The History of Yokai in Japan! - Gaijin Goombah
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- #GaijinGooombah #CultureShock #Yokai
Yokai are EVERYWHERE in games and anime. Mario, Pokemon, Digimon, Animal Crossing, Pocky and Rocky, Inuyasha are ALL homes to these curious Japanese folklore creatures. But what ARE yokai? Where did they come from, and what do they mean to Japan. Today we're breaking down the FULL history of yokai for the soft launch of our new series, Yokai Watchers!
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(points at video) My husband made this. I love him. (is a proud wife)
=D
Hi Miss goombah
Aww
Are you going to bring back Aki's Pixle Pets?
Your icon is adorable
Great way to start this "series" PLS do more👍👍👍
Yeah, it's a great sort of introductory before we get into the individual yokai.
Autolike from me for finally getting a shout-out for the Fate series. And one of my favorite ones, Fate/Grand Order.
What a vague username (no offense).
Well, it's not like he could have choosen any other Fate property. The VN is about heroism, Zero is about heroism vs. anti-heroism, extra is about saviours (and gaming ofc) while Apocrypja is.... About going wild with all the above and just have a fun time.
That being said, here's to when he get's to Fate and has too discuss Nasu's genderbending, kinda but-not-really-history ignoring proclivities in greater detail ^_^.
Start with Oni! They’re easily some of the most interesting yokai of all.
That 11:30 sequence was out of this world.
Drinking game: take a shot every time you hear the word Yokai. Now, who's still alive? You win!😂😂
Damn that summoning animation was cleeeeeean!!!!
That was some damn good animation son!
I now know a lot about yokai, and realize I knew nothing about yokai lol thanks man
Would anyone think an episode of Yokai Watchers on Tenchi Muyo would be a good idea? Perhaps the Jiraiah royal family might have some connections to Japans' various Kami.
_sitting over here in my niche Touhou corner hoping its yokai references see the light of day on this channel_
this is exactly the kind of content I didn't even know I wanted until I saw it from this channel. especially since, as great as which ninja is, after having seen every single episode of it, it's gotten kinda stale as it feels like it's re-teaching alot of the same material discussed in many previous episodes but in regards to a different thing in pop culture. which is great for introducing newcomers to the subjects and your channel, but can feel like a lot of retreading for someone like me who watches all of them as they come out. and as fascinating as all the knowledge on irl ninja's is, some of my favorite content of yours is when you discuss yokai and japanese mythology and ancient culture. So this series is exactly what I'm after, so excited to see where it goes after this great start. :)
another great thing to look at
Are you going to talk about the three great yokai and how one of them is changed around often for another?
I love your videos keep it up I earned the nickname the wall because of standing in my dads way a lot it’s funny that a yokai that did the same thing
Gaijin Goomba Anime confirmed.
Is it just me or are Japanese yokai and European Faerie similar in concept, in both role and cultural psyche in the societies they sprang from? Also Awesome video Goomba literary history is my absolute JAM and you just added a bunch of books to my already large list of personal must reads
I'm lacking shirts in my life that read "Eat Ass Like a Kappa" or some variation of that
So basically:
Yokai are natural phenomena given form for the ancient Japanese as a way to explain the mysterious and unknown, but over time as the Japan got more advanced, one guy archived and explained all the mysterious phenomena and everyone’s perception of the phenomena changed. Another guy got interested in these personified phenomena and made stories with them, and then others made more and more until they eventually evolved into mascots for Japan’s past.
Or
Guy explains weird things, ruins everyone’s imagination, then other guy writes fanfics and reignites Japan’s imagination.
