CREATURES

Animals

Karura: an anthropomorphic eagle.

Keukegen: a small-dog like creature that is covered in long hair.

Komainu: pair of lion-dogs that guard the entrances to temples.

Mujina: a badger that can shapeshift.

Myōbu: a title given to the messenger foxes of Inari.

Nyūnaisuzume: these are sparrows that flew from the mouth of Fujiwara-no-Sanekata, an exiled poet.

Ōgama: a giant toad that can breathe rainbow-like smoke and wield a giant spear against those who attack it.

Shachihoko: an animal with the head of a tiger and the body of a carp. It's said it can create rainfall, so they are often built onto of roof ornaments of temples and castles to protect against fire.

Shisa: the Okinawan version of Shishi.

Shishi: lion-dogs that are known for guarding the entrance of temples.

Son Gokū: monkey king, also known as Sun Wukong in Chinese mythology and Journey to the West.

Tsuchinoko: a snake-like creature.

Tsukinowaguma: a legendary bear.

Uma-no-ashi: a horse's leg that dangles from a tree and kicks those who pass by it.

Waira: a large beast that typically lurks in the mountains.

Yamako: an ape-like cannibalistic creature that is capable of reading minds.

Yatagarasu: Amaterasu's three-legged crow.

Yofune-nushi: a sea serpent/sea monster that was known for terrorizing the Oki Islands. Every year, it would demand a virgin tribute.

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Curses / Spells

Kitsunebi: flames that have been created by the kitsune.

Kuda-gitsune / Kuda-kitsune: a type of spirit possession involving a small fox.

Ushi-no-tokimairi: a curse that is typically done between 1 and 3 in the morning (also referred to as the "ox hour") by a black magic user. 

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Dragons

Mizuchi: a water dragon that's known to be dangerous.

Ryuu: a dragon.

Wani: a water dragon/monster that looks like an alligator or crocodile.

Yamata no Orochi: a legendary eight-headed and eight-tailed dragon/serpent.

Zennyo Ryūō: a dragon that makes rain.

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Fish

Akkorokamui: a giant Ainu monster resembling a fish or octopus.

Akugyo: an enormous species of mermaid found in the waters around Japan.

Amemasu: an Ainu creature resembling a giant fish or whale.

Bake-kujira: a ghostly skeleton of a whale that drifts along the coastline of Shimane Prefecture and is often accompanied by strange birds and fish.

Hyōsube: a type of kappa that is covered in hair.

Ikuchi: a sea serpent that travels over boats in an arc while its drips oil.

Isonade: a giant shark-like monster with a barb-covered tail.

Issie: a lake creature that is similar to the Loch Ness Monster.

Kappa: a water monster with a water-filled head.

Koromodako: an octopus-like demon that lives in the waters that border Kyoto and Fukui.

Namazu / Jishin-namazu: a giant catfish that dwells beneath the earth and causes earthquakes when it moves.

Ningen: an enormous white sea creature with humanoid features.

Ningyo: a fish person; mermaid.

Samebito: a shark-like creature that is believed to have black skin, emerald green eyes, a demon's face, and a dragon's beard.

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Demons / Spirits / Ghosts

Abumi-guchi: a furry creature formed from the stirrup of a mounted military commander who worked for Yamata no Orochi.

Abura-akago: an infant ghost who licks the oil out of andon lamps.

Abura-sumashi: a large-headed spirit who lives on a mountain pass in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Akabeko: a red cow involved in the construction of Enzō-ji in Yanaizu, Fukushima.

Akamanto: a ghost in a red mantle that offers either red or blue toilet paper rolls in bathrooms, then kills whoever answers based on their choice.

Akaname: a spirit who licks off filth in untidy bathrooms.

Akashita: a creature that looms in a black cloud over a floodgate.

Akateko: a red child's hand dangling out of a tree, accompanied by a hypnotically beautiful woman standing beneath the tree.

Akkorokamui: a giant Ainu monster resembling a fish or octopus.

Akurojin-no-hi: a ghostly fire from Mie Prefecture.

