the-yokai-party

[the-yokai-party]

japanese mythology: amanozako

amanozako is a monstrous goddess. she originated when susanoo let his own ferocious spirit build up inside him until he vomited her out. she is described as having a furious temper, a beastly head with a long nose, long ears, and great fangs so strong they can chew metal blades ragged, and to be capable of flying for a thousand li. amanozako has been known to be a goddess that goes against conformity and does the opposite of what is expected by society and social norms. also, it is said that amanozako is picky, and will go into an atrocious rage if she does not get what she wants, or if things do not go according to her way. her wrath cannot be stopped

[the-yokai-party]

The Kagurazaka Bakeneko Festival is an annual event held in Tokyo's historic Kagurazaka neighborhood, celebrating the mythical bakeneko—a type of shape-shifting supernatural cat in Japanese folklore. The festival takes place in October and features a lively parade where participants dress as cats or cat type creatures.

[the-yokai-party]

A relatively new festival, the Yokai Bon Odori, brings a creative Yokai themed twist to the traditional Bon Odori dance festival-Tachikawa Tokyo, Japan

[the-yokai-party]

Yuki-Onna.

[the-yokai-party]

Rokurokubi

"Yokai and Kami" © ArtStation user "Mamslick", accessed at his gallery here

[I didn't much care for the Pathfinder 1e version of the rokurokubi. Not that it's a bad monster; it's a fun take on the rokurokubi as a hag. But it's not a good representation of the actual folkloric entity. The rokurokubi is one of many yokai that seem to exist as a way of entertaining male anxieties about women, particularly in the context of a society as patriarchal as Edo period Japan. So many yokai look like beautiful women... but then they getcha! And a lot of them getcha because you deserved it. These yokai start as humans, and then form from the abused, the neglected and the downtrodden. These people don't have a real voice in society, but turning into a monster lets them act out. Sound familiar?

Which is why, even though the Paizo's 2e rokurokubi has acceptable art, I'm not using it. Because it's a man, and rokurokubi are women in the stories nine times out of ten. Plus, I'm posting this for Monster Girl Summer.]

Rokurokubi CR 3 CN Monstrous Humanoid This woman is beautiful, but clearly monstrous, as she has a neck that is twice the length of the rest of her body.

A rokurokubi is a cursed creature that represents the adage “turnabout is fair play”. The misdeeds of a person, particularly a wealthy, egotistical and stingy one, can cause their child, lover or other person close to them to become a rokurokubi. This especially occurs if the person to become a rokurokubi is abused, as it empowers them to strike back at their tormentor. Rather than sleep, the newly formed yokai begins to play pranks in the night, anything from drinking all the lamp oil to startling people by peering around corners to inflicting bloody wounds. They prefer to ruin lives and reputations rather than kill, at least initially. Most rokurokubi end up quite enjoying their new state, and move around in society after having dealt with their initial oppressor.

Many rokurokubi live their lives as uninhibited and hedonistic people most of the time, revealing their monstrosity in order to get something they want or to lash out at someone who is rude to them. Their necks can be as short as that of an ordinary (albeit willowy) person, or as long as a constrictor serpent's whole body. Their teeth are sharp and inflict bloody wounds, and they are experts at scaring people. Perhaps the strangest ability of a rokurokubi is its ability to drink oil and heal from it. Even alchemical bombs can be swallowed safely, if the rokurokubi manages to catch them in their teeth.

Rokurokubi can form from any type of humanoid, although most of them are human. In patriarchal societies, women more frequently turn into rokurokubi than men, but any sex and gender is possible. They have the lifespan ordinary to members of their original species. A few rokurokubi reject this, making pacts with shadowy powers for immortality—these are the universally sinister rokurobabas.

Rokurokubi           CR 3 XP 800 CN Medium monstrous humanoid Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +8 Defense AC 15, touch 14, flat-footed 11 (+4 Dex, +1 natural) hp 25 (3d10+9) Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +7 Immune sleep Defensive Abilities drink oil Offense Speed 30 ft. Melee bite +6 (1d4+3 plus bleed), 2 claws +6 (1d3+3) Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with bite) Special Attacks bleed (1d4), threatening lunge Statistics Str 16, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 15, Wis 16, Cha 19 Base Atk +3; CMB +6; CMD 20 Feats Combat Reflexes (B), Deceitful, Persuasive Skills Bluff +9, Diplomacy +9, Disguise +9, Intimidate +12, Knowledge (local) +4, Perception +8, Stealth +9 Languages Common, Senzar, one cultural language SQ adjust neck Ecology Environment urban Organization solitary or circle (2-5) Treasure standard Special Abilities Adjust Neck (Ex) As a move action, a rokurokubi can dramatically change the length of its neck. If it reels its neck in, it loses its reach with its bite attack, but gains a +8 racial bonus to Disguise checks to appear as its original species. If it extends its neck, it gains an additional 10 feet of reach with its bite attack, and can ignore cover when making a bite attack. Drink Oil (Su) As an immediate action, a rokurokubi can attempt to catch a thrown flask of oil, alchemist’s fire or alchemical bomb in its mouth. It makes a Reflex save with a +2 racial bonus against a DC equal to the attack roll made with the flask. If it succeeds, it takes no damage and instead heals 1 hit point per die of damage that would ordinarily be dealt. Threatening Lunge (Ex) If a rokurokubi extends its neck and makes a bite attack in the same turn, it can make an Intimidate check to demoralize the opponent it bites as a free action with a +2 racial bonus.

[the-yokai-party]

Karasu-Tengu

[the-yokai-party]

Cats by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (19th Century)

[the-yokai-party]

A type of yōkai in Japanese folklore, the jorōgumo takes the form of a beautiful woman, seducing and consuming unwary men.

[the-yokai-party]

Izakaya Kon 🦊

[the-yokai-party]

Rabbit Dumplings, from the series Twelve Comical Signs of the Zodiac by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1841)

[the-yokai-party]

[the-yokai-party]

Chochin Obake, are paper lantern Tsukomogami.

I was playing with a cool colored under painting overlaid with warmer colors. A little tougher to do with a glowy-glowy subject 😅

[the-yokai-party]

Kibune, nestled in the mountains just north of Kyoto, is special in Japanese folklore and history. This enchanting village is known for its magical atmosphere and mysterious legends passed down through generations.

[the-yokai-party]

“Ukiyo”

Day 3 - Path

The floating world.

[the-yokai-party]

yoshiko. prints will discontinue in June 2024.

[the-yokai-party]

Today is the last day to grab these discounted prints from my shop! They will discontinue tomorrow (June 1st, 2024) for good.

[the-yokai-party]

Luscious purple for this antique summer kimono showing jorogumo (golden orb-weaver spider) on their delicate webs.

OP nicknamed this kimono 'Temptation of the Spider's Web', a nod to the fact jorogumo also used to designate dangerous youkai who loved to lure humans, especially men, and then devour them. They appeared as partly or full humans, always taking the shape of beautiful and entrancing women.

Their name was originally written with 女郎 kanji lit. meaning “whore” which may explain the association often found in tales between them and classical yujo (prostitute) features and tools – such as cord instruments (like shamisen, or sometimes biwa).