In extremely layman's terms: Yokai's are the world's mysteries given form as people could understand them. Which gives perspective into the ancient japanese society and eventually became endearing symbols of Japan's history and an intrinsic part of their culture
To be fair the boring guy wanted to help modernization and free people from superstitions. I do like yo(u)kai and I believe that the rich history needs to be preserved, but both had a good reason to explain the yokai and tell the yokai tales respectively
In the 3 main religions, these things aren't just descriptions of natural phenomena, these are older creations than man. In Christianity it was a fall from God, that happened because Lucifer had pride in himself, and didn't agree with God's creation of Adam, in the Quran, his name is Iblis, and he had made many angels to follow him away from God. God expelled them to the earth until the last and final days. These beings are quite literal shape shifting beings for many people who have these experiences. People will swear they are not making things up, but since everyone lives in sub structures within the civilized world, we are no longer connected to this alive consciousness. To know or understand that these formless beings actually exist, you have to go all of the way back... If people look into the paranormal, if people can see the police footage, the CCTV footage, and the trail cam footage, mixed with people's personal footage, and/or pictures, and stories from the past, you will see that it's not mere paraedolia, or people lieing. These beings actually exist, and the Quran actually goes into some depth about them. They have friends, and family's, like us. They have languages, and religion just like us. Some people think that they're Big foot, Yeti, ghosts, aliens, wolf men etc. Area 51 had to be protected from people because this piece of land has so many unexplained stories, that the government literally had to sanction it off...but they really wanted to know and collect secret information, to develop technology that could make them like king Solomon once was. The story of "the ring" too comes from King Solomon...many don't realize. King Solomon used to have the power, from God, to actually control the Djinn. They could fly and get him things within seconds. Since king Solomon, the ring which God gave him has been lost, and so was his magic. These stories all go back to the prophets, and to our creation story.
im a phenomena?
@@yoak yes, yes you are, but we love you either way : )
That summoning animation was FREAKING AWESOME
yeh so amazing I don’t know wut he said! how did that chant go, and if it’s only a random one for every onmyoji summoning
...Wait, Pokemon Trainer was essentially a _legitimate occupation_ once?
Yes! And it was a HIGHLY RESPECTED GOVERNMENT JOB!!!
This truly is the worst timeline, where this is no longer the case.
Yes, but it also tied into learn alot of stuff, to the point most people would simply give up the second they realized how much work it would take to achieve the basics
Yes more yokai I love this stuff keep it up man
And I luv it 2.:)
hello am yokai
As a personal lover of mythology, the Yokai and Kami share a lot in common with the legends of the various Fae of Celtic, Irish, and British folklore as well as similar folklore throughout Europe and Russia.
TheFoxofShadows I think that's a really interesting topic actually and I've personally always thought that there were some strange similarities between pre christian North Western Europe and east Asia especially Japan, such as stave churches, popularity of dragons and their folklore but I like to learn new things and so I was was wondering if you could elaborate on the similarities you see between kami and yokai compared to the fae as well as any other part of their folklore
Bullshit i only believe FAIRIES ARE SPECIFIC TO INDO EUROPEAN CULTURE MOSTLY IN SCANDINAVIA BRTISH ISLES SLAVIC BALTIC REGION EXAMPLES BASED ON MY STUDIES NORSE MYTHOLOGY VAETTIR/VITTRA ELVES DWARVES HULDRAS NISSES TROLLS CELTIC MYTHOLOGY CU SITHS LEPRECHANS BROWNIES HOBGOBLINS SLAVIC MYTHOLOGY LESHYS VILAS DOMOVOI BALTIC MYTHOLOGY LAUMA numerous why because everytime i rescearch these i start realizing their similarites and i enjoy That making my fantasy world and races for my Fairies it but JAPAN im say its a coincidence why japanese culture isnt Indo European and language isnt Indo European for me to add that in Fantasy world because i believe Fairies are Celto-Norse & Balto-Slavic mythical beings not Japanese thats too far away or Bullshit this is just odd thing there is no connection thats Bullshit to think Japanese is Indo European no its Japonic its not possible for Indo Europeans to get to Japan
as Wikipedia stated japanese language had indo European but how to me Wikipedia is just lying like it usually does the reason why dont believe YOKAI AND FAE are the same is due to because this confuses me as it makes question how many types of Fairies are there im assume Alot but Japan too much for my Autistic brain to classify and study i prefer Studing. Celto-Norse to Slavic-Baltic myths for fairies because how Indo European could fairies be how diverse fairies get i dont like it it makes me question what mythology do Fairies come from or originate in Celti Norse? Baltic? Slavic? But Japanese bullshit thats Heian Younger than that 500 Ad according to Dr simon young boo magical folk study it Youre Thinking japanese are indo european maybe genetic evidence that Japanese are indo European
perhaps some mythology crossed over from dutch mythology or crossed from europe into china, then into japan
colorwheel there’s actually a belief that a lot of areas mythology comes from the proto indo Europeans crossing from Africa. A good example is a fight between a lightning god and a snake: Thor and jormungandr, god and leviathan, Susano-o and Yamata no orochi as well as heracles and the hydra. That’s just the main ones too!
Walt disneytendos number 1 fan they never said that they are indo-European, they said the way they act and sometimes look is very similar
Hot Damn that animation of lil G summoning and controlling his Shikigami! Awesome work as always Gaijin :)
and using a tissue paper, no less!