Akubōzu: a spirit that lives in the ashes of hearths from Akita Prefecture and Iwate Prefecture.

Akugyo: an enormous species of mermaid found in the waters around Japan.

Amabie: a mermaid demon.

Amaburakosagi: a ritual-disciplinary demon from Shikoku.

Amamehagi: a ritual-disciplinary demon from Hokuriku.

Amanojaku: a small demon that instigates people into wickedness.

Amazake-babaa: an old woman who asks for sweet sake and brings disease to whoever answers, whether they give her any or not.

Amefurikozō: a little boy spirit who plays in the rain.

Amemasu: an Ainu creature resembling a giant fish or whale.

Ameonna: a rain-making female spirit.

Amikiri: a net-cutting, bird-headed, crustacean-armed, snake-bodied spirit.

Amorōnagu: a tennyo from the island of Amami Ōshima.

Anmo: a ritual-disciplinary demon from Iwate Prefecture.

Aoandon: the demonic spirit which arises from an andon lamp at the end of a Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai.

Aobōzu: a blue monk who kidnaps children.

Aonyōbō: a female ghost who lurks in an abandoned imperial palace.

Arikura-no-baba: an old woman with magical powers.

Ashimagari: a spirit which entangles the legs of travelers at night.

Ashinagatenaga: a pair of demons, one with long legs and the other with long arms.

Azukiarai / Azukitogi: a spirit that washes azuki beans on a shoreline.

Bake-kujira: a ghostly skeleton of a whale that drifts along the coastline of Shimane Prefecture and is often accompanied by strange birds and fish.

Bakeneko: a shapeshifting cat spirit.

Baku: supernatural creatures that take of the form of a tapir to devour dreams and nightmares.

Bashōnosei: a banana tree spirit.

Betobeto-san: an invisible spirit that follow people at night, making the sound of footsteps.

Binbōgami: a spirit that is known for bringing poverty and other such misery.

Buruburu: a spirit that clings to people, inducing cowardice and shivering.

Byōbunozoki: A tsukumogami that emerges from byōbu to spy on people.

Bakeneko: a shapeshifting cat spirit.

Chōchinbi: demonic flames which appear in the footpaths between rice fields.

Enenra: a monster that is made of smoke and darkness.

Enkō: a kappa from Shikoku and western Honshū.

Fūri: a monkey-like demon.

Funayūrei: the angry ghosts of humans who have died at sea.

Furaribi: a creature that is engulfed in flames and flies aimlessly.

Furutsubaki-no-rei: a soul-sucking plant.

Furu-utsubo: a quiver that belonged to slain archers.

Futakuchi-onna: a two-mouthed woman demon.

Gagoze: a demon that is known for attacking young priests.

Gaki: ghosts that perpetually starve, they are known to be especially greedy individuals.

Gashadokuro: a giant skeleton that is the spirit of the unburied dead.

Goryō: the vengeful spirits of dead nobles/martyrs.

Gozu and Mezu: two guards of the Underworld.

Guhin: another term used to refer to tengu.

Gyūki: another term used to refer to ushi-oni.

Daidarabotchi: a giant demon that is responsible for creating the geographical features of Japan.

Daitengu: the most powerful tengu, each lives on a separate mountain.

Danzaburou-danuki: a type of tanuki that is from Sado Island.

Datsue-ba: an old woman in the Underworld that removes the clothes or skin of the dead.

Dodomeki: a female demon with long arms that are covered in bird's eyes.

Dōnotsura: a headless humanoid-like demon that has its face on its torso.

Hakanohi: a fire which sprouts from the base of graves.

Hakutaku: a yak-like beast known for handing down knowledge on harmful spirits.

Hanako-san: a spirit of a young World War II era girl who inhabits and haunts school restrooms.

Haradashi: a creature with a giant face on its stomach.

Harionago: a woman with a thorn-like barb on the tip of each strand of her hair.

Hashihime: a woman whose jealousy turned her into an evil spirit, associated with the bridge at Uji.

