History Main / Youkai

* ''OmamoriHimari'' features a water sprite for a protagonist, who may or may not be a kappa.

* ''OmamoriHimari'' has a [[UnwantedHarem Harem]] of [[CuteMonsterGirl Cute Monster Girls]] made of mostly Youkai (with one exception). Youkai also form the main enemies. The lead being a Bakeneko.

** The Forest Shadow from {{Jade Empire}}
** Firefox-ko, an unofficial mascot for Firefox.
** Shippo from ''{{Inuyasha}}''
** Youko Kurama from ''YuYuHakusho'', possibly Koto (seems fox-like but meows occasionally in the manga; could just be that the translators didn't know either).
** Ran Yakumo from the ''TouhouProject''
** Kuon of ''TriangleHeart3SweetSongsForever''
** The [=~Pokémon~=] Vulpix and Ninetales.
** The Kyuubi, the nine-tailed fox in {{Naruto}}, while being a giant monster, is an obvious reference.
** Demon Lord Nine-Tails in ''{{Okami}}'' is a kitsune that uses a band of ''kudagitsune'' (shapeshifting foxes that hide in tubes) to gain additional power.
** Tails, SonicTheHedgehog's sidekick
** The foxes [[spoiler:who chose to live among humans]] from {{Studio Ghibli}}'s ''{{Pom Poko}}''.
** Sakura the ''kyuubi'' in ''HyperPolice'' -- who has eight-and-one-fifth tails.
** Xiaomu in ''[[CapcomVsWhatever Namco X Capcom]]'' and ''[[EndlessFrontier Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier]]''
** Yuuko in ''Tactics'' is a kitsune whom the protagonist has bound to his service. She doesn't seem too upset about this.
** The servants of Wa Shi Tong in ''AvatarTheLegendOfAang'' - they only appeared as foxes, but were implied to be able to take human form.
** Meirin (two tails) and Tamamonomae (full nine tails) in ''YamiToBoushiToHonNoTabibito''. [[MindScrew May be the same person]].
** [[TheRival Tamamo]] from ''HellTeacherNube''. His natural shape is as a huge, anthropomorphic fox called a ''yohko'', and wields a staff with a bladed claw on its end. In order to assume human form, he uses the claw to rip the skull from a still-living human being, then puts said skull inside his own head, thus taking on the human's appearance. Also, the Golden Kitsune of the Nine Tails rules over all ''yohko'' and wields godlike power, even over life and death.
** In ''{{Kanokon}}'', Chizuru Minamoto is a 400-year-old kitsune who tries to seduce the protagonist.
** Kudakitsune, the pipe fox from ''XXXHolic'' in her transformed shape.
** Akari from ''{{Aria}}'' encounters a kitsune wedding procession in a recreation of an Inari Shrine on Mars.
** Foxtrot X-Ray and Lady Ako in MercedesLackey's ''Chrome Circle''. FX has three tails and is pretty weak (though he eventually earns a two-tail upgrade for extreme valor). Ako presumably has more.
*** Ako has nine tails. She also "the bearer of some the most noble blood Under- or Above- Hill." Her half-kitsune/half-dragon daughter also has nine tails in her kitsune form.
*** Another kitsune in Lackey's works is Tamiko from the ''Five Hundred Kingdoms'' book ''Fortune's Fool''
** Renamon, Kyuubimon, and Kudamon from {{Digimon}}.
** Of course, we would be remiss in not mentioning Kuugen Tenkou and Gyokuyou from WagayaNoOinariSama.
** Hime in ''{{Kekkaishi}}''.
** Keaton from ''TheLegendOfZelda'' series.
** A reploid version is a BonusBoss in MegaManXCommandMission
** Tomoe from Kamisama Hajimemashita seems to be something like this.
** ‘’UruseiYatsura’’ features a kitsune-like fox with a crush on Shinobu as a ReccurringCharacter.
** AndreNorton used fox spirits in both ''Imperial Lady'' (co-written with Susan Shwartz) and ‘’White Jade Fox.’’ In the former, Silver Snow's maid is a kitsune, while in the latter it's left ambiguous as to whether any of the characters are literally kitsune, but the trope is at least toyed with.
** NeilGaiman's novella collaboration with YoshitakaAmano, ''TheSandman: The Dream Hunters'' centers around a kitsune who falls in love with a monk.