@@LordofPainValak It's probably more like a prayer slip type thing
@@aquamarinerose5405 Prayer slip? with that paper color? with that quality of shikigami? completely contained within this video?
@@LordofPainValak I.. don't understand how you got a steamed hams reference but yes. Though the REAL name which he goes into more in his description of the Onmyoji in another video is an Ofuda (granted yall probably saw that video but for those who haven't I thought teach)
Also speaking of the animation... translation of what he's saying?
I am from Jpn. Thanx for posting this video.
Watching this video has become a great study for me, even Japanese.
Well, it's not the first time it made a full circle.
Can you add anything about general perception of yokai, kami, oni and such by modern Japanese society? Thanks.
I will clarify for the sake of confusion that Lafcadio Hearn was actually born Greek/Irish, THEN moved to the U.S. Spent the majority of his adult life living and writing there, then finally settling in Japan where he now rests at Zoushigaya Cemetery.
THAT INTRO IS AMAZING! Did gecko do the art?! Its beautiful!
I found it a little childish for my liking, but infinitely more easy to listen to than the horrible cringey intro for Which ninja
Yes, he did
I actually remember him streaming on twitch the making of this art.
@@bagodrago Dragonite, USE DRAGON BREATH!
Moritami Kamikara 👎
Despite the generic anime style, I learned the most about Yokai from Touhou. Most of the characters seem at least a little faithful to their Yokai inspiration.
Touhou fanart has to be thing that first got me into learning more about youkai.
WOW! These donuts are great!, Jelly filled are my favorite! **stares at rice balls**
Nothing beats a Jelly-Filled Doughnut ;)
Because the English speaking audience probably wouldn't have any idea what *onigiri* are.
neorenamon Then call them rice balls. They are balls of rice.
The English sub and dub of Trigun did this too
My first thought as a child, "wow, Japanese donuts look really cool"
Japan was (and still IS) the land of Art. To say otherwise is a blasphemy. It doesn't matter what type of Art you seek, chances are, you will find them (or their equivalent) in Japan.
As my friend once said...
*"Its called Hentai. And it's art from the Land of the Rising Sun."*
Japan is one of the countries which I know will keep 2D animation alive forever for the forseeable future. They, unlike here, appreciate art to an almost unhealthy level. Key word - almost. :)
Especially if you're looking to dabble in the art of self-genocide.
Or being able to kill more Chinese in WW2 than Hitler killed Jews and have it not taught to anybody for some odd reason.
Or to work people to death. Or have people work themselves to death.
But yeah I agree to some extent. The way of doing something is always said "the art of." Life is synonymous with art in the east.
So there's a theory I've had for a while now. People seem to think that yokai are a weird exclusively japanese thing but there actually is a very similar western concept.
Fairies. And I don't mean tinkerbell. I mean the broad, helpful, malicious, or just plain strange creatures that collectively go by The Fair Folk.
There are of course differences, but things like Banshee, Dullahan, Pixies, Goblins, Kelpies, and such have stories and natures behind them that would often fit right in with many yokai.
They were also used to explain strange and poorly understood things in nature and similarly feared and revered.
There's also the interesting similarities between The Hyakki Yakkou and The Wild Hunt.
That's not to take anything away from Yokai, but to me it seems like they might be distant kin of sorts born from the same questions and inevitable similarities of early rural human societies.
I personally find it an interesting topic to think about at any rate.
Seriously, people forget that mythology has always been weird. For every possessed umbrella that became sentient after 100 years of unuse, there’s a giant winged lizard that breathed fire and stole gold. Mythology in general is weird! Japanese mythology just happens to be more prevalent these days, and that’s awesome!
_Paws_, isn’t it spelled two different ways?
@@monroerobbins7551 That's what thought as well. However, I just adjusted to spelling it with the f-a-e instead of f-a-i.
A fairy feels like a description of a specific being but faerie is the general interpretation of what beings like it or things that don't even resemble it are. Like humans are mammals, when you describe a mammal, sometimes it could relate to what a human may have or having those features but not ever mammal will have horns, hooves or thumbs.
_Paws_, ohhhh. Neat, never heard it like that!
