Japanese Yokai and Other Supernatural Beings

For artists, tattooers, and collectors building a stronger yokai visual vocabulary, Japanese Yokai and Other Supernatural Beings is more than a monster book. It’s a serious reference for studying the “original” iconography—how these creatures were first depicted in early Japanese prints, books, and paintings.

Japan’s vast pantheon of supernatural beings includes yokai, oni (ogres), yurei (ghosts), and other figures from folklore and popular culture—images that still echo through manga, games, and contemporary design today.

Written by woodblock-print authority Andreas Marks, this richly illustrated volume presents 100 different creatures with clear descriptions and authentic visual examples sourced from leading museums, libraries, and private collections worldwide. The focus is on forms that “read” at a glance—silhouette, expression, and the visual logic that makes a creature unforgettable.

You’ll also find rare material reproduced here for the first time, including two long handscrolls from the Minneapolis Institute of Art (A Collection of Monsters and Night Parade of One Hundred Demons).

This title is especially useful if you want to:

• Study core yokai archetypes (including figures like bakeneko, hannya, and more)
• Build stronger iconography for character-driven Japanese imagery
• Use museum-grade reference to design with more accuracy and intention

Book details

• Title: Japanese Yokai and Other Supernatural Beings
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Pages: 240
• Size: 202 × 262 × 24 mm (7.8 × 10 × 0.94 in)