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{{Useful Notes}}
{{cleanup|Examples need sorting, both within each type of youkai and in the unsorted list at the end of the page.}}
[[File:Yoshitoshi The Heavy Basket.jpg|thumb|300px|"Various Yokai Flying out of Wicker Clothes Hamper" from the "Omoi Tsuzura" (おもゐつづら), Yoshitoshi]]
'''Youkai''' are a widely-varied collection of various supernatural creatures that pop up in [[Shinto]] religion. They have a lot in common with [[The Fair Folk]] from Western folklore. Some youkai are good, others are evil, and many are [[Blue and Orange Morality|different]]. Some are mischievous, others avoid humans entirely. Shinto is an animist religion, and youkai are often associated with natural features such as forests and mountains. This word is often translated as "demon" in Western translations, but that does not adequately describe the creatures in question. The closest true Western equivalent is probably that of the ancient Roman [[wikipedia:Genius (mythology)|genii]] or [[Our Spirits Are Different|spirits]].
Supernatural creatures drawn from Western sources often turn out to seem more like youkai in Japanese works.<ref>Fun fact -- the Japanese word for vampire contains the character for oni.</ref> For instance, vampires. In the West you've got Nosferatu—a grotesque, undead monster who burns in sunlight and murders to preserve his hideous unlife.<ref>Notably, this may be used to refer both to the classic film character and to one of the clans in ''[[Vampire: The Masquerade]]'', which features other kinds of vampires, with the same powers and weaknesses, but characteristics that set them apart into clans</ref> In Japan you've got [[Cute Monster Girl|exceptionally cute]] [[Fan Service]] protagonist [[Rosario + Vampire|Moka Akashiya]], who is not undead, harbors no ill-will towards the sun, and drinks tiny amounts of blood that leave her "victim" light-headed at worst, but who has a [[Super-Powered Evil Side]] who can (and will if you look at her the wrong way) kick your ass thoroughly.
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The list presented below is by no means complete. Many types of Youkai are exceedingly rare to find in modern media and so are not included. On the other hand, '''[[Kitsune]]''', '''[[Kappa]]''' and '''[[Tanuki]]''' have garnered enough examples to warrant their own pages.
== Nekomata ==
A seemingly ordinary cat that develops magical nature through long life. It looks like an ordinary house cat, except for the tail, which splits into two at half-length. While much smarter than it used to be, a nekomata remains just as whimsical, which may be dangerous with its new found powers of illusion and [[Necromancy]]. It's said a cat will become a nekomata after turning 100 years old, where upon its tail splits, it starts using human speech, some how gains [[Voluntary Shapeshifting|transformation]] powers, a greater intelligence, and other [[Screw the Rules, I Have Supernatural Powers|odd abilities]]. The name is often used and confused for [[catgirl]]s. May be a [[Mega Neko]].
=== Anime and Manga ===
* The two-tailed demon-beast in ''[[Naruto]]'' is a two-tailed cat.
* Natsuki, the [[Catgirl]] protagonist of ''[[Hyper Police]]'' is revealed to be a nekomata in a moment of anger (her tail splits in two)
* Tora of ''[[Ushio and Tora]]'' is named for his tiger-like appearance.
* Kirara in ''[[Inuyasha]]''.
* One of the forms of the ''thing'' inside Touko's briefcase in ''[[The Garden of Sinners]]''.
* In ''[[Mokke]]'', one episode centers around a nekomata.
* The X-Antibody version of Tailmon from ''[[Digimon]]'' is two-tailed.
* One of the protagonists of ''[[Omamori Himari]]'' is a shapeshifting cat.
* Rin's familiar in ''[[Blue Exorcist]]'' is one, and can grow to become [[Mega Neko|gigantic]].
* ''[[Nekogami Yaoyorozu]]'': Mayu and Sasana as well as their family are [[Catgirl|cat]] gods.
=== Video Games ===
* Espeon in ''[[Pokémon]]'' is based off of this legend.
* Chen and Orin from the ''[[Touhou Project]]''
** Orin, though, is a [https://web.archive.org/web/20120220050704/http://www.catgirls.org.uk/mythology/japan.html#kasha Kasha], a different type of youkai cat.