** Early unnamed example in the YuYuHakusho manga.
** The Tanooki Suit for Mario in ''SuperMarioBros. 3''
** A clan of them feature in the StudioGhibli film ''PomPoko''.
** Miroku's buddy Hachi in ''{{Inuyasha}}''.
** The Transformer Heinrad of ''Beast Wars Neo'' transforms into one of these. His corresponding toy prominently features the large testicles. which become the upper legs in robot mode.
** In ''{{Naruto}}'', the one-tailed beast Shukaku is one.
** [[PunnyName Tom Nook]] of ''AnimalCrossing''.
** A one-episode character in 090-EkoToIssho, which, not having ever mastered the transformation business, would hide by possessing people. LastOfHisKind. Is used to cause a ShipTease and maybe, just maybe, advance the plot.
** Of Pokemon, Zigzagoon is one in Japan. It's special on the list for being insignificant as a pokemon, with below average statistical abilities, a normal type, and a small pool of moves to learn from.
** Ponta, the TeamPet from ''{{Raideen}}''
** Referenced in ''OnePiece'', where Tony Tony Chopper is mistaken for a Tanuki by nearly every character he encounters outside of the crew.
** The ''Kiki Kai Kai'' series of CuteEmUp games (beginning with the second entry in the series) feature a Tanuki as a player character.

** The two tailed demon-beast in {{Naruto}} is a two tailed cat.
** Espeon in Pokemon.
** Chen and Orin from the ''TouhouProject''
*** Orin, though, is a [[http://www.catgirls.org.uk/mythology/japan.html#kasha Kasha]], a different type of youkai cat.
** Found in the ''{{Disgaea}}'' series (and are used in quick leveling tricks in BOTH the first and second ones). They are more {{Cat Girl}}s, however.
** Natsuki, the CatGirl protagonist of ''HyperPolice'' is revealed to be a nekomata in a moment of anger (her tail splits in two)
** Koto of YuYuHakusho is either this or a Kitsune.
** Kirara in ''{{Inuyasha}}''.
** A monster type in WildARMs2.
** A common demon/Persona in the ''ShinMegamiTensei'' franchise.
** One of the forms of the ''thing'' inside Touko's briefcase in ''KaraNoKyoukai''.
** Jubei and [[spoiler:his daughter]] Kokonoe (a CatGirl version of this) in ''BlazBlue'', although they're called 'Grimalkins' in-universe. Apropriatly, the later does bring people back from the dead, although since magic is commonplace in that world she uses science to keep the mysterious powers theme. [[HollywoodCyborg Iron]] [[HalfHumanHybrid Tager]] is the result.
** In {{Mokke}}, one episode centers around a nekomata.
** The X-Antibody version of Tailmon from Digimon is two-tailed.
** One of the protagonists of OmamoriHimari is a shapeshifting cat.

