GLOSSARY

These are some of the more common words, phrases, and people that you’ll hear about when studying Japanese folklore, yōkai, and mythical heroes.

bō (坊):

An endearing suffix used sometimes after a boy’s name. The character for bō literally means “monk.” It is also found in the words bōya (坊や), botchan (坊っちゃん), and bōzu (坊主). These are all terms used to refer to young boys. They can be affectionate expressions or, depending on the usage, have a more negative, demeaning nuance.

Buddhism:

A major world religion and philosophical system that originated in ancient India around the fifth century B.C.E. It’s based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, who sought to understand the nature of suffering and the path to liberation from it. Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the sixth century C.E. Over time, Japanese Buddhism has developed distinct traditions and schools, sometimes incorporating Indigenous beliefs and practices. Buddhism in Japan coexists alongside Shinto, and many Japanese people observe both traditions. Buddhist temples are called otera (お寺).

kami (神):

Literally means “god,” but in the Shinto religion, it refers to deities, spirits, or ancestral or otherwise spiritual entities that embody various natural elements. In the Ainu (Indigenous people of Hokkaido) language, kamuy is a similar concept.

Kojiki (古事記):

Translated as The Record of Ancient Matters in English, the Kojiki (C.E. 712) is a chronicle of Japanese myths, legends, songs, poems, and semihistorical accounts. It is considered the oldest extant literary work in Japan.

kozō (小僧):

The characters for kozō, similar to bō, literally mean “small monk,” and that’s what it used to mean ages ago. A kozō was a young monk or acolyte studying and training at a temple. But it also has a second meaning when used to refer to any young boy or young man, kind of like “youngster,” “kid,” or “lad.” But kozō is tricky in that it can also have a derogatory feel to it. You’ll often find it as a suffix on a name or nickname from old Japan (see the Hitotsume Kozō and Tōfu Kozō entries). Kozō is still used today and is still a very nuanced word. Depending on the intonation and use, kozō can be highly offensive, lightly teasing, or even affectionate.

Lafcadio Hearn (1850–1904):

A Greek Japanese writer, translator, and teacher. Later in life, in 1890, Hearn traveled to Japan as a newspaper correspondent, but ended up remaining there for the rest of his life. He married a Japanese national (named Setsuko) and took a Japanese name, Koizumi Yakumo (小泉八雲). Hearn traveled around Japan and collected stories, which he retold in English. These stories were then translated back into Japanese and enjoyed once more. His Japanese-related works are listed in the Further Reading section. They can be found and read for free on Project Gutenberg.

Mizuki Shigeru (水木しげる) (1922–2015):

A highly renowned Japanese manga artist and author. He’s best known for creating the beloved GeGeGe no Kitarō series, which debuted in 1960 and follows the adventures of Kitarō along with his yōkai friends.

Nihon Shoki (日本書紀):

This C.E. 720 work is translated in English as The Chronicles of Japan. Commissioned by Emperor Tenmu and compiled by a team of scholars, it is considered one of the oldest extant chronicles of Japanese history. It records the mythological creation of Japan all the way to the eighth century, giving great insights into ancient Japanese society, culture, and religious beliefs.

ofuda (お札):

A type of talisman or amulet sold at Japanese temples and shrines.

oni (鬼):

This fearsome, mythical, ogre-like creature appears in Japanese art, literature, and folktales throughout the ages. While there are some stories of kinder oni, most are bloodthirsty brutes who embody and symbolize all the more sinister and dreadful elements of life.

otogizōshi (御伽草子):

Also called companion tales, these are a group of thirty- to forty-page-length short stories written and illustrated during the Muromachi era (1336–1573). The authors and artists are mostly unknown, but what is known is that unlike past literary works that came from the aristocracy, these stories were created by a much broader spectrum of society including monks, hermits, those in the warrior class, and possibly merchants.

Shinto:

The Indigenous religion of Japan that focuses on the worship of deities, spirits, and nature. One of Shinto’s essential beliefs is that of kami (gods or divine or sacred spirits). Kami are believed to inhabit not only natural elements, like mountains, trees, and rivers, but also other inanimate objects.

Toriyama Sekien (鳥山石燕) (1712–1788):

Not only a master artist and learned scholar, this prolific storyteller was also very adept at wordplay and puns. The phrase he used in the title of the first of his four popular books, hyakki yagyō (百鬼夜行), literally means “one hundred oni night parade,” but it’s also an idiom meaning “pandemonium” and gives the image of an uncountable horde.

Wakan Sansai Zue (和漢三才図会):

Translated as Illustrated Sino-Japanese Encyclopedia and compiled by scholar and doctor Terajima Ryōan, this is an encyclopedia that was published in 1712 (during the Edo era). It consists of multiple volumes and covers a wide range of subjects including natural history, geography, human anatomy, mythology, and more. It inspired Toriyama Sekien.

Yanagita Kunio (柳田國男) (1875–1962):

A Japanese scholar, author, and folklorist who has been labeled the father of modern Japanese folklore. He published many works on folklore and popular religious beliefs, but his 1910 book Tōno Monogatari (遠野物語), or The Legends of Tono, has become a Japanese and folklore classic.