* Found in the ''[[Disgaea]]'' series (and are used in quick leveling tricks in BOTH the first and second ones). They are more [[Catgirl|Cat Girls]], however.
* A monster type in ''[[Wild ARMs 2]]''.
* A common demon/Persona in the ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' franchise.
* Jubei and {{spoiler|his daughter}} Kokonoe (a [[Catgirl]] version of this) in ''[[BlazBlue]]'', although they're called 'Grimalkins' in-universe. Appropriately, the latter does bring people back from the dead, although since magic is commonplace in that world she uses science to keep the mysterious powers theme. [[Hollywood Cyborg|Iron]] [[Half-Human Hybrid|Tager]] is the result.
=== Web Original ===
* Comparing to other werecats in ''[[Monster Girl Encyclopedia]]'', Nekomata's rather tame and even give up on a man should he refuse her advance. She's still a monster though, and will eventually assault her prey to take his spirit energy. Unlike in myth, Nekomata in this series are being ones since birth. And since this world is full with [[Cute Monster Girl]], her form become inverse, with human form being true one.
==
[[Animate Inanimate Object|inanimate objects]] that come to life after a hundred years. These can range from weapons to clothes to umbrellas (''karakasa''). Strangely, they avoid electrical energy in common folklore from the 1940's and it is said that no modern object could ever become a Tsukogami.
=== Examples ===
* In ''[[Love Hina]]'', there is the ''Tsukumogami'' called "Moe", a near life-sized doll/puppet who comes to life about halfway through the series, disappears after spending some time with Keitaro, and reappears in the sequel [[OVA]] ''Love Hina Again''.
* ''[[Asagiri no Miko]]'' has two ''Tsukumogami'' among its characters.
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* During one of the [[School Festival]] episodes of ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]'', as the girls ponder Osaka's idea of an ''obakeyashiki kisaten'' ("haunted cafe"), they imagine Osaka dressed as a ''karakasa''.
* A Karakasa is a regular boss in ''[[Kirby]]'' games.
* Karakasa appear as enemies in one of the Pumpkin Zone stages in ''[[Super Mario Land 2:
* In ''[[Touhou Project]]'', there is a character named "Kogasa Tatara" who is a Karakasa. However, the umbrella creates a projection of a human-like body to carry around the Umbrella.
** Medicine Melancholy may or may not be a doll tsukumogami.
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* The Anthology ''[[Border Town]]'' contains the short story "Demon" which has a tsukumogami in the form of a teapot.
* This can be the only explanation for a good half of the [[So Bad It's Good|monstrosities]] strewn throughout Steve Moraff's [http://bimshwel.com/renk/moraff/unforgiven.htm Dungeons of the Unforgiven].
* ''[[Rosario
==Oni==
These are mountain spirits that share some things in common with trolls and ogres. The word is almost always translated into English as "demons" or "ogres." They are sometimes depicted as [[Red Oni, Blue Oni|good or bad]], but are usually morally neutral and interested in their own affairs. They prefer huge bludgeoning weapons and animal-hide (often tiger-striped) loincloths. Sometimes blamed for streaks of misfortune. Others work jobs in [[Fire and Brimstone Hell]]. [[Red Oni, Blue Oni|Know the different kinds!]]
They appear in the [[w:Momotarō|Momotaro]] story as villains for Momotaro to defeat, making them some of the oldest Youkai still known.
=== Examples ===
* A few side characters (The Ogre Triad, the winner of the final tournament, etc.), and probably Jin and Shishiwakamaru, of ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]''.
* A few appear in ''[[Ushio and Tora]]''.
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* Kyousuke and Touka Kishi of ''[[Yozakura Quartet]]''
* One set of ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' featured various Oni. They were classified as Demon Spirits and looked vaguely ogre-like, but they were also served by actual Ogres.
* Oni are the template for [[The Ogre|ogre magi]] in ''[[Dungeons
** Oni in ''[[Pathfinder]]'' are evil incorporeal spirits who manifest into material form, using various humanoid races as templates; the traditional ogre mage, of course, is based on ogres. The most powerful oni are the yai, based on giants.
