*terrified screaming*
Supernatural beings aren't always fascinating
But many of the most terrifying ones come from the land of the rising sun
"Wow, he's huge!"
Welcome to WatchMojo.com,
and today we're counting down the picks for the Top Ten Mystical Creatures
from Japan
"You've finally made a friend"
"Mama's so happy!"
For this list, we're only considering creatures
that originated in Japanese folklore and myths.
So, characters invented in films do not qualify
*I think Godzilla roaring*
Starting off our list with a touch of arachnophobia,
is the Jorogumo
Also known as the "Spiderwoman,"
this Japanese creature is the epitomy of a black widow
Jorogumo's normal form is that of a giant spider
but can also transform itself into a beautiful woman
"Listen to the tone of this Koto,"
"I made the strings from my finest silk."
For goal, she temps to join her in her quiet cottage,
distracts them with beautiful music
then traps them in a web only to slowly consume them!
Alternatively, a Jorogumo may pose as a woman
who asks passerby to hold her baby.
But, surprise, the baby is actually an egg sack
that holds thousands of baby spiders waiting for their first meal
Our suggestion? Use protection
*Scream*
Shirime takes the form of a rather normal human
With just a few exceptions.
It doesn't have any facial features, and it has an eyeball instead of a butthole
While there isn't much information with people encountering the Shirime,
there is one story detailing a meeting with the abnormality.
As a lone samurai ventured down a desolate road,
a man called his name and exposed his eye
Existing, perhaps, for no other reason than to cause hijinx,
the Shirime was a fuse for Japanese artist and poet, Joseph Buson
as is evidence by his many Shirime-related works
"It's an Akaname. If someone is dishonest with his ancestors"
"They bestow this fate."
The boogeyman exists in many different cultures
each having their own variation on the vie
The Akaname fills the boogeyman role suites satisfactorily in Japanese lore,
with it's name loosely translating to "filth licker."
"Filth licker?'
"Yeah, that's the one."
"Ooh, an eternity spent as a toilet brush."
Often depicted as a red colored monster,
the Akaname is a monster that lives in filthy places,
especially in bathrooms, and will lick away the grime it finds.
While the origin of the Akaname story is widely debated,
many people believe it was created by parents to motivate their children to keep their bathrooms spotless.
And it motivated us
Like our last entry, Aka mento's main domain is the bathroom,
but this monster acts much more violently
The story goes, that if you're alone in a public bathroom,
and more often than not, in the last stall,
a strange voice will ask whether you want red or blue paper.
Or, in certain accounts, a red or blue cape.
"Would you like to wear red clothes?"
"Would you like to wear blue clothes?"
Pick blue, and you'll be strangled to death leaving your face blue
Pick red, and you'll be ripped apart until your clothing is the color of blood.
"What the hell color should I ask of then?!"
Thinking of escaping?
Not happening
"Yellow! I'll take yellow sherman!"
Choosing a different color will cause Aka Mento to drag your soul to hell.
"omg!"
The only way to outsmart this urban legend
is to request no paper at all.
"Jeff, hang on!"
"Hang on? Why didn't I think of that."
While folklore can be incredibly complex,
even the simplest creatures are terrifying.
Gashadokuro is one of those cases
as it's merely a spirit that takes the form of a giant skeleton
the skeleton consists of the accumulated bones of people who starved to death
and is always looking for new additions
If Gashadokuro finds you, he will bite your head off, and drain the blood from your body.
While you can try to escape,
this indestructable monster will continue wandering until it finds you again.
And here's a warning:
if you hear a ringing in your ears,
look out.
One might be nearby
"So you can see it!"
"Thank you!"
"Rock said it was the diet pills."
"Can you get rid of it or what?"
"Yes, yes, sir, I have just the stuff!"
Call them demons, devils, trolls, or ogres
but the Oni are basically garden variety monsters.
With a twist.
While it's appearance varies quite a bit depending on who's telling the tale,
they are often pictured as giants
with horns and spikey talons
A common spirit in Japanese folklore,
the Oni is a rather brutish creature
that wields a large club while wandering the country
"This is the end of the line, Soul."
"You've played your last tune."
"It's my world, now."
Simultaneously thought of as vulnerable and strong as anything,
The Oni's reputation has recently changed
from that of a mischievous monster
to more of a good luck charm.
As such, these days they are sometimes used to defend against bad fortune.
"I wish. I can't remember the last time I got lucky in that car."
"Hm. Feisty little thing, aren't you?"
Not all spirits have to be murderers, just mischief makers.
With Kitsune acting as the literal translation of the word fox,
this symbol is a common one in Japanese culture.
"Vulpix, a fox Pokemon. it's six tails are extremely beautiful."
"As it evolves, it grows even more tails."
In ancient Japan, these animals coexisted harmoniously with humans.
Which is one reason why today,
foxes are widely considered intelligent, mystical beings.
Though this view evolved as superstition took over,
the Kitsune are set to be able to shape-shift into human form.
Whether it's to play tricks on humans, or to act as loyal companions
See? not all mystical creatures are bad.
"Is this supposed to be humorous?"
"hehehehe"
"You're stuck until you can get the spell scroll peeled off!"
"Judging by your laughter,"
"you've already figured out that what you have is no ordinary notebook."
Well, it's back to the dark side with our next entry.
Acting as the Eastern equivalent of the Wests' Grim Reaper,
the Shinigami are Japanese experts in all things death.
the so called "death spirits"
tempt, encourage, or invite people to die
In some cases turning their thoughts to bad deeds committed,
in others by possessing them,
and others by simply making them want to end their lives.
Now, a common figure in Japanese manga and anime,
descriptions of the Shinigami diverge telling to telling.
But, we know for a fact, that they're one species of demon
we'd rather not encounter
With a name that loosely translates to "river child,"
this Yokai, or supernaturnal monster from Japanese lore,
is a mythological prankster.
Although sometimes these tricks turn to the serious or rapey.
With the appearance of a small reptilian child,
with other details varying from story to story,
the Kappa lives in Japan's lakes and rivers from which it draws it's powers.
Which is why some think it was invented as a warning to kids
about the dangers found in the bodies of water
"To this day, signs can be posted near bodies of water throughout Japan"
"warning of the Kappa."
As such, some drownings have been pinned on the Kappa
However, if you are able to trick one into subserviance,
their moral code makes them unable to resist.
Before we astonish ourselves with our top pick,
here are some honorable mentions.
"Let me tell you of love, Kai"
"that love of one night, that brought you into this world."
You don't come across a black suchinoko this big every day, ya know."
"And I still have to upload pictures of it to my blog!"
"oh, maybe it'll become a meme!"
Welcome to your new nightmare.
Originating the 1970's or possibly even before
this creature comes in the form of a woman
wearing a surgical mask
who asks those she meets if she's pretty.
Say no, and she'll use her trusty scissors to cut you up.
Say yes, and she'll reveal what's beneath her mask.
A face with a mouth cut from ear to ear.
"Am I pretty now?"
"AM I PRETTY NOW"
"yes, you're pretty"
"then why don't I make you pretty like me"
She'll also make sure that by the end of your encounter,
you're face will match hers.
With sightings of this creature occurring as recently as 2004 in South Korea,
the slit-mouthed woman is said to have disfugured
by her own husband.
And now, she seems to spend her days chasing children.
"No, no!"
Do you agree with our list?
What mystical creature from Japan interests you the most?
For more mesmerizing Top Ten's published everyday,
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"How was Japan?"
"Fanfreakingtastic. How'd you know?"
"Caught a huntch"