Yokai Attack!

Anyone who saw the fabulous, and funny, DAI-NIPPONJIN at this year’s festival will know that Japan is under constant attack from monsters. Actually fans of any Japanese pop culture, whether it is manga, anime or J-horror will know about the myriad entities that inhabit the netherworlds of Japan. Of course, they are not a modern phenomenon, as the ancient tales are filled with all manner of demons that have served as inspiration for contemporary storytelling.

For fans of Japanese genre entertainment there is know a comprehensive guide to these creatures, called Yokai Attack! The Japanese Monster Survival Guide (ie a guide to surviving Japanese monsters and not an oversized tome on surviving in Japan – although you may want to keep a copy of this book in your luggage alongside your Lonely Planet guide if you are visiting Japan) is a comprehensive and practical handbook on over 40 sentient beings from the deadly to the innocuous.

Divided into five sections (Ferocious Fiends, Gruesome Gourmets, Annoying Neighbours, The Sexy and Slimy, and The Wimps) each creature has a comprehensive data sheet of what it is called, size, weight, habitat, weapons or method of attack along with a brief history and the all-important way to defend yourself. Each creature is bio is accompanied by an illustration from manga artist Tatsuya Morino, along with historical pictures.

Even if you have no intention of visiting Japan for a bit of ghostbusting this is an entertaining read from authors Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt, and also an interesting insight to Japanese culture. Even beyond that, it is a fascinating confirmation of the work of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell’s work on universal myths. Reading through the book I came across a yokai called Toire no Hanako (Hanako in the bathroom) who is basically the ghost of a schoolgirl who hangs out in the school’s toilet/bathroom, a character familiar to anyone who knows the Harry Potter stories.

Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide is published by Kodansha Europe and is available now from Amazon

To find out more about Kodansha’s books on Japan and its culture visit their website or contact info@kodansha.eu.