* Mion from ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni]]'' has an Oni tattooed on her back out of family tradition.
* The final level of the "The Islands" region of ''[[
* The first ''[[Summoner]]'' game takes place partially in the empire of Orenia, a fantasy setting based on an amalgamation of China and Japan. Oni appear as [[Random Encounters|random monsters]], but are concentrated in the [[Lost Woods|Forest of Lianshan]], where they are said to be the cursed spirits of humans who turn bestial over time. Killing them doesn't remove the curse, and their monster forms will reappear after a time.
* The [[Godzilla]] enemy Gabara from ''Godzilla's Revenge'' is based on an Oni and appears knobby, cat-like, and has a 3 pointed horn atop its head. Also, it [[Shock and Awe|channels lightning through its fists]].
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* Appear as enemy assassins in ''[[Guild Wars]]: Factions''. They serve the greater demon Kanaxai who dwells in [[Dug Too Deep|The Deep]].
* [http://soulcalibur.wikia.com/wiki/Kamikirimusi Kamikurimusi] is essentially ''[[Monster Girl Encyclopedia]]'' version considering [[Defeat Means Friendship|she beats up the game's endboss]] and lives out the rest of her life with him. D'aaaw.
* The world of Mooshu from ''[[Wizard 101]]'' has Oni as corrupting forces that take advantage of when the Emperor is injured. {{spoiler|They possess the bodies of powerful warlords.}} Like demons from other worlds, they look like [https://web.archive.org/web/20120624034825/http://westkarana.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/wizardgraphicalclient-2008-10-28-01-24-41-16.jpg anthropomorphic Indian elephants]
* Ririchiyo and Shoukin from ''[[Inu
* ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' has not only the basic Oni footsoldier, but even several of the more powerful named Oni, such as Ongyo-Ki and his gang.
* The Oni Clan are the primary antagonists of ''[[Harukanaru Toki no Naka de]]''.
* Similarly, the Oni are integral to the ''[[Hakuouki]]'' [[The Verse|verse]]. {{spoiler|The heroine is one of them.}}
==Yuki-onna==
Literally meaning "snow woman", Yuki-onna appear as beautiful women in snowy, cold, or mountainous regions. Some incarnations sleep with lone travelers to steal valuable body warmth, others will simply make them get lost during their travels to freeze to death, yet others will kill travelers by tricking them into touching them or a baby they hold in their hands. More benevolent Yuki-onna will either lead the victims to safety or leave them alone; the more wicked ones will lead them astray to begin with and use them.
=== Examples ===
* Mizore from ''[[Rosario + Vampire]]''.
* Letty Whiterock from the ''[[Touhou Project]]''
* Yukina of ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'', technically Hiei, Toya may be some relation.
* Summon monster Shiva of ''[[Final Fantasy]]''. Also, more directly, the enemy "Snow" in ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]''.
* Appears as a monster in the ''[[Dungeons
* One of the teachers from ''[[Akazukin Chacha]]'' was a Yuki-onna.
* The Marvel comic series [[Blade]] had [[Our Vampires Are Different|a tribe of vampires that could turn themselves into ice shards and had mild control over weather alongside their normal vampire abilities]] called Yuki-Onna. of course some (if not all) of them were male.
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* ''[[Franken Fran]]'' has that chapter's patient end up living with one. She's the less-hostile variety.
* In ''[[Monster Girl Encyclopedia]]'', Yuki-Onna use blizzards to lure men to their cabin. She will treat a man with home-cooked meal and warm reception, then seduce him. Should he reject her, she will use ice breath which cause him a terrible cold, and the freezing man will seek warm touch from her. Yukiwarashi, a child Yuki-Onna, will sometime visit human village and play with human kids. Should she has interest in a boy, the Yukiwarashi takehim as her husband once she become Yuki-Onna.
* Yukinouji from ''[[Inu
* Yuki Jyorou from ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]''.
