[@blackknightjack3850]

No, it actually is demons that fit and the most common depictions just tend to be the kanabo-wielding ogres. It's really hard to tell sometimes, but there are various yokai that can also be considered oni. For instance, amanojaku (Whom I'm sure you know about because of the Ghost Stories dub) is considered a type of oni. What I want to know is what pigeonholes a yokai as specifically an oni. At best what I can tell is that oni are creatures that tend to be native to one of the Buddhist hells, but can appear in the human realm if an especially evil person turns into one.

[@Dreikoo]

@@blackknightjack3850 Demons are more about pure evil and corruption, oni, while savage are more like wild beasts and you can sort of come to an accord with them that will allow you to coexist, their entire reason for being isn't literally making you suffer or bringing you down from the path of virtue in some way. And no, I know of Amanojyaku from Urotsukidouji, I am a man of culture.

[@janicebrabec176]

Thank you very much for the interesting and informative video! I love Inuyasha, Fukigenna Mononokean, and Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi. Soooooooo many Youkai!!!😁💖👍

[@taylordavison6849]

Onryo are my favorite of Japanese stories. I think the distinction between the three yurei you've mentioned is that obake are ghosts that hit the uncanny valley hard, mononoke are spirits with grievances against indirect slights, and onryo are spirits who've returned to settle a score between them and the person who directly wronged them. Also, I'd like to thank Ghostwire Tokyo for helping me find the distinction between Yokai and Yurei, and of course you as well, Shogo.

[@desperado_Outlaw]

Very interesting. Thanks

[@user-xc1rk4iz8e]

I'm so greatfull for your work!

[@senpafl4405]

Just sent off my Bachelors Thesis that describes the influences of Kaidan and Yūrei (and western horror elements) in Suzuki Kōjis Ringu and then you come along with this video. これは吉兆でしょう。ありがとうございますよ^^

[@Jordan-inJapan]

That is the coolest thesis topic ever. うらやましい！

[@zenaneah]

ooohhhh thank you for the lesson sensei! That is really lesson, and you are right, Idid appreciate anime more and their concept. As i study Japanese, I have to agree, some translations are just really lost in what is correctly being said.

[@WeyounSix]

i enjoy how you change your pronunciation of yokai depending on whether you are speaking japanese or english, very nice

[@danteopen]

I remember watching the grudge movies it still scares me till this Day😂 i am learning alot from you're video's ✌️😁 Mutch respect from oranda 🇳🇱!!!

[@jessica2575]

ありがとうございます。おもしろかったです。

[@Kushina947]

Thank you so much for this video！！ どうもありがとうございます。

[@mckayla5747]

ive been getting into japanese folklore and you explain things so well!!! thank you

[@NatureFactsDesk]

That list of yokai you gave really reminded me of the game Nioh, as all seven of them are in Nioh. I guess because those yokai myths are common in old Japan, and that is what that game focuses on.

[@jodieg6318]

Folklore has been my jam for years but I have just started to study folklore from different Asian countries so thanks so much for the primer on Japanese spirits and creatures, even getting down to the etymology that has so much to do with the understanding of it all. You rock :)

[@adrher1999]

Oh man, my favourite yokai must be that umbrella with a foot and an eye. It's really funny to me that an umbrella with feet exists