Heikegani: crabs with the faces of humans on their shells, said to be the spirits of the warriors killed in the Battle of Dan-no-ura.

Hibagon: the Japanese version of the Bigfoot or the Yeti.

Hiderigami: spirits said to bring droughts.

Hihi: a baboon-like Chinese demon.

Hikeshibaba: An old woman who extinguishes lanterns.

Hitodama: a fireball ghost that appears when someone dies.

Hitotsume-kozō: a one-eyed child spirit.

Hitotsume-nyūdō: a one-eyed monk spirit.

Hiyoribō: the spirit which stops rainfall.

Hoji: the spirit of Tamamo-no-Mae.

Hone-onna – a skeleton woman who seeks love but brings death.

Hyōsube: a type of kappa that is covered in hair.

Ibaraki-doji: the offspring of an oni.

Ikiryō: souls of the living.

Inugami: a dog spirit that has been created, worshipped, and employed by a family through means of sorcery.

Inugami Gyoubu: a type of tanuki.

Itsumade: a fire-breathing monster that is bird-like.

Iyaya: a woman whose face is an old man.

Jami: an evil mountain spirit.

Janjanbi: a type of fireball.

Jibakurei: a spirit that protects a specific place.

Jikininki: ghosts of evil individuals who have been condemned to eat human corpses.

Jinmenken: a human-faced dog spirit.

Jorōgumo: a spider demon that shapeshifts into an attractive woman to lure men.

Kahaku: another name for a kappa.

Kamaitachi: a demon that takes the form of a slashing sickle-clawed weasel and is known for haunting mountains.

Kamikiri: a demon that likes to secretly cut people's hair.

Kambarinyūdō: a monk spirit that likes to spy on people when they're using the bathroom.

Kanedama: a spirit that carries money.

Karasu-tengu: a crow demon.

Kasha: a cart-like demon that descends from the sky. It can also be a cat-like demon, but both versions are known for carrying away the corpses of evildoers.

Kawauso: river otter spirits.

Kawaakago: a river spirit that is known to pretend to be a crying baby.

Kechibi: fireballs with human faces.

Keneō: an old man in the underworld who weighs clothes.

Kijimuna: tree sprites that resemble red-headed children.

Kirin: it is the Japanese version of the qilin in Chinese mythology (see the chapter titled "Chinese Mythology - Mythical Creatures" for more information).

Kitsune: a fox spirit.

Kitsune no yomeiri: procession of ghost lights.

Kiyohime: a woman who transformed into a snake demon because of unrequited love.

Kodama: spirits who live in trees and are believed to be the cause of echoes.

Kokakuchō: a bird version of the Ubume.

Konaki-jiji: a demon that disguises itself as an abandoned baby to draw people in so it can crush those who approach it.

Konoha-tengu: the bird version of the tengu.

Koromodako: an octopus-like demon that lives in the waters that border Kyoto and Fukui.

Kosenjōbi: a fireball that floats over former battlefields.

Kotobuki: a chimera that has the head of a rat, the ears of a rabbit, the horns of an ox, the comb of a rooster, the beard of a sheep, the neck of a dragon, the back of a boar, the shoulders and belly of a tiger, the arms of a monkey, the hindquarters of a dog, and the tail of a snake.

Kubikajiri: a demon that takes the form of a headless beast and stinks of blood and eats the heads of its victims.

Kuchisake-onna: a demon that takes the form of a slit-mouthed woman.

Kudan: a demon that is a cow with a human face.

Kyonshī: it is the Japanese version of the jiangshi in Chinese mythology (see the chapter titled "Chinese Mythology - Mythical Creatures" for more information).

Kumo Yōkai: a spider demon.

Kyōkotsu: a demon that takes the form of a skeletal figure and emerges from a well.

Mekurabe: a demon that takes the forms of skulls that multiply.

Menreiki: a spirit that is made of Gigaku masks.

Miage-nyūdō: a spirit that grows taller as fast as a person looks up to it.

Mikaribaba: a demon that takes the form of a one-eyed woman.