** In ''LoveHina'', there is the ''Tsukumogami'' called "Moe", a near life-sized doll/puppet who comes to life about halfway through the series, disappears after spending some time with Keitaro, and reappears in the sequel {{OVA}} ''Love Hina Again''.
** ''AsagiriNoMiko'' has two ''Tsukumogami'' among its characters.
** Ichimoku Ren from ''JigokuShoujo'' is a tsukumogami; specifically, he is the spirit of a sword. He was given a human form by Enma Ai, so he could better work for her.
** ''OmamoriHimari'' features as one of its protagonists a tsukumogami based in an English teacup.
** The Luggage from {{Discworld}} acts a lot like a tsukumogami, and even comes from the Asian FantasyCounterpartCulture, though it's actually made of "Sapient Pearwood".
** A variation of tsukumogami, known as ''The Animated'', are the primary enemies in the upcoming ''Gaia Online'' MMO: ''zOMG!''. Players can encounter animated Cotton Balls, Garlic Cloves, Purses, and even imperialistic ''Lawn Gnomes''. Other enemies (including other youkai) exist as well.
** Several [=~Pokémon~=] appear to be based on [[AnimateInanimateObject tsukumogami]]. These include Magnemite (magnets), Voltorb (Pokeball), Gardevoir (possibly anesama ningyou, a style of paper doll), Shedinja (the discarded exoskeleton of a Nincada after it evolves), Nosepass (Moai statue), Baltoy ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakokidogu shakokidogu]]), Shuppet ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teru_teru_bozu teru teru bozu]], a Japanese paper doll resembling a ghost), Banette (Voodoo doll), Bronzor (a bronze mirror), and Bronzong (a bronze bell). The upcoming Black and White version of the game will include Gear, Hihi[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daruma_doll daruma]], and Munna (possibly a piggy bank), all of which may be renamed when the game is released outside of Japan.
** One UruseiYatsura episode features a ''karakasa'' having a feud with a sentient raincloud.
** During one of the SchoolFestival episodes of ''AzumangaDaioh'', as the girls ponder Osaka's idea of an ''obakeyashiki kisaten'' ("haunted cafe"), they imagine Osaka dressed as a ''karakasa''.
** A Karakasa is a regular boss in {{Kirby}} games.
** Karakasa appear as enemies in one of the Pumpkin Zone stages in SuperMario Land 2.

** A few side characters (The Ogre Triad, the winner of the final tournament, etc.), and probably Jin and Shishiwakamaru, of YuYuHakusho.
** Suika Ibuki and Yuugi Hoshiguma, both from the ''TouhouProject''
** The benefactors for the heroes of the ''{{Onimusha}}'' series, worse demons killed them off so they gave their power to humans. The Gameboy Advance "Onimusha Tactics" game gives nod to the different versions by stating that some escaped this fate by getting jobs in the Underworld.
** King [[strike:Yemma]]Enma and his underlings in ''DragonBall'', mostly bureaucrats working in [[strike:HFIL]] Hell.
** Lum from ''UruseiYatsura'' is a variation -- she's an alien, but of a race obviously related to folktale Oni.
** To some extent, Kamen Riders of [[KamenRiderHibiki Kamen Rider Hibiki]] are all called Oni who fought the Makamous with martial arts and the power of music.
** One of the {{Transformation Ray}}s in KeroroGunsou essentially turns people into Oni, by cheaply slapping on Oni features, arming them with clubs and turning their clothes into hide loincloths. Female victims tend to wind up looking like Lum.
** Drahmin and Moloch from ''MortalKombat''
** Tarakudo and the other Oni Masks, the antagonists of one of the later seasons of ''JackieChanAdventures''.
** Meisuke "[[HellTeacherNube Nube]]" Nueno [[SealedEvilInACan sealed an Oni]] [[BodyHorror in his]] [[RedRightHand left hand]], and it becomes the signature element of the series. Two other Oni show up, younger siblings of the former, with vastly [[CompleteMonster different]] [[NobleDemon agendas]]. Nevertheless, they are all presented as [[PersonOfMassDestruction supremely powerful, destructive demons]] and the greatest threats to appear in the series.
** Kyousuke and Touka Kishi of ''{{Yozakura Quartet}}''
** One set of ''MagicTheGathering'' featured various Oni. They were classified as Demon Spirits and looked vaguely ogre-like, but they were also served by actual Ogres.
** Oni are the template for [[TheOgre ogre mages]] in ''D&D'' (in fact, one early {{Sourcebook}} referred to them as "Japanese ogres"). In 4th Edition, they decided to just call ogre mages "oni" and be done with it, though in the 3E ''Oriental Adventures'', oni are a very wide grouping of demonic monsters that merely includes ogres.
** Mion from ''HigurashiNoNakuKoroNi'' has an Oni tattooed on her back out of family tradition.
** The final level of the "The Islands" region of ''{{LittleBigPlanet}}'' is called "The Terrible Oni's Volcano". Appropriately enough, the final boss is an Oni made of Fire Material.

