Being in the dark can cause people to feel terrified, but it can also spark imagination. In Japanese folklore, yokai, or imaginary monsters, emerged at a time when the only light available at night was from candles, which made people fearful and imagine something hidden in the darkness.
To introduce yokai to the world, the Japan Foundation, organised the exhibition "Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters From Japan" in various parts of the world. In Thailand, the Japan Foundation, Bangkok collaborated with the Creative Economy Agency to co-organise the exhibition in Bangkok and Khon Kaen. The exhibition was curated by Yumoto Koichi of Miyoshi Mononoke Museum in Japan, which specialises in yokai.
Japanese yokai appear in various forms, all of which embody supernatural powers. In the past, yokai invoked a sense of mystery, surprise and fear. As technology developed, yokai gradually evolved from objects of fear to charming and friendly beings.
Shogase Mari, director of the Arts and Culture Department at the Japan Foundation, said that the exhibition will demonstrate how the use of imagination led to an interest in Japanese culture.
"Nowadays, people know Japanese anime and manga which feature imaginary creatures and characters. This exhibition provides information about how Japanese developed imaginary creatures in the past and how these creatures today have a more positive and closer connection with people.
"Currently, yokai have changed from scary villains to friends or companions that accompany people. They sometimes even act like heroes to help people," explained Shogase.
From left, Shogase Mari and Japanese ambassador Otaka Masato. Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC)
The exhibition is divided into four sections -- The Spectacular World Of Yokai Picture Scrolls, The Richly Colourful World Of Yokai, Yokai And Games, and Yokai Passed Down To Present Day.
The first section, The Spectacular World Of Yokai Picture Scrolls, features several picture scrolls. Created in the Edo period, a scroll titled The Night Parade Of One Hundred Demons depicts a parade of yokai. In the early days of yokai, these creatures were universally feared by humans so they were segregated and presented separately.
"Legend has it that the yokai parade started from the Japanese traditional cleaning day. On that day, many household items are thrown away which made the items feel disheartened and angry, so they decided to rally together. There is no human in the yokai parade," said Shogase.
There is also a picture scroll and a sculpture of Nurikabe, which is an invisible yokai wall in Japanese folklore that blocks roads at night. According to Japanese belief, one easy way to chase away Nurikabe is to stand near the wall and smoke a cigarette. It is believed that Nurikabe will eventually get tired and leave.
Besides The Night Parade Of One Hundred Demons, there are picture scrolls regarding a famous fight between a giant yokai spider and a noble man, Minamoto Yorimitsu.
The Night Parade Of One Hundred Demons.
"Unlike The Night Parade Of One Hundred Demons which displays only yokai characters, in picture scrolls that depict battles between an evil spider and Yorimitsu, both yokai and humans appear together. For example, Attack On The Tsuchigumo by Utagawa Kuniyoshi includes a spider yokai as well as four people," explained Shogase.
The picture scroll titled Shinno And The Vanquishing Of The Yokai On The Mythical Island Of Demons depicts a funny story in which Shinno, a Chinese emperor, and his three followers prepare to fight yokai monsters by eating a lot of potatoes and chestnuts, and then fart at the yokai.
The second section, The Richly Colourful World Of Yokai, presents yokai during the Edo period. In this era, developments in woodblock printing had a significant influence on yokai culture. Printing made it possible to reproduce the same work multiple times, making it affordable and easy for anyone to obtain.
In addition to humorous content, pictures with political content also featured in this era. Created by renowned artist Utagawa Hiroshige, Minamoto No Yorimitsu In His Palace With The Tsuchigumo And Yokai depicts the Tsuchigumo spider monster and several other yokai in the shadow of darkness in Yorimitsu's palace. The yokai in the picture symbolise angry people who suffered under the oppressive reforms in Japan at that time.
Minamoto No Yorimitsu In His Palace With The Tsuchigumo And Yokai.
Section three, Yokai And Games, demonstrates that yokai and games were closely connected during the Edo period due to an explosive demand for printed novels and fictional illustrations. After yokai illustrations appeared in publications, people felt a sense of closeness and affection for them. The images of yokai which had become more friendly appeared on sugoroku (a traditional Japanese board game), karuta (playing cards) and omocha-e (woodblock prints for children).
"Who would have thought that scary yokai would become games of entertainment for children? Moreover, the game designs varied and evolved over time," said Shogase.
This section also includes Hyuku Monogatari (One Hundred Ghost Stories), which is a game in which a group of people take turns to tell horror stories. As each story ends, a candle is extinguished. When the last candle is extinguished and everything is dark, it is believed that a mysterious phenomenon will occur. Each picture depicts different ghosts, each with their own horror stories. One such story of maid Okiku is tragic as she is killed and thrown down a well for breaking an old family plate. After she dies, she becomes a ghost appearing with plates as her neck.
The final section, Yokai Passed Down To Present Day, shows that during the Meiji period, yokai became an academic discipline when Buddhist philosopher Inoue Enryo established yokai studies. The study of yokai has been passed down to the present day and has made yokai a part of pop culture, appearing in animations, games and movies.
Hyuku Monogatari (One Hundred Ghost Stories).
Moreover, there are yokai-related toys and collectables sold at candy stores, proving to be widely popular. At the exhibition, there are posters of popular movies that feature yokai monsters such as One Hundred Spook Stories and Along With Ghosts.
This section also provides information of yokai as prophetic beasts. Created in the Meiji period, Amabie was a yokai with a beak-like mouth and three legs that emerged from the sea to deliver prophecies. According to one, if someone encounters Amabie, there will be a year of abundant harvests, but also an outbreak of disease. To ward off the outbreak, people must worship and display an image of Amabie in their home. During the Covid-19 pandemic, products with illustrations of Amabie were sold with the belief that it would help to ward off the virus.
Shogase hopes that Thai visitors will find some similar elements of Japanese yokai in Thai culture.
"Thailand also has many ghosts and monstrous creatures. It would be interesting to compare and find similarities of imaginative Thai creatures to Japanese yokai. I hope Thais will learn and understand how Japanese enjoy these types of creatures. Perhaps by considering the similarities and what we share culturally, we can create a blend of these elements leading to even more enjoyable items in our lives."
Shinno And The Vanquishing Of The Yokai On The Mythical Island Of Demons.
"Yokai Parade : Supernatural Monsters From Japan" runs at TCDC Bangkok, Charoen Krung Road, until July 28 and will exhibit at TCDC Khon Kaen from Aug 7 to Sept 8. Admission is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/tcdc.thailand.