Mikoshi-nyūdō: a bald goblin that can extend its neck.

Misaki: it is a general term to refer to various high-ranking divine spirits.

Mokumokuren: a demon that is a swarm of eyes that appears on a paper sliding door in an old building.

Mononoke: a general term to refer to demons of unknown origin.

Morinji-no-kama: another name for a tanuki.

Mōryō: a general term used to refer to water demons that eat corpses.

Namahage: a demon from the Oga Peninsula.

Nekomata: a cat demon with two tails.

Nobusuma: a flying squirrel-like demon.

Noderabō: demons that stand near a temple bell.

Noppera-bō: a faceless ghost that likes to scare people.

Nozuchi: a demon that is fat and snake-like.

Nogitsune: a type of kitsune that is known to possess people.

Nue: a chimera that has the head of a monkey, the body of a raccoon dog, the legs of a tiger, and a snake-headed tail.

Nure-onna: a female snake-like demon that tends to appear on the seashore.

Nuribotoke: an animated corpse.

Nurarihyon: a demon that sneaks into houses during busy evenings.

Nyūdō-bōzu: a demon that grows taller the further someone looks up.

Obake: a group of various shapeshifting spirits.

Obariyon: a demon that rides piggyback on a human and becomes unbearably heavy.

Oboroguruma: a demon that is an oxen cart with a face in its carriage.

Oiwa: the ghost of a woman with a distorted face who was murdered by her husband. It is the most famous version of the Onryō.

Ōkaburo: a demon that cross-dresses.

Ōkami: wolf spirit that can either take someone's life or protect it. It depends on the actions of a person.

Okiku: a plate counting ghost of a servant girl.

Ōkubi: a huge face of woman that appears in the sky and this typically is a omen for disaster or the cause of a disaster.

Okuri-inu: a ghost-like dog that follows lone travelers and attacks them if they trip.

Ōmukade: a giant human-eating centipede that lives in the mountains.

Oni: classic Japanese demon that is an ogre-like creature with horns.

Onibaba: a demonic hag.

Onibi: a demonic flame that sucks the life out of those who come too close to it.

Onihitokucki: a one-eyed demon that kills and eats humans.

Onikuma: a bear demon that can walk on two legs.

Onmoraki: a bird-like demon that is created from the spirits of freshly dead corpses.

Ōnyūdō: a giant demon.

Onryō: a vengeful spirit that is formed from feelings like rage or sorrow.

Otoroshi: a hairy demon that perches on the torii gates of shrines and temples.

Osakabehime: a demon that takes the form of an old woman and can read and manipulate hearts. It resides in Himeji Castle

Raijū: a thunder beast. It's said to have its body made of lightning and appears with the form of a white and blue wolf or dog. Though it's been represented as other animals as well. It is the companion of Raijin, the god of lightning.

Rōjinbi: a supernatural fire.

Rokurokubi: a demon that looks human that typically appears with one of the two characteristics: its ability to stretch its neck very far or to detach its head and have it fly around freely.

Sa Gojō: water monster, also known as Sha Wujing in Chinese mythology and Journey to the West.

Sankai: a demon that is born to a mortal woman.

Sansei: a humanoid demon that has a single leg that is twisted backwards.

Sarakazoe: a ghost light that appears as a counting plate.

Satori: an ape-like demon that is known to read minds.

Sazae-oni: demons that resemble large mollusks.

Sesshō-seki / Tamamo-no-Mae: poisonous killing stones. It's said that Tamamo-no-Mae's spirit transformed into one of these killing stones (see the chapter titled "Japanese Mythology - Legend #1: Tamamo-no- Mae" for more information).

Shibaemon-tanuki: a tanuki based in Awaji Island.

Shichinin misaki: a group of seven ghosts of humans who have died from calamities and accidents, especially drowning. They appear as a group of seven near water, such as oceans, seas, and rivers, to possess and kill one person. As a new person is killed, a spirit of the shichinin misaki are able to leave in peace and the person who has been killed will take their place. The number never decreases or increases.

Shidaidaka: a humanoid demon that can change its size and is known to appear above roads.