** Mizore from ''RosarioToVampire''.
** Letty Whiterock from the ''TouhouProject''
** Yukina of ''YuYuHakusho'', technically Hiei, Toya may be some relation.
** Summon monster Shiva of FinalFantasy. Also, more directly, the enemy "Snow" in ''FinalFantasyVII''.
** Appears as a monster in the DungeonsAndDragons "Oriental Adventures" supplement.
** One of the teachers from AkazukinChaCha was a Yuki-onna.
** The Marvel comic series {{Blade}} had [[OurVampiresAreDifferent a tribe of vampires that could turn themselves into ice shards and had mild control over weather alongside their normal vampire abilities]] called Yuki-Onna. of course some (if not all) of them were male.
** The [=~Pokémon~=] Froslass. You even meet one as a boss and it's gallery of [[HumanPopsicle frozen]] [[NightmareFuel victims]] in a [[PokemonMysteryDungeon spinoff series]].
*** To a lesser extent, Jynx.
** Yukime of ''HellTeacherNube''. Notice a trend? Thing is, this particular Yuki-Onna is a ClingyJealousGirl in a LoveTriangle over Nube's affections, and is generally friendly and nice [[BewareTheNiceOnes unless you get on her bad side]].
** The Yuki-onna Effect in ''YumeNikki''.
** Non-Japanese example: The Velvets from Neil Gaiman's ''{{Neverwhere}}'' are very clearly related - one offers to guide the protagonists to Islington's hall and [[spoiler: steals Richard's heat with a kiss. The Marquis makes her give it back, though.]]
** Oyuki from ''UruseiYatsura''.
** One appears in the segment "The Blizzard" of AkiraKurosawa's ''Dreams''.
** Sode no Shirayuki, the spirit of Rukia Kuchiki's sword in {{Bleach}}'s anime adaptation.
** Tsurara, The Yuki Onna from NurarihyonNoMago.

** The Koopas from ''SuperMarioBros.'' were based on this creature.
** As was Kapp'n from ''AnimalCrossing''.
** In ''FinalFantasyVI'', characters afflicted with the [[{{Woolseyism}} Imp]] status are actually turned into kappa.
** ''Kappa no coo to Natsuyasumi'' tells a story of a boy who befriends a kappa.
** ''Kappa no kaitaka'' tells the story of a man who tries to raise one as a pet.
** Nitori Kawashiro from the ''TouhouProject''
** NagasareteAirantou has Tohno. The cute, cartoonish variety. Her presence never fails to point out the gaps in the main character's WeirdnessCensor.
** {{Hellboy}} is forced to fight one in ''Hellboy: The Sword of Storms.''
** The TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles are mistaken for these in the 3rd movie.
** Two Keronians in ''KeroroGunsou'' are mistaken for Kappa - Dororo, when he is found stuck in a boar-trap, [[spoiler:and an early Keronian soldier, who befriended Omiyo the Ghost Girl nearly a hundred years ago.]]
** ''SchoolRumble''[='=]s Harima is mistaken for one when he saves Tenma's cat Iori from drowning.
** Almost every ''HarvestMoon'' game ever.
** Also among the monsters introduced in Lupin's Defense Against the Dark Arts class in ''HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban''.
** The Ludicolo family from Pokémon. It was originally found in only Sapphire version, while its [[OneGameForThePriceOfTwo Ruby counterpart]] was Shiftry, a Tengu.
** Gawappamon from Digimon.
** A short story in ''UsagiYojimbo'' has Usagi encounter a kappa, later having to save another traveler from it.
** Also one is found in NurarihyonNoMago, as part of the main characters, it displays power to create links between water bodies transporting between lakes.
** In KappaNoKaikata the protagonist tries to raise a pet kappa.
** In {{Inukami}} episode 14, Keita gives a cucumber to a kappa, asking it to return the favor -- right now, if possible.
** An episode of CrayonShinChan has Shin's friends arguing whether the kappa is real or not, while they're standing by a body of water. Boo ends up dressing up like a kappa at one point.
** An episode of the UruseiYatsura anime has Ataru being taken down to a Ryugujo inhabited entirely by kappa.
** ''OmamoriHimari'' features a water sprite for a protagonist, who may or may not be a kappa.
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn3xpJU-gmI This]] {{Touhou}} parody (here's the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToVBPePYzTI original]]) has a cute, [[VillainDecay chibified]] {{kappa}} which becomes something more traditional . . . and [[NightmareFuelUnleaded frightening]] - kappas love [[OrificeInvasion intestines, sucking them out through the anus]]; the only thing they like better is ''cucumbers''.

