This exhibition introduces Japan’s yokai (Japanese folkloric imaginary monsters) culture that extends to the present day through picture scrolls and nishiki-e (a multicolored Japanese woodblock print), as well as a diverse range of media, including toys and films.
Japanese yokai have appeared in a variety of tales as characters that express supernatural powers, serving to instill surprise and fear in people. Thereafter, as the development of new technology brought about changes to people’s lives, yokai seem to have gradually become less of a subject of fear and have come to be viewed as a more charming and friendly presence. Japan still has a culture of enjoying kaidan (ghost stories) in the summertime, with yokai seen dominating television and theater screens across the country. This exhibition focuses on the “popularization” of these yokai and invites viewers to explore their profound world of mystery.
*This exhibition mostly comprises fine-quality replicas that were created from the originals in order to make a long-term traveling exhibition possible.

• Promotional video (7 episodes)
• Exhibition leaflet (EN) (PDF:9.27MB)