Shikigami: a small ghost that are conjured to follow the orders of their master (i.e., the person who conjured them). They are known to lose control by raiding and killing their master out of revenge.

Shinigami: gods or supernatural spirits that invite humans towards death.

Shiranui: a ghost light that has been seen over the seas in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Shiryō: souls of the dead.

Shōjo: a red-haired sea sprite that loves alcohol.

Shōkera: a creature that is known for peeking in through a skylight of an old house.

Suiko: another name for a kappa.

Sunekosuri: a dog-like demon that is said to get into people's way when they're walking.

Shuten-dōji: an oni (demon) leader.

Taka-onna: a demon that is typically depicted as a tall woman.

Tamamo-no-Mae: a legendary nine-tailed fox who appears as a courtesan. She is known for her wickedness.

Tanuki: a raccoon dog with the ability to shapeshift.

Teke Teke: a vengeful schoolgirl spirit who appears with an half upper-torso body. She usually goes around killing individuals by slicing them in half with a scythe so they mimic her own disfigurement.

Ten: a shapeshifting weasel that is known to be mischievous.

Tengu: a demon that has two variants: a red-skinned man with a long nose or a bird-like demon.

Tenjōkudari: a female demon that crawls on ceilings.

Tenka:  ghost lights, similar to will-o'-wisps.

Tenko: an elderly fox spirit that has reached the full extent of its power.

Tōfu-kozō: a demon that takes the appearance of a child with a tray of tofu.

Tsuchigumo: a clan of spider-like demons.

Tsurube-otoshi / Tsurube-oroshi: a demon that drops out of the trees to attack and eat those who pass the trees they lurk in.

Ubume: the spirit of woman who died in childbirth. They are known to linger to protect the child that was left behind.

Umibōzu: a giant sea spirit that appears on the surface of a sea.

Umi-nyōbō: a female sea monster who is known for stealing fish.

Ushi-oni / Gyūki: a term used to refer to a group of ox-headed demons.

Ushirogami: a one-eyed, footless spirit.

Uwan: a demon with black teeth and grotesque features that is known for the sound it makes when it's surprised. It typically had three fingers.

Wanyūdō: a demon which takes the form of a burning oxcart, with the tormented face of a human man.

Yamabiko: a mountain god, spirit, and demon that creatures echoes in mountains and canyons. It is said they resemble something between a dog and a monkey.

Yamajijii / Yamachichi / Yamanjii: an old spirit with one eye and one leg.

Yamaroshi: an unknown type of spirit.

Yama-inu: a dog-like mountain spirit that may attack, kill, or be friendly towards a traveler they may come across on mountain roads.

Yama-uba: a crone-like demon.

Yashima no Hage-tanuki / Tasaburō-tanuki: a raccoon dog demon.

Yobuko: a supernatural monster that is believed to be the cause for echoing sounds.

Yōkai / Youkai: a class of supernatural entities and spirits.

Yomotsu-shikome / Shikome: hags of the Underworld. They are usually considered demons or women.

Yonakinoishi: unknown type of spirit.

Yōsei: it was believed and feared in the past that they could bring people back from the dead. The word is synonymous with "fairy."

Yosuzume: bird yokai that appear at night.

Yuki-onna: a spirit/yokai snow woman.

Yūrei: ghosts.

Zashiki-warashi: a protective childlike house spirit.

Zunbera-bō: this is another name for a Noppera-bō. E.g., No-Face from Spirited Away or Koh from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

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God-like Creatures

Amanozako: a monstrous goddess.

Byakko: the Japanese version of the White Tiger in Chinese mythology (see the chapter titled "Chinese Mythology - Mythical Creatures" for more information).

Genbu: the Japanese version of the Black Tortoise in Chinese mythology (see the chapter titled "Chinese Mythology - Mythical Creatures" for more information).

Hakuja no Myojin: a white serpent deity.

Hō-ō: the Japanese version of the fenghuang in Chinese mythology (see the chapter titled "Chinese Mythology - Mythical Creatures" for more information).

Seiryū: the Japanese version of the Azure Dragon in Chinese mythology (see the chapter titled "Chinese Mythology - Mythical Creatures" for more information).

Shikigami: a small ghost that are conjured to follow the orders of their master (i.e., the person who conjured them). They are known to lose control by raiding and killing their master out of revenge.

Shinigami: gods or supernatural spirits that invite humans towards death.

Sōjōbō: king and god of the tengu.

Suzaku: the Japanese version of the Vermillion Bird in Chinese mythology (see the chapter titled "Chinese Mythology - Mythical Creatures" for more information).

Tennin / Tenshi / Tennyo: divine spiritual beings that are similar to angels, nymphs, or fairies in western mythologies.

Yamabiko: a mountain god, spirit, and demon that creatures echoes in mountains and canyons. It is said they resemble something between a dog and a monkey.

Yato-no-kami: snake deities that were known to kill the families of anyone who saaw them.

Zuijin: a type of god that guards shrine gates.

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Human-like Creatures

Hōsōshi: A ritual exorcist.

Hotoke: a term used for a deceased individual.

Koropokkuru: a small person.

Momonjī: an old man who likes to wait for travelers at every fork in the road. 

Nukekubi: a human-like creature that can detach its head from its body.

Onmyōji: a human who has demon-like powers.

Sunakake Baba: an old woman who throws sand in other people's faces.

Te-no-me: the ghost of a blind man who has his eyes on his palms. E.g., the Pale Man from Pan's Labyrinth.

Teratsutsuki: the ghost of a man who lived in the sixth century (CE).

Tesso: a priest who was disrespected by the emperor and became a swarm of rats to lay waste to a rival temple.

Ushi-onna: a woman in a kimono with a cow's head.

Yadōkai: former monk spirits who have become mischievous.

Yomotsu-shikome / Shikome: hags of the Underworld. They are usually considered demons or women.

Yubaba: a witch who can shapeshift and use telekinesis. E.g., Yubaba from Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki.

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Objects

Aosaginohi:  a term used to describe a luminescent night heron.

Bakezōri: a spirit that inhabits a straw sandal (zōri).

Biwa-bokuboku: a biwa lute that has been inhabited by a spirit.

Chōchinobake: a possessed chōchin lantern.

Hannya: a noh mask that represents a jealous female demon.

Hinode: a term for the sunrise.

Hoshi-no-Tama: A ball guarded by a kitsune and can give the one who obtains it power to force the kitsune to help them. It is said to hold some reserves of the kitsune's power.

Hyakki Yakō: a night parade of demons.

Ichiren-Bozu: animated prayer beads.

Ittan-momen: a possessed roll of cotton that tries to smother people.

Jinmenju: a tree with human-faced spirits.

Jatai: a folding-screen cloth that's come to life.

Jubokko: a vampiric tree that is known to grow on old battlefields.

Kameosa: a snake jar that's been possessed.

Kasa-obake: a paper-umbrella that's been possessed.

Katawaguruma: it's a type of firewheel, but it has the face of an anguished woman instead of a monk in a burning wheel.

Kosode-no-te: a possessed kimono.

Kunekune: a strip of paper that wiggles on rice or barley during summer.

Kyōrinrin: possessed scrolls or papers.

Nuppeppo: an animated lump of decaying human flesh.

Nurikabe: a wall that traps travelers at night. 

Ōmagatoki: a word used to describe the moment when dusk in the spirit world and material world overlap.

Shirōneri: mosquito nettings or dust clothes that are possessed.

Suzuri-no-tamashii: an inkstone spirit.

Tsukumogami: an animated tea caddy that Matsunaga Hisahide used to bargain peace with Oda Nobunaga. However, nowadays, this term is used to refer to objects that are one hundred years old that have come to life.

Ungaikyō: a possessed mirror that can manipulate their reflection to resemble anything they want. If a human gazes into one, they will see a monstrous version of themselves in the reflection. It has also been used by humans to trap spirits.

Zorigami: an animated clock.

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