** Setsuna from ''MahouSenseiNegima'' is half "bird tribe". They never say the name, but they have encountered a full Bird Tribe Demon and it resembles the classical ''tengu''.
** Aya Shameimaru and Hatate Himekaidou from ''TouhouProject''. Momizi Inubashiri is also listed as a tengu, but she is of the white wolf variety instead of a crow. It could be that she is a [[http://www.monstropedia.org/index.php?title=Tiangou Tiangou]], a dog-like creature from Chinese mythology that's related to the Japanese tengu.
** [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Naturally]], Tengu Man from ''Game/MegaMan 8''. He has a long red nose and wields the power of wind.
** One of the enemies in ''{{Okami}}''
** The boss in ''DeadOrAlive 2'', and returns as a playable character in the fourth installment. His skin is dark black, with white facial hair, and a very long nose.
** Both Haruka and Sugino in ''{{Tactics}}'' are tengu - Haruka is known as the Oni-eating Tengu before he is named and bound by the protagonist.
** The grunts in the 3rd season of ''MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' are called Tengas, their designs adhering much closer to crows than humans.
*** There is also a MonsterOfTheWeek in the third season of ''MMPR'' (Professor Long Nose) whose design adheres more to the classic tengu image.
** Yotsuba meets [[spoiler:Jumbo]] dressed as a tengu boss during the [[FestivalEpisode cart-pulling festival]] of ''[[{{Yotsubato}} Yotsuba&!]]''. She's young enough to find it scary, even though she knows it's a mask.
** One episode of ''SamuraiChamploo'' features a cult of fanatical sohei (warrior-priests) who disguise themselves as tengu to waylay travelers.
** One of these is a miniboss in ''MadWorld''.
** [[ZenoClash Father-Mother]] appears to be inspired by this, if not expicitly based on them. He/She sports the phallic nose, and general crow theme.
** Kurama-hime from ''UruseiYatsura''.
** In the {{Shoujo}} manga ''BlackBird'' the male "romantic" lead is a tengu, as well as all his pretty-boy relatives. Other spirits also fight with him for the protagonist, because drinking her blood gives a spirit immortality and marrying her brings prosperity to his clan.
** Shiftry from Pokémon. Oddly, this tengu does not have any real relation to crows, but it does have a large nose and giant fans for arms, which tengu were known to hold.
** Karatenmon from Digimon.
** Joe Musashi fights a crow tengu MiniBoss in the first stage of Round 6 of ''{{Shinobi}} 3''.
** In Kekkaishi the main character helps the great tengu god to make an offspring.
** In {{Command and Conquer}}: Red Alert 3, the Empire has the Mecha Tengu/Jet Tengu, an anti-infantry skirmisher and air superiority fighter with a long nose. The Command and Conquer wiki explicitly points the connection to the mythical beast, calling it a half-bird half-man with a long nose and a bad temper.
** In Nurarihyon no Mago there a big amount of them, being show not only as the big nosed old men, but also as humans with crow wings or small anthro crow creatures.
** Some fans have referred to Shishiwakamaru of YuYuHakusho as this.
** Kurama from Kamisama Hajimemashita
** The Tengu from Guild Wars.
** ''{{xxxHolic}}'' features the “Kurasu[[hottip: * :That's “class” in Japanese]] Tengu,” who look like yakuza children on flying skateboards.
** {{Achaea}} has wild Tengu in one of the forests. They appear as winged black kittens, and are about as cute as you'd expect flying kittens to be.

** The second UruseiYatsura movie and the chapter/episode it was loosely adapted from feature a baku.

** Baku make an appearance in ''TheSandman: The Dream Hunters''.
** In ''FinalFantasyVI'', when a character wakes up from Sleep status on his or her own, a small baku comes by to "eat" their dreams away.
** The [=~Pokémon~=] Drowