For the unfamiliar, “yokai” means “strange apparition”, and refers to a wide group of traditional monsters from Japanese folklore. These include the “tengu”, “kappa” and “yuki-onna” – each with its own traits and stories.
Some are known to be benevolent, some mischievous, and others outright violent. You could travel to the Far East and hope to encounter one – or you could head down to “Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan”, a new exhibition in Kuala Lumpur that highlights the fascinating world of these mythical monsters.
Curated by Yumoto Koichi, director emeritus of the Yumoto Koichi Memorial Japan Yōkai Museum in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, “Yokai Parade” is organised by the Japan Foundation, in collaboration with the Malaysian Institute of Art and the Japanese embassy.
The exhibition will be held in KL until early next month before moving to the Sabah Art Gallery in Kota Kinabalu from Dec 15-Feb 4.
At the launch of “Yokai Parade” on Friday, Japan Foundation KL director Tsukamoto Norihisa said he hopes visitors will get to learn more about the popularisation of these entities in Japanese folklore.
“We invite you to explore their profound world of mystery,” he added.
“Yokai Parade” features over 80 exhibits, ranging from the Heian period (794-1185) to present day. On display are images from the famed “Hyakki Yagyo Emaki (Night Parade of the Hundred Demons)” scrolls, and movie posters of classic Japanese yokai films such as “Spook Warfare” (1968).
One highlight is a reproduction of “In the Ruined Palace at Soma”, an Edo-period woodcut – yes, the one with the giant skeleton!
Also check out a finely crafted collection of yokai statues, once enshrined in the temple of Itokuin in Fukushima prefecture.
The exhibition focuses on how yokai slowly became ingrained in popular culture, with depictions of them going from scary to friendly and even cute. One section displays various board games, toys and pictures showing this progression.
Japanophiles will enjoy identifying various yokai, from the foxy “kitsune” to the spidery “tsuchigomo”. Also featured is a large model of the “rokurokubi”, one of the most well-known yokai of all time.
It resembles a creepy kimono-clad woman with an abnormally elongated neck. Don’t miss out on taking a selfie with her, especially since she sadly won’t be travelling to Sabah with the other exhibits.
Despite their traditional origins, yokai still play an important role in Japanese culture today. In 2019, during the pandemic, a yokai called the “Amabie” went viral on social media after it was said that drawing images of it could ward off disease.
One display shows all the modern merchandise that arose from this phenomenon, from Amabie umbrellas to handphone cases.
An exhibition like this would not be complete without “GeGeGe no Kitaro”, a classic anime that introduced yokai to audiences around the world. Its protagonist Kitaro even makes an appearance!
Drop by on weekends to enjoy special events: the animated film “The House of the Lost on the Cape” screens on Nov 18 & 19; while those looking for hands-on fun can take part in workshops on “Monster Series” paper puppetmaking (Nov 25 & 26), and totebag printing (Dec 2 & 3).
Whether yokai are real or not, no one can really say; but there’s no denying that their stories have created quite an impression across centuries.
Forget “Pokemon Go” – this exhibition is a gateway to a world of wonder, and a great opportunity to learn more about a truly fascinating aspect of traditional Japanese culture.
‘Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan’
Where:
MIACC Gallery @ Malaysian Institute of Art,
Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur
When:
10am-5pm daily until Dec 3
Admission is free. For more information, click here.