==Tengu==
Mountain-dwelling crow spirits whose human forms originally had beaks, but have become [[Gag Nose|phallically large noses]]. Long-nosed Tengu are red-skinned and humanoid, Karasu Tengu are anthropomorphic crows. May be cited as the origins of obscure martial arts training, particularly with ninjas. Other common features include long white hair, wooden sandals, and carrying large fans or parasols.
=== Examples ===
* Setsuna from ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' is half "bird tribe". They never say the name, but they have encountered a full Bird Tribe Demon and it resembles the classical ''tengu''.
* Aya Shameimaru and Hatate Himekaidou from ''[[Touhou Project]]''. Momizi Inubashiri is also listed as a tengu, but she is of the white wolf variety instead of a crow. It could be that she is a [https://web.archive.org/web/20131022041712/http://www.monstropedia.org/index.php?title=Tiangou Tiangou], a dog-like creature from Chinese mythology that's related to the Japanese tengu.
* [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|Naturally]], Tengu Man from ''[[Mega Man 8]]''. He has a long red nose and wields the power of wind.
* ''[[Okami]]'' has the crow-like version ("Crow Tengu"), and the long-nosed version ("Great Tengu").
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* The Tengu from ''[[Guild Wars]]'' are native both to the European-style Tyria(where they are universally hostile) and to the Eastern-themed Cantha(where one clan is friendly). A branch family modeled after the quetzal bird can be found in the Tarnished Coast.
** The tengu clans have reunited in the sequel and formed a neutral nation of their own, the Dominion of Winds. Due to years of being treated as monsters and their recent forced exile from Cantha, the nation is understandably reluctant to make allies.
* ''[[
* ''[[Achaea]]'' has wild Tengu in one of the forests. They appear as winged black kittens, and are about as cute as you'd expect flying kittens to be.
* ''[[Bleach]]'' has Love's zanpakuto modeled after a Tengu's nose, being [[BFS|absurdly large]] and being named [[Meaningful Name|Tengumaru]].<ref>-maru is a common ending for a Japanese male name.</ref>
** [[In Name Only]]: the fact that its a [[Carry a Big Stick|huge Kanabo]] and Love's mask make him modeled more after the Oni (see above).
* [[SCP Foundation]]-[http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-746 746].
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20110408225138/http://somemangas.com/manga/Japan_Tengu_Party_Illustrated/ Japan Tengu Party Illustrated]''.
* One of the first story arcs in ''[[Yaiba]]'' features a village which is infested by a mischievous Tengu who steals their food. It's actually revealed to be [[Miyamoto Musashi|Musashi]] with a Tengu mask on.
* The Mountain God in ''[[Hell Teacher Nube]]'' has several Tengu as his minions, and he often uses them to sever Nube and Yukime's bonds to one another. One of them almost succeeded in killing Nube using its giant wind-blowing leaf, which it first used to blow bad daydreams into Nube's mind and then went for the more direct approach of blowing Nube onto the train tracks as a train sped by.
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** There is also a [[Monster of the Week]] in the third season of ''MMPR'' (Professor Long Nose) whose design adheres more to the classic tengu image.
* ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'', like the oni example above, has several types of Tengu running around: from tiny annoyances (Koppa Tengu), to evil corruptive spirits (Karasu Tengu) to competent, powerful warriors (Kurama Tengu), each modelled after a different branch of Tengu.
* ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 series)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]''; the original Shredder, or Demon Shredder, is a former human whose wickedness cursed him with Tengu form.
==Baku==
A relatively benign example, being a tapir-like monster that [[Dream Stealer|eats bad dreams]].
=== Examples ===
* The second ''[[Urusei Yatsura]]'' movie and the chapter/episode it was loosely adapted from feature a baku.
* ''[[Nightmare Inspector]]'' has a baku for a main character, who helps rid people of their nightmares in return for being allowed to eat said nightmares.
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* The [[Final Boss]] of ''[[Parodius]]'' for the [[MSX]] is a baku named Bug (a [[Punny Name]] that works better in Japanese).
==Kamaitachi==
Weasel-like creatures that attack in trios: the first one knocks down a traveler with a gust of wind, the second cuts the traveler with its sickle-like claws, and the third applies an ointment that stops the bleeding, leaving the victim with bloodless but inexplicably large and painful wounds.
=== Examples ===
* ''[[Naruto]]'': Temari a special technique that involves summoning a kamaitachi. She is the [[Blow You Away|wind user]], while the Kamaitachi does the cutting. The only time it was used, the opponent was too dead to notice if the bleeding had stopped.
* One of the Geomancer skills in ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'' is a wind attack called Kamaitachi that can trigger the Paralyze (i.e. Don't Act) Status Ailment.
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* The third player character in ''[[The Ninja Warriors Again]]''.
==Tsuchinoko==
A snake-like creature with a long, wide body. It is mostly harmless to most people, unless awoken from its sleep as its venom can fell a man instantly.
=== Anime and Manga ===
* Several shorts exclusive to the [[Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin]] DVDs center around a pet tsuchinoko kept by Maya and Ami.
=== Video Games ===
* You can catch a tsuchinoko if you're lucky in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]''. [[Fridge Logic|Which is odd]], since it takes place in Russia. The team congratulates you when you do and you get an achievement (in the [[Updated Rerelease|HD remake]]).
* The [[Pokémon]] Dunsparce is a tsuchinoko.
* A particularly elusive enemy that serves as a [[Metal Slime]] in ''[[Castlevania Aria of Sorrow]]''. Not because it drops a lot of money if killed, but because possessing its soul reduces prices at the shop.
* In ''[[Touhou]]'' canon, specifically ''Strange and Bright Nature Deity'', Marisa adopted a rather cute tsuchinoko as a pet after chasing it out of a fairy's house.
==Nurikabe==
A monster that takes the form of an animate section of wall. It has the power to turn invisible, and likes to use this power to impede travelers.
=== Anime and Manga ===
* During one of the [[School Festival]] episodes of ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]'', as the girls ponder Osaka's idea of an ''obakeyashiki kisaten'' ("haunted cafe"), they imagine Chiyo dressed as a nurikabe.
* One appears in episode 2 of ''[[Inu × Boku SS]]''
=== Live-Action TV ===
* In the ''[[Punky Brewster]]'' episode "The Perils of Punky", Allen is taken by the spirit and turned into one.
=== Video Games ===
* In ''[[Ōkami]]'', there’s a family of nurikabe that go by the name "Blockhead." They claim to be "the only one", though.
* In ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'', the Demon Wall you encounter in the Temple of the Ancients acts like a nurikabe, aggressively impeding the exit for our heroes (as opposed to acting as an [[Advancing Wall of Doom]] like its other incarnations throughout the series).
* Wall Face and Doom's Wall from ''[[Secret of Mana]]''
* Whomp from the ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' franchise are based on the nurikabe.
==
These two creatures are [[What Measure Is a Non-Human?|Humanoid]] monsters, the Rokurokubi are human by day but have extremely elastic necks during the night, while nukekubi can detach their heads from their necks and float away in search of human flesh.
=== Examples ===
* One ''[[Hellboy (comics)|Hellboy]]'' story has him accidentally running across a household of ''Nukekubi''. Needless to say, he hits them and pokes fun at them. The story was imported word-for-word into the OVA ''Hellboy: Sword of Storms''.
** ''Sword of Storms'' also has female Rokurokubi show up later as well.
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* The [[Fighting Fantasy]] gamebook ''Sword of the Samurai'' had the protagonist visit an entire village of nukekubi, though the book mistakenly referred to them as rokorokubi.
* In the ''[[Punky Brewster]]'' episode "The Perils of Punky," Cheri is taken by the Spirit and turned into either a rokorokubi or a nukekubi (you cannot really tell),
* ''[[Rosario
* Kubinashi from ''[[Nurarihyon no Mago]]'' is a nukekubi.
==Tsuchigumo and Jorogumo==
These [[Giant Spider|spiders are monstrous in size]] (as big or bigger than a man) that can take human form to seduce travelers. Jorogumo uses a lure to attract travelers to feed her offspring, she often has the power to allure men with a song. Others act as a [[Shapeshifting Lover]]. Tsuchigumo can also use illusions to keep his webs hidden and make people ill in order to feed on them.