Bullshit i only believe FAIRIES ARE SPECIFIC TO INDO EUROPEAN CULTURE MOSTLY IN SCANDINAVIA BRTISH ISLES SLAVIC BALTIC REGION EXAMPLES BASED ON MY STUDIES NORSE MYTHOLOGY VAETTIR/VITTRA ELVES DWARVES HULDRAS NISSES TROLLS CELTIC MYTHOLOGY CU SITHS LEPRECHANS BROWNIES HOBGOBLINS SLAVIC MYTHOLOGY LESHYS VILAS DOMOVOI BALTIC MYTHOLOGY LAUMA numerous why because everytime i rescearch these i start realizing their similarites and i enjoy That making my fantasy world and races for my Fairies it but JAPAN im say its a coincidence why japanese culture isnt Indo European and language isnt Indo European for me to add that in Fantasy world because i believe Fairies are Celto-Norse & Balto-Slavic mythical beings not Japanese thats too far away or Bullshit this is just odd thing there is no connection thats Bullshit to think Japanese is Indo European no its Japonic its not possible for Indo Europeans to get to Japan
as Wikipedia stated japanese language had indo European but how to me Wikipedia is just lying like it usually does the reason why dont believe YOKAI AND FAE are the same is due to because this confuses me as it makes question how many types of Fairies are there im assume Alot but Japan too much for my Autistic brain to classify and study i prefer Studing. Celto-Norse to Slavic-Baltic myths for fairies because how Indo European could fairies be how diverse fairies get i dont like it it makes me question what mythology do Fairies come from or originate in Celti Norse? Baltic? Slavic? But Japanese bullshit thats Heian Younger than that 500 Ad according to Dr simon young boo magical folk study it Youre Thinking japanese are indo european maybe genetic evidence that Japanese are indo European
I hope you cover the Touhou Project a bit at some point during this series!
Oh YES! He MUST!
I love how he basically explained the guy who inspired Yukari in detail. When you read about how Hearn "saved" Youkai culture, it mirrors how Yukari saved the youkai through Gensokyo
I think he's kind of scared to, since almost every yokai in that series is a girl. I think he wants to stay as far away from fanservice as possible
@@wessltov
What fanservice? Besides the lewding by the fans from fanart and fan animations the games are pretty tame, Non of the official content has such unless you can show
@@taeoutaba1837 Good point, but let's face it: media featuring only cute girls have a reputation that pretty much decides outsiders' view on all of them
It was the Touhou Project that really got me interested in youkai and their origins interestingly enough. Creative liberties are taken with the various youkai that show up in the games, but they always more or less stay true to what they are and how they interact with the world they live in. Everything about the games, the characters and their origins have become something of one of the greatest loves of my life.
Same
Me: love his ninja series. Didnt know there was so much history to them. How could he possibly make a better-
Gaijin goomba: *makes this*
Me: ILL TAKE YOUR ENTIRE STOCK
1.there is a mountain path that a lot of people missing.
guy A: I hear there are bandits that attack people that path through there at night.
guy B: I hear there are bandits that attack people and they even eat victims body.
guy C: I hear there are monsters that attack people and eat their meat.
this is what yokai is
Pretty much spot on for that specific circumstance. The creaky floorboards however just start with "WTF?" And to not lose your marbles, you agree with yourself that it's just the wood-goblins.
Personally, as a kid I always thought of the Yokai as a cultural counterpoint to the Fae. Both were mysterious creatures with really specific rules of conduct, and really capricious natures. Some are somewhat benevolent and others utterly malevolent. It was only when I'd gotten older that I understood stuff like Kami. In short, I was kind of a weird kid, but I loved some mythology.
They are a counterpart of Fae, but also many, many other spirits and similar entities from mythologies. From a Celtic Brownies and Changelings to Slavic Klobuks and Drowners they explain many things which people back then couldn't really know too well, or are explanations for things which were just mysteries. So, I do kinda believe to say they aren't "Monsters" is wrong because they kinda are, they may not specifically be the same thing as the roman understanding of the word but almost every culture had their own Yokai.
heard Lafcadio Hearn and then thought to my self i recognize the second name. right after that heard Koizumi Yakumo and i instantly remembered "right, ZUN referenced that in his Touhou series".
As for me, Touhou was the main series that got me interested in to the Youkai culture. And may the cute girls not deceive you, its a more harsh world than you might even think of where a normal person like everyone here would be eaten i just a few hours.
I'm also thought about Touhou.
Hey, gaijin should talk about it.
It’s Yukari and Maribelle. Also, I think that in Dolls in Psuedo Paradise track, it depicted people who got brutally murdered by their friend who turned into a yokai in Gensokyo.
