An Introduction to Yōkai Culture

Since ancient times, the Japanese have lived with superstitions of strange presences and phenomena known as "yōkai," creating a culture by turns infused with unease, fear, and divinity. Tsukimono spirit possessions. Fearsome kappa, oni, and tengu. Yamauba crones. Ghostly yūrei. Otherworldy ijin...Where did they come from? Why do they remain so popular? Written by Japan's premier scholar of yōkai and strange tales, this book is both an introduction to the rich imagination and spirituality of Japan's yōkai culture and a history of the authors and writings that have shaped yōkai studies as a field.

KOMATSU Kazuhiko
Folklorist and cultural anthropologist. Born 1947 in Tokyo, he obtained his M.A. from the Tokyo Metropolitan University Graduate School in Social Sciences. Served as Associate Professor at Shinshu University, and then Associate Professor and Full Professor in the School of Letters at Osaka University. In 1997 he began teaching at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies. In April of 2012 he became the Center's Director-General after serving as Deputy Director-General since 2010. In 2013 he was awarded the Order of the Purple Ribbon for scholarly achievement by the government of Japan. In 2016, he was further recognized as a Person of Cultural Merit by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

*information as of time of publication

Japan Library series
Culture

Publisher:
Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture

Hardcover
¥3,900 + tax
ISBN 9784916055804
210 mm x 148 mm / 196 pp. / March 2017

Softcover
¥2,700 + tax
ISBN 9784866580494
210 mm x 148 mm / 196 pp. / May 2019

eBook
ISBN 9784866580050 (ePub)
ISBN 9784916055927 (PDF)

CONTENTS
Preface to the English Edition
Part I: An Invitation to Yōkai Culture
1. What Is Yōkai Culture? / 2. Yōkai Beyond Time and Borders
Part II: On the Trail of Yōkai Studies
3. Tsukimono / 4. Yōkai / 5. Kappa / 6. Oni / 7. Tengu and Yamauba / 8. Yūrei / 9. Ijin and Ikenie: Outsiders and Sacrifices / Boundaries
Bibliography and Recommended Readings
List of Illustrations

"I consider it a reference book mapping the field and guiding the reader (especially the non-Japanese Studies reader) to a comprehensive literature in Japanese. The author succeeds using advanced theoretical concepts in an easy-accessible style of writing – for instance in the inspiring chapter about Boundaries (Chapter 10)."

Prof. Firouz Gaini
University of the Faroe Islands

"The book is a charming addition to any library. Beautifully designed, the hardbound edition, with its predominantly black cover, provides an effective background to select illustrations of yôkai taken from picture scrolls and illustrated books of yore. Komatsu is an engaging guide, whose scholarly exploration of its subject, along with witty explanations and sample narratives from folklore, never bores. Overall, the book leaves the reader convinced that Japan and its brand of cultural influence will continue to excite the world for decades to come."

Dr. Alona Guevarra
Ateneo de Manila University
ASIAN STUDIES: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia

河童・⿁・天狗・山姥…妖怪はなぜ絵巻や物語に描かれ、どのように再生産され続けたのか。豊かな妖怪文化を築いてきた日本人の想像力と精神性を明らかにする、妖怪研究第一人者による入門書。英文版には妖怪画をカラーで多数収録。

小松和彦
国際日本文化研究センター所長。専門は、民俗学・文化人類学。1947年東京都生まれ。東京都立大学大学院社会科学研究科博士課程単位取得退学。信州大学助教授、大阪大学文学部助教授及び教授を経て、1997年より国際日本文化研究センター教授。その後2010年より同センター副所長を兼務、2012年4月より現職。2013年紫綬褒章受章、2016年文化功労者に選ばれる。著書は、『神々の精神史』（講談社学術文庫）、『憑霊信仰論』（講談社学術文庫）、『異人論』（ちくま学芸文庫）、『悪霊論』（ちくま学芸文庫）、『妖怪学新考』（小学館ライブラリー）、『いざなぎ流の研究』（角川学芸出版）、『「伝説」はなぜ生まれたか』（角川学芸出版）、『呪いと日本人』（角川ソフィア文庫）など多数。

＊著者略歴は書籍刊行時のものを表示しています。