Yōkai

Yōkai (妖怪 Yōkai) are supernatural beings, that range diversely from malevolent, mischievous creatures or even benevolent spirits. Yōkai and Akuma are regarded as the First Humanity on Earth (地球の第一人類 Chikyū-no-Daiichi-Jinrui).
In the works of Shigeru Mizuki, most prominently GeGeGe no Kitarō, Yōkai refers to all supernatural beings, not just limited to those of Japanese mythology. It is not mutually exclusive with Akuma and Gods, where a being may be referred to as one or more of the three.
According to Kitarō, a human has to live at least up to 300 years to "understand" Yōkai.GeGeGe no Kitarō (1968): Episode 3 
==Description==
Yōkai are supernatural beings that come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, types, classes, and forms. It is a broad term and can be used to encompass virtually all monsters and supernatural beings. They can be born as spirits of nature, objects that gained sentience, animals or humans that gained magical prowess, souls of the deceased, or transformationed beings.
==Classifications==
There is a multitude of classes individual species can fall under. Depending on the Yōkai, they may fall under more than one.
===Animals===
Many species of animals can attain magical qualities, usually by living long lifespans, though some acquire after death. Most can change their appearances and shapeshift as humans, some grow to large sizes and have enhanced natural abilities. Notable examples include; foxes, Tanuki, badgers, dogs, and cats.
===Oni===
Main Article: Oni
One of the most well-known aspects of Japanese folklore is the oni, which is a sort of mountain-dwelling ogre, usually depicted with red, blue, brown or black skin, two horns on its head, a wide mouth filled with fangs, and wearing nothing but a tigerskin loincloth. It often carries an iron kanabo or a giant sword. Oni are mostly depicted as evil, but can occasionally be the embodiment of an ambivalent natural force. They are, like many obake, associated with the direction northeast.
===Objects===
Main Article: Tsukumogami
There are many yōkai that are born from objects, either being brought to life by external forces, such as magically creating them, or when they reach their 100th anniversary. The latter case are Tsukumogami, an entire class of yōkai and obake, primarily comprising of ordinary household items.
===Human transformations===
There are a large number of yōkai who were originally ordinary human beings, transformed into something horrific and grotesque usually during an extremely emotional state. Women suffering from intense jealousy, for example, were thought to transform into the female oni represented by hannya masks. Other examples of human transformations or humanoid yōkai are:
*Rokuro-Kubi (humans able to elongate their necks during the night)
*Ohaguro-Bettari (a figure, usually female, that turns to reveal a face with only a blackened mouth)
*Futakuchi-Onna (a woman with a voracious extra mouth on the back of her head)
*Dorotabō (the risen corpse of a farmer, who haunts his abused land)
===Hanyō===
Hanyō (半妖, はんよう, lit. "Half-monster" or Half-yōkai) , also Han-Yōkai, is a supernatural being who is part-human and part-yōkai. Hanyō are usually the child of a yōkai and a human, though humans can be transformed into a hanyō. Due to their dual nature, hanyō are often subject to prejudice from both human and yōkai societies because of the mutual hatred between both respective species. Some notable Hanyō characters are Neko-Musume and Nezumi-Otoko.
===Ghosts===
Main Article: Ghost
Ghosts are the spirits of the dead, such as humans and animals, usually of those who have not gone to the afterlife. The have an abundant number of subcategories.
===Vampires===
Main Article: Vampire
An entire class of Yōkai that are primarily known for their thirst of blood. They come in a variety of appearances, ranging from human to monstrous.
===Plants===
A number of plants can become Yōkai, gaining magical properties or even becoming sentient. Some gain these through their environment, such as the Jubokko
===Other===
Some yōkai are extremely specific in their habits, for instance:
*Azuki-Arai (a yōkai who is always found washing azuki beans).
*Akaname (only found in dirty bathrooms and spends its time licking the filth left by the untidy owners).
* Ashiarai Yashiki (A gargantuan foot that appears in rooms and demands the terrified home owner washes it)
*Tofu-Kozō (a small monk who carries a plate with a block of tofu).
==History==
===2018 Anime===
Humans: In the sixth anime, Medama-Oyaji explains that only humans that believe in yōkai can see them. When a human wavers between doubt and belief, their ability to see yōkai clearly is limited. Their vision improves depending on how strong they believe.GeGeGe no Kitarō (2018): Episode 1
Yōkai: Though humans can gain the ability to see most yōkai through believing, yōkai are able to make themselves invisible to them. To the human eye, yōkai appear to flicker when appearing and vanishing. However, unless the yōkai has an ability that makes themselves truly invisible, they can be seen by other yōkai while vanished from humans. On the other hand, they can make themselves visible to any human, even if the human claims to not believe in yōkai, especially to humans that are afraid of them. If a human such as a priest/psychic/spiritualist strongly believes that have cleansed and purified an area inhabited by yōkai, they may become incapable of seeing them. If they were unable to see the yōkai in the first place, then they are unable to see them due to their initial lack of belief rather than the strong belief that their area of work has been purified.GeGeGe no Kitarō (2018): Episode 23 
Yōkai can also adapt to their surroundings in various ways. A prime example in the series is Kubire-Oni, who adapts to modern society by using his hair to connect to a phone application and attack his targets. Medama-Oyaji explains that as technology advances, the location in which yōkai live can change, too.GeGeGe no Kitarō (2018): Episode 25
==Powers and Abilities==
Yōkai have a number of abilities and powers, though it varies from each individual or type.
In the 2018 anime, Yōkai from different countries follow differing rules and are affected by certain concepts that does not affect those outside. One such example is the witch Adél, hailing from the west, able to bypass Sunakake-Babaa's magical barrier made from eastern foundations. Conversely this also affects certain weaknesses, such as Nurarihyon being unaffected from drinking the blood of a holy priest from the west while Backbeard and his minions were.
Longevity: Yōkai have long lifespans that vary from one another, though generally they live over a century at least. Some individuals or species have such a long lifespan, that they are potentially immortal.
Teleportation: Many have the ability to disappear from sight, as well as reappear somewhere else.
Invisibility: Within the 2018 anime, Yōkai are normally invisible to humans, some are even capable of making themselves invisible to those they choose. Certain humans are able to see them in this state after prolonged exposure to Yōkai activity or with concentration.
===Yōkai Power===
Yōkai Power (妖力 Yōryoku) is the term used to describe the power Yōkai need in order to use their Yōkai abilities.
==References==
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Category:Races
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Category:Important Terms