A man of culture I see
spelled my name wrong lol
My family run an acting association in Sweden, and we've several times played various tales from Kwaidan such ad Aoyagi, Yuki-Onna, Shojos (the sea youkais with mystical ama-sake), jikki ninkis and Akinosuke's dream. And even in a country as disinterested in other cultures as Sweden, these stories are a blast for people to watch.
I myself am in love with mythology and tales and have dwelled deep into various myths, their history and sometimes political connotations, like how the Egyptian god Set changed from a god of love, trade, roads, and storms into a god of malice and destruction, most likely due to Egypt growing weary from foreign invasions and a changing political climate favouring a patriotic god like Horus.
I'm so gonna watch more youkai episodes!! :D
That's a sick intro. I like this concept.
Just wondering, is your icon a yokai or something else?
It's not a Yokai, but I can see why you thought it was, and that actually would have been quite a cool pfp. But technically, it's actually a ditto in a bottle, but at the same time it's just some purple goop in a jar with a face on it. :)
@@tamtatek LOL! If you were a yokai though, what would you be. I myself would probably be a shisa or benevolent kitsune.
I like this question, however I have zero clue. xD I'd have to think more about it.
thanks :)
You know what indie game series has been going on for years, is well loved but not mainstream popular, and has like 90% yokai characters that would be great to analyze in a video?
Touhou project
Yes
i have characters?
Sweet animation I hope to see more of this👍👍
Reds
Tom Nook
Kappin’
It should be called Youkai crossing.
As a fan of the Yo-Kai Watch series, I definitely recognize many of these Yokai
a
Hey Gaijin a topic idea for this series if you ever decide to focus in an expanded look on a single Yokai, is to go over the Yuki-onna, and their "queen"/"princess" who was known as a Goddess as well to help show your already mentioned point between the relationship of Yokai and Kami.
20:13 OBJECTION! That's Nyotengu, A Tengu from The Game Dead or Alive, NOT Tekken.
All that studying volleyball one the beach has paid off
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
@@Abdega nah, my gf plays the fighting games.
Glad I wasn't the only one to catch that, honest mistake on his part though. xD
@@Strykerx31 All that studying your girlfriend studying volleyball on the beach has paid off
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
So, youkai are like magic?
"Magic's just science we don't understand yet." -Arthur C. Clark
By that definition and description, yes
That's a misquote. Arthur C. Clark wrote, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
Magic, you say? *EXPECTO PATRONUM*
@@renatocorvaro6924 It could have been a paraphrase, but the way it was quoted ruined it.
i can confirm i am magic
Keep up the great work Gaijin, cleared up a lot of misunderstanding of yokai for me.
I don't think I have ever seen so much passion placed into a video before. I'm reminded as to why I love your channel and its content. It's simply amazing! Keep doing what your doing Gaijin and goodluck.
You said Tekken, don't you mean Dead or Alive?
Who says only one of them can have yokai?
I think both franchises have plenty of examples of Yokai... Tekken maybe more so despite the visual example haha
Both of them based on their clothing, big beadchains and weapons. Both in Tekken and Doa can you find that.
One thing I always found fascinating about youkai folklore is how much it parallels things like ancient religion and _especially_ European faerie folklore. Drawing parallels to how people in ancient times explained stuff is always fascinating (unless you're comparing the Greeks to the pre-Christan Romans because there's just a _bit_ too much overlap...)
Can you talk about the oni and dragon in LEGO Ninjago PLS
NINJAAAAGOOO!!!
You say'd it! 😄
YES
Talking about yokai, monsters, ghosts, and gods, why not talk about Shin Megami Tensei more? not just Persona btw
a
I took a university course on yokai and religion in Japan, in general. All the points that Gaijin hits, ESPECIALLY his example with Sugawara no Michizane, is soooo spot on! Really love this video! Awesome work, Gaijin!
I can't wait to watcj more of this! I absolutly love Yokai and it's concept! And specially Japan's relationship to them.
In a way, every civilizations has their Yokais! But daaamn, Japan is very creative.
:)
That summoning animation was freaking amazing!!! Loved it so much!
And I CANNOT wait for Yokai Watchers now! :D Let's do this! This is the kind of stuff that I love in all mythologies, religions and the like!
I cannot wait to explore this menagerie of creative creatures!
You should definitely make a series dedicated to the ship girls from _Kantai Collection_ & _Azur Lane_ respectively with the first episode dedicated to Japanese MegaBattleship Yamato.
And end the series with the yamato being turned into the space battleship yamato.
WAVE MOTION GUN.....FIRE!!!!