=== Examples ===
* The Ero-Game ''[[Atlach=Nacha]]'' has a Jorogumo attempting to blend in with human society. She doesn't do very well with men, but meets a [[Schoolgirl Lesbians|very nice girl...]]
* Yamame Kurodani from ''[[Touhou Project]]'' is a Tsuchigumo.
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* The first boss of ''[[Okami]]'' is based on the Jorogumo (translated as Spider Queen). You later meet the Tsuchigumo (Bandit Spiders) as [[Bonus Boss]].
* One appears in ''[[Hellboy Animated]]: Sword of Storms''
* One appears in ''[[
* ''[[Rosario
* ''[[Throne of Blood]]'', [[Akira Kurosawa|Kurosawa Akira's]] adaptation of ''[[Macbeth]]'', exchanges [[Lost Woods|Birnam Wood]] for Spider's Web Forest, possibly invoking these creatures from Japanese folklore.
* Though it may have been entirely unintentional, the eponymous creature of Stephen King's ''[[IT]]'' has much in common with this particular brand of youkai. Its (It's?) true form is a gigantic spider, and throughout the story appears in several humanoid shapes, most notably [[Monster Clown|Pennywise the Clown]]. The balloons are strictly of King's invention, though.
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* One of the mooks in ''[[The Ninja Warriors]]'' is named after the creature.
==Raiju==
The [[Shock and Awe|"Thunder Beast"]] is a lightning in a weasel-like shape: it's usually represented with many tails and/or legs, poisonous claws, and bright yellow and black fur. Can also appears as a dog, a monkey, a tanuki, a fox, or even a ball of fire and lightning.
=== Examples ===
* Raikou in ''[[Pokémon]]''.
* The [[Inuyasha|Raiju Brothers]] [[Psycho Electro|Hiten]] and [[Fat Bastard|Manten]]. They're both humanoid (with Hiten being totally human-like while Manten has a monstrous head) and they [[Villainous Valor|do care for each other]]. The anime filler also introduces their little sister [[Cute Bruiser|Soten]].
* [[Evil Sorcerer|Shiro Amakusa]] in ''[[Yaiba]]'' turns in a giant, six tailed weasel with huge claws for his showdown with the [[Kid Samurai]]. However, it doesn't sport any thunder-related ability.
* A Raiju in the form of a crazed lightning ball appear in ''[[
* Raiju is one of the summoning in ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]''.
* The manifestation of the Thunder card in ''Cardcaptors/[[Cardcaptor Sakura]]'' is Raiju, the Thunder Beast. It looks like a big electric wolf.
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* Raiju appear frequently in ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' games.
==Wanyuudou==
A burning wheel, frequently with a man's face serving as the hubcaps.
=== Examples ===
* In ''[[Muramasa: The Demon Blade]]'', Wanyudo is Momohime's second boss.
* ''[[Okami]]'' features fire, ice and electric wheels each with a different sensory organ on them, an eye, lips and an ear respectively.
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* Soultaker, the boss of Yokai Isle's Bamboo Forest in ''[[Adventure Quest Worlds]]'', is a wanyuudou.
==Inugami and Okami==
Dog and Wolf Youkai.
=== Examples ===
* Inuyasha of ''[[Inuyasha]]'' is a half dog-youkai Inu Yasha's father, stepmother, and half - brother Sesshoumaru are full Inugami.
** ''[[Inuyasha]]'' also has a tribe of wolf youkai under the leadership of Kouga.
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* Inugami appear in ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' games. Sometimes they can even grow into Makami, their more powerful counterparts.
==Ushi Oni==
Also called "Kyuuki". Means Bull Fiend, and is a sort of counterpart to the Western Minotaur. In some stories it's a demonic looking ox with many tails and claws, in others he's a sort of giant spider, while in others is a sort of wisp fire.
=== Examples ===
* The Eight-Tailed Beast in ''[[Naruto]]'' is a giant bull-like demon with four horns and eight [[Combat Tentacles]] in lieu of tails.
* [[Filler Villain|Gyuu Oh]] from ''[[Inuyasha]]'' is a half-demon called Izumo who turns into a wicked minotaur-like monster after the sunset. As a result he's gone crazy, but unlike the typical stereotype he's a [[Genius Bruiser]].
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* Gyuki from ''[[Nurarihyon no Mago]]'' is implied to be a Ushi Oni. Heck, his name is the alternate character reading of Ushi Oni.
{{examples|Works that feature youkai include:}}
== Unsorted ==
* ''[[Amatsuki]]'' features many various different kinds of youkai, known here as "ayakashi", including spirits, and ghosts. In fact, about half the main cast are ayakashi.
* The villain in Disney's animated film ''[[Big Hero 6 (Disney film)|Big Hero 6]]'' is a figure in a [[Kabuki]] mask known as "Yokai". Although not a literal youkai, he actively styles himself upon them.
* ''Demon's World'', an obscure arcade game also known as ''Horror Story'', features many enemies from various mythologies, and in the Japan-esque stage you get to fight kappa, karakasa, rokurokubi, and other youkai.
* ''[[Digimon]]'', like ''[[Pokémon]]'', has many youkai-based creatures.
* ''[[Dungeons
** [[Pathfinder]] as [[Fan Nickname|D&D 3.75]], features many similar monsters and has simply decided to call Ogre Magi Oni and be done with it. They have also expanded to include more types of Oni as well.
* ''[[Gantz]]'' features every youkai ever as aliens in the Osaka arc.
* ''[[GeGeGe no Kitaro]]'' is all about youkai. Kitaro himself is a youkai.
* ''[[Gurumin: A
* ''[[Hakaba Kitaro]]''
* ''[[Hell Girl]]'' also features a Hone-onna, or "Bone Woman". A type of vampiric creature which disguises itself as a beautiful mortal woman to lure men away to feed upon their life force.
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* ''[[Hell Teacher Nube]]''. Between these and [[Obake]], it's practically the whole point. If they're not listed among the specific examples above, it's because they're [[Monster of the Week|minor characters]], but trust us, these (and more) show up.
* ''[[Humanoid Monster Bem]]''
* ''[[Inu
* ''[[Inukami!]]!'' is almost entirely populated with various animal spirits, Inukami meaning "dog god".
* ''[[Inuyasha]]'', which in addition to the named characters listed includes at least one example of pretty much every other kind of youkai named on this page and a good many more that aren't.
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* ''[[Kanon]]'': {{spoiler|Makoto is a kitsune who lost her memory in exchange for the ability to transform. It came with a hefty price.}}
* ''[[Karas]]'' (which itself is named for the Karasu Tengu) has youkai in a prominent role, and it depicts tensions between the youkai and the humans who have forgotten them.
* ''[[Kekkaishi]]'' has Madarao, a white dog youkai that has served the Sumimura family since its founding, passed down to them by the founder, Tokimori Hazama. Madarao is able to detect ayakashi with his amazing sense of smell.
* ''[[KiKi KaiKai]]'', a series of [[Cute'Em Up]] games also known as ''Pocky & Rocky'', includes several kinds of ''obake'' as enemies. (Also, the main player character is a [[Miko]].)
* ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' (''Kamigawa'' block, which was heavily inspired by Japanese mythology)
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* ''[[Naruto]]'', which features several youkai-themed demon-beasts. The first [[Big Bad]] Orochimaru is also shown to be capable of stretching his neck out to great lengths, not unlike a rokurokubi.
* ''[[Natsume Yuujinchou]]''
* In ''[[Neko-de Gomen!|Neko De Gomen]]'', [[Mad Scientist|Kuroda]] makes a serum that turns people into youkai that fits them best for ten hours.
* ''[[Ninja Sentai Kakuranger]]'': The enemies are ''all'' Youkai.
** What makes this a particularly amusing example is that nearly all of the youkai have adapted in some way to the modern world. For example, there's a Nurikabe covered in graffiti, a Sand Woman dressed like a hooker, a chariot youkai who's now a taxicab and a gluttony spirit dressed like a fast-food jockey.
