What are ghosts called in Japan?
Matthew Perez
Updated on May 03, 2026
While all Japanese ghosts are called yūrei, within that category there are several specific types of phantom, classified mainly by the manner they died or their reason for returning to Earth:
Onryō
In Japanese traditional beliefs and literature, onryō (怨霊, literally "vengeful spirit", sometimes rendered "wrathful spirit") refers to a ghost (yūrei) believed to be capable of causing harm in the world of the living, injuring or killing enemies, or even causing natural disasters to exact vengeance to "redress" the ...
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What is a Japanese spirit called?
Yōkai are often referred to as Japanese spirits or East Asian ghosts, like the Hanako-san legend or the story of the "Slit-mouthed girl", both of which hail from Japanese legend. The term yōkai can also be interpreted as "something strange or unusual".What are evil spirits called in Japan?
Evil Spirits and Monsters in Japan also known as Yōkai are a class of supernatural monsters, spirits, and demons in Japanese folklore. The word "yōkai" Is made up of the kanji (symbol) for "bewitching: attractive; calamity:" and "specter apparition: mystery; suspicious".What does Onryo mean in Japanese?
In Japanese traditional beliefs and literature, onryō (怨霊, literally "vengeful spirit", sometimes rendered "wrathful spirit") refers to a ghost (yūrei) believed to be capable of causing harm in the world of the living, injuring or killing enemies, or even causing natural disasters to exact vengeance to "redress" the ...What is yōkai and yūrei?
He claimed that yurei were spirits of the dead and related to death and religion, while yokai were just monsters without any deeper meaning or religious connection.Japanology Plus - Yurei : Japanese Ghosts
What is a Yurei Phasmophobia?
A Yurei is a ghost that has returned to the physical world, usually for the purpose of revenge or hatred.What is Bakemono in Japanese?
“Bakemono” is a Japanese term to describe imaginary monsters, which in Japan have a long history in religion and culture.What is a samurai ghost called?
While all Japanese ghosts are called yūrei, within that category there are several specific types of phantom, classified mainly by the manner they died or their reason for returning to Earth: Onryō: Vengeful ghosts who come back from purgatory for a wrong done to them during their lifetime.What does an Oni do?
An oni's job is to mete out horrible punishments such as peeling off skin, crushing bones, and other torments too horrible to describe to those who were wicked (but not quite wicked enough to be reborn as demons themselves). Hell is full of oni, and they make up the armies of the great generals of the underworld.What are monsters called in Japan?
Japan has special terms for these different kinds of supernatural beings. First are yōkai, creatures like demons, ogres, and other monsters. Next are yūrei, which are ghosts or spirits. Finally, there's obake, a more general term that can be used for a yūrei or yōkai.What does the word Akuma mean?
The akuma (悪魔) is a malevolent fire spirit in Japanese folklore. It is also described as a category of undefined beings who brought afflictions on humans. Alternative names for the akuma is ma (ま). It is often translated to devil in English, or demon (see oni).What is the strongest Japanese demon?
It has been said that Shuten-dōji was the strongest oni of Japan.What are Japanese vampires called?
Japan has no native legends about vampires. However some Japanese mythical creatures bear some similarities to vampires, such as the Nure-onna who is a snake-like woman that feasts on human blood. Japanese vampires made their first appearances in the cinema of Japan during the late 1950s.Who is the most evil Japanese god?
One such list is the Three Most Evil Yokai of Japan (japanese: 日本三大悪妖怪, Nihon san dai aku yōkai). These are the three monsters who, according to legend, posed the greatest threats to Japan's existence.
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Japanese Legends: The Three Most Evil Yokai of Japan
- Shuten dōji, oni. ...
- Tamamo no Mae, kitsune. ...
- Emperor Sutoku, tengu.