Potential History will do it before him. He already did the Yamato.
There is a anime called Midnight Occult civil servants and the main character is a descendent of Abe no Semimi.
Post script: I am sure I spelled Abe's first name/last name wrong.
Hahah you did kek
It's Seimei
I asked my History teacher if she liked anime. She responded with, “No I never really watched The Smurfs or The Flintstones”
Well, to be fair, "anime" does mean "animation" in Japanese.
15:24 So, basically.... Light Novels?
11:30-11:41
THAT...
WAS AMAZING.
It sounds like Yokai have a lot in common with the Fae in Gaelic myth at least in the way they relate to nature
I highly recommend the show “Nurarihyon no Mago”/“Grandson Of Nurarihyon”, both for this series, and just for watching. It’s one of my favourite anime involving Youkai. I also recommend the pen-and -paper role-playing-game “Fox Magic” by Fool’s Moon, where you play as Kitsune and interact with the various spiritual elements of Japan, in any era imaginable.
I was a little disappointed when GeGeGe no Kitaro had an arc of "Western" Yokai, and simply pulled stereotypical monsters like Frankenstein's monster, when it would have been so good to go for fairies, as I think they are largely similar. How is something like a dullahan not a perfect reflection of similar idea of what a yokai is?
It was wonderful to see this video. My interest in learning about other cultures was actually sparked by my first ‘encounter’ with Youkai; a pen-and-paper role-playing-game where you play as Kitsune, called Fox Magic. It was by reading through the entries on various youkai, miko-kami, and other legendary creatures/beings in the rule book that I became enamoured with Japanese Culture - and that eventually led me to discover Anime as well. Ultimately, I owe Youkai a lot of who I am today.
Also, I was actually there for the Hyakki Poké Yakko at the Pokemon Centre. I bought a lot of souvenirs while I was there (over ¥100,000 worth of stuff), especially for my family’s friend Kit - the creator of the Fox Magic Game, and a practitioner of the Shinto Faith. If I remember rightly, I got him an Alolan Ninetales statue with a haori - very fitting for a game about Kitsune.
Ahh Abe-no-Seimei the half-fox, son of only one of two non-malevolent foxwives. Both their stories always make me cry.
I like how he says yo-kai/youkai. It's entertaining just to hear him say it.
Hey Gaijin! Have you ever considered writing a Yokai Bestiary for D&D 5e?
Ooh! That sounds cool!
I would buy that book
I'll be looking forward for the Yugioh one...... you can find a lot in the dueling deck of Bastion Misawa, from GX, er, um, his Manga version that is. (Anime and Manga for most Yugioh series are typically different stories.)
i didnt recognize that much references to the youkai culture in the anime... then checked the Bastions theck in the manga and... Does he really have a youkai type deck?!?
as for other references to youkai in the card game itself i instantly though of the Mayakashi Archetype
I wonder if we manage to catch all the youkai references in yu-gi-oh in here
@@tonys202 Yep, his cards were of a special Manga exclusive type called Yokai, and were based on Yokai... but when those cards came to IRL, they have been changed to Zombie-type support. Some of the Best Zombie type support actually, I can think of at least 2 that are staples in Zombie decks. Gozuki and Mezuki.... might have misspelled there names.
Oh, we probably won't be able to catch them all... given just how many cards there are.
God the art work and animation is freaking beautiful. Please give my compliments to your artists. They really went beyond the call of duty and put their hearts into everything.
I have a friend who's super into yokia and whenever I'm in an art funk I ask her for a yokai to draw. I actually drew the candle smoke(?) yokai that appears from the 100 ghost stories slumber party thing. If I recall correctly it appears from the candle smoke from the last candle blown out and scares everyone. I've also been inspired to make a short animation series based off the Tengu. I have the intro ep written but no time to work on animating it. Do you think I could come to you for information about tengu? Looking online gives me conflicting information and as a white american I want to make sure I don't misrepresent an important part of a culture I'm not familiar with.
Please keep up the great work!
I'm sorry, but does anyone else find it interesting that when the Hundred Ghost stories where building the folk lore of Japan, the Brother Grimm where doing the same for Europe.
This *needs* to be a series along side Which Ninja, purely on Yokai
(ps: can we get some *Touhou* reps, since 95% of the characters in that series are yokai)
(pps: Rokurokubi is best yokai, fite me)
well since Yokai watchers has officially started I think I can suggest the one of possibly the first of the many Yokai (at last I think it is anyway) maybe you could do a bit of investigation into "the Headless" from Sekiro Shadows Die Twice the reason I'm bringing this up is because I'm not sure if it actually has any Yokai roots for its inspiration I can't wait for the many yokai you want to talk about in this new series
*11:30* And there went the budget
Plz do Yokai University in Yokai Watchers
It a Manga I make about a kitsune named Akira who have friends like Alice a rokurokubi who is a mother figure to Akira,Carlos an Oni who is Tough guy always get annoy by Akira,Zane a comedy Neko mata who have YouKaiTube channel and other Yokai in this manga in my TH-cam channel
a
I always loved mythology as a kid. So as more anime kept coming to america, I started figuring out that a lot of similar looking creatures were based on Greek myths, and stories like Journey to the west.
But then I noticed OTHER characters that kept popping up in anime. A pair of brothers that ruled thunder and lightning, 3 treasures that were always a sword, a mirror and a jewel, and a lot of foxes and cats with multiple tails. But it wasn't until the internet became more popular, and shows like Inuyasha, arrived that I was able to get some actual context and learn the word "yokai"
My favorite Yokai are the Tsukumogami, because it's such a brilliant, but simple idea. That literally any everyday object can gain a spirit and become a Yokai fascinated me as a kid.
*ahhhh YES Lafcadio Hearn SUCH A CLASSIC AMERICAN NAME*
Born in Greece, raised in England, made his mark in American journalism, settled in Japan. Oh, and did I forget to mention he studied voodoo in New Orleans?
2:43 And as always, Disney is cashing in on it.
With the rumor of the enemies in Bayonetta 3 being Yokai, as they're confirmed to be neither Angels or Demons by the developers. So this video feels very relevant for the Bayo fanbase for those of us who don't know what Yokai are.
Hmm I actually hadn't heard the term yokai outside of yokai watch before so I had assumed they were made for that show, nope lmao. This was a fascinating video and look into what has inspired many of my favourite pieces of media without me knowing.
The relationship of Yokai and Kami reminds me of Noragami. In that show a Kami who is has fallen into almost complete obscurity has to do scrape by though slaying evil spirits from the underworld? which are causing the bad emotions people are feeling, leading them astray.
A new series made for only Yokai!?
WOO!
As I listen to this video, all I can think of is "yes Youkai aren't ghosts or monsters (though I can't agree with not being "creatures" that's just being too generic), they are Faeries, or the Fae if you will allow", because if you look at the Celtic and Slavic idea of what is a "faerie", you will find a LOT of similarities in their relationship and backgrounds..... Except for the inanimate becoming animate after the 100(?) years of existence, I believe that is mainly a Eastern ideology. Still, great video!! :)
My personal introduction to youkai was not through anime or pokemon, but through Touhou Project.
Now, what´s your favourite Yokai? -and why?
Would your choice change, if you would be turned into a Yokai?
I would probably go with Kitsune, as they are powerful and could live amongst humans without drawing attention. Otherwise, I don´t have a favourite Yokai. I love all the ones with tragic backstories and the powerful morally grey ones, similarly, I love the crossroad demons, Jinns and tricksters in other folklore.
Yokai are Japanese fairy's
Change my mind
Adrian Moreno can fairies be umbrellas? Thought so. (The answer is maybe)
Huh. Gaijin just mentioned Fate/Grand Order, albeit very quickly and passingly.
Maybe this signifies a chance, however small, he could examine some historical or mythological figures in it?
/shrug
I have a feeling he will be taking a look at the Tamamo-no-mae duo, Shuten, Ibaraki, Raikou and Kintoki in this series.
This intro is perfect I just wish it was longer
Same!
The way that I explain yokai to people is as an average of the terms monster and urban legend. Some of the examples of that I like to give of western would-be yokai are mothman, wendigos, gremlins, and Spring Heeled Jack to name a few.
Japan culture is so weird compared to America but really cool
Well, the Japanese feel the same way about American culture. Missionaries of my religion, who commonly go to Japan, learn how the Japanese think Americans are quite weird. One example was when a Japanese driver in one of their three-wheeled trucks accidentally struck a missionary on a bike, and when he got out of his truck and realized he had struck an American, put up his hands and in a really bad accent said, "Don't shoot me!"
Obviously as a missionary who had been legally allowed into the country, he wasn't armed, but the driver didn't know that.
One of the most well-known associations the Japanese have with Americans is the mass prevalence of and association with firearms.