* ''[[Nurarihyon no Mago]]'' is based on a mafia-like family of Youkai that live in the present era, in an ordinary city, keeping it safe from other families/groups seeking power.
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* ''[[Okami]]''
* ''[[Omamori Himari]]'' features several other Youkai in addition to the aforementioned, including an water serpent in a leading role, a Shutendoji and many others in minor parts. Most of the major ones are [[Cute Monster Girl]]s.
* In ''[[One Piece]]'' four of the Five Elders have [[One-Winged Angel]] forms that are based on Yokai. Jaygarcia Saturn is an Ushi-Oni, Marcus Mars is an itsumade, Topman Warcury is a fengxi, and Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro is a bakotsu. Shepherd Ju Peter is the odd man out, his demon form most resembling a sandworm from ''[[Dune]]'', though it may have been based on a Cryptid called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolian_death_worm the Mongolian death worm].
* ''Petopeto-san'': Most of the cast are youkai of one kind or another, if not [[Half-Human Hybrid|Half Human Hybrids]].
* ''[[Pokémon]]'' has a lot of creatures based on youkai. An example is Mawile, who is based on the futakuchi-onna, a woman with a monstrous, voracious mouth growing out of the back of her head and hair that functions like tentacles, and Ninetales, which is based on the kitsune. A complete list of Youkai-inspired Pokemon [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXhwp2X8lto&ab_channel=Linfamy is found here.]
* ''[[Princess Mononoke]]''
* ''[[Ranma ½]]'' frequently exploited Japanese folklore to provide their [[Monster of the Week]].
* ''[[Rosario
* ''[[Saiyuki]]'', in which three out of the four main characters are at least part youkai, as are most of their opponents. Unfortunately, the majority are generic 'demons' - i.e., pointy-eared humanoids with claws - rather than Japanese folkloric Youkai.
* ''[[Samurai Sentai Shinkenger]]'': The enemies are based on Youkai, but not really the Youkai themselves. According to [[Word of God]], they serve as the base of Youkai inspiration.
* ''[[Sengoku Youko]]'' is rife with these, given that the series is set in feudal Japan and one of the main characters feature a [[Kitsune]].
* ''[[Shaman King]]''
* ''[[Shanghai Youma Kikai]]''
* ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' has lots and lots of these, in addition to nearly every other culture's demons and spiritual beings, in the main series of games, as well as spin-offs.
* ''[[Shonen Onmyouji]]''
* ''[[Spirited Away]]'': Most of the background characters are some form of youkai. The workers at the bathhouse are animal spirits - male spirits are toads, females are weasels, Kamaji is a spider, and Yubaba {{spoiler|and her sister Zeniba}} are ravens - while No-Face is a noppera-bō.
* ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''
* ''Tactics'', unsurprising since the show chronicles the adventures of a Japanese folklorist who practices Shinto and does exorcisms to make a little on the side.
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* ''[[Usagi Yojimbo]]'' has featured nearly every monster from Japanese tradition, from Oni to Kappas to Nues ([[Mix-and-Match Critters|chimera-like]] beasts) and an Obakeneko (vampire cat).
* ''[[Wagaya no Oinari-sama.]]'' has spirits like these, including an entire arc with oni.
* ''[[
* ''Youkai Monsters'', a Japanese movie series.
* ''[[Yozakura Quartet]]''
* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' has many cards based on youkai, particularly the Spirit Monsters who, when summoned, return to your hand at the end of the turn.
* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]'': In the manga, Bastion's
* ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]''
* The ''Obake Karuta'', a set of cards with Yokai themes which were used in the Edo Period. An ancestor of the modern [[Pokémon]] and [[Yu-Gi-Oh!]] card games.
* ''[[Maple Story]]'' features Yokai as Mooks and NPCs in the Korean Folk Town, Zipangu, and Momijigaoka maps. Also, Kanna (who is from Momijigaoka) uses many skills that summon Yokai, plus has a Spirit Fox companion named Haku as an [[Assist Character]].
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Japanese Media Tropes]]
[[Category:Useful Notes/Japan]]
[[Category:Index of Fictional Creatures]]
[[Category:Oral Tradition]]
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