They also find it strange that Americans, in their view, are "Open, forward, and laid back". Which is weird. Americans are hard working (though no where near as much as the Japanese), but it is a relative view in the context of what Americans view as nearly suicidally compulsive work ethic the Japanese have. The Japanese paradoxically think of Americans as laid back and even lazy, even though Americans have one of the longest work hours and take among the fewest vacation days of Western countries.
Well, most old countries are weird when you compare to young country like america. With a history of only about 300 years, american's history and culture are very much close to the modern world we live in.
Actually if you know of Celtic mythology( as they have a fey type for every occasion) its easy to understand Japan's Yokai.
Barry Bend
I feel like at least some authors in Japan are familiar with Celtic folklore since they seem to like the “mechanical hand” motif that is similar to Nuada Airgetlám “Silver hand”
it sounds like Yokai are closer to fae than anything else in the West. remember that while modern Fae are seen as fairy's winged little people. Old European Fae where very varied and could be both benevolent and malevolent they where also often used to explain away thing they had no other explanations for. Fae where varied by region with different rituals to avoid angering them. in Ireland farmer still wont touch fairy forts on their land ( just as well as this superstations actual persevered many historical ring forts).
MMMMM ANIMATION
Yokai are my favorite aspects of classical Japanese culture. I LOVE LOVE LOVE monster folklore. I'm super excited to see future episodes of this!
So in watching this and as a personal fan of Lovecraftian type thinking and Fiction when it comes to such matters and kinds of things, *that the best way perhaps then to think of or consider Yokai would be as "something that is of a living and literal abstraction,"*
*To say something that has meaning and is given life or form yet also at the same time while ''real also in some key matters also not real'' in key ways at the same time.* ?
That they represent ideas and concepts such to be said concepts while being something of their own kind with form given seen to one as a ghost , being , creature , or "monster" but such being only however a perception given form as one comprehends matters also.....
_To be of a thing but more yet so a concept,_
That seem about like it? >_>
Ah yes yokai I actually did not know much about yokai until you’re videos and touhou project games.
I know man. How Gaijin hasn't talked about Touhou project so far is beyond me.
Especially as though there are some Names Youkai types such as Medicine or Kogasa being a Tsukomogami, others such as Rumia or Yuuka or Meiling are simply designates as "Youkai"
Surely they must have some specific inspiration! Gaijin! I know you can do it!
@GABi / Shad_e_d It's the quintessential Youkai piece of media
I can't think of many hostile encounters in any Final Fantasy game short of...no, any Final Fantasy game _including_ Dissidia that weren't chock full of some sort of mythological/phenomena references...
Dissidia's _Manikins_ included, though living mannequins/puppets are more of a Western and Southern Europe mythology (as far as I know), than anything else, though I could be wrong...
I've even seen these kinds of references made in games like The Elder Scrolls (lots of northern European mythology/phenomena), and even in FPS games like Unreal. Yeah, Unreal has references to mythology. Lots. And has some of the most badass weapons I've ever used in a game like the Shock Rifle, Flak Gun and the FUCKING REDEEMER.
(okay, the Shock Rifle and Redeemer were not in the first game-I KNOW THAT)
0:04 Gargaros from yo-kai watch this is very similar...
20:13 um......that's not Tekken, that's Dead or Alive
ALTHOUGH, I think the appearance of Yoshimitsu is based on youkai, and I think Ogre is?
Touhou is what really got me into Youkai. Yes, in Touhou they're portrayed as cute girls with the powers they represent, but it got me interested in actual Youkai as a whole.
I used to love mithology as a kid. I NEED THIS SHOW!
Would you date a Youkai?
1. Yes!
2. Nah!
3. Depends on the youkai.
I'd totally date a kitsune
Nekonomicon As for me, I'd probably date a tengu.
@@nekonomicon2983 it is the Korean Fox Spirits that eat humans right?
I love yokai so much I’m so happy that you introduced me to them to me 2 years ago
Love the start of this new series Gaijjin! Looking forward to more.
I personally am fascinated by various mythos, cultural stories, and especially mythological creatures. I have an odd theory that youkai and fae (And most likely other critters in stories around the world) are not that dissimilar in their treatment in media and various beliefs. Fae can be either good or evil, especially if you piss them off. I personally enjoy finding the similarities between various mythos all over the world. Whether they are dragons, or small things to explain natural phenomenon. Gaelic folklore is pretty fascinating to look at. Such as hallowed hills, where the fae live, changelings, or stories of people being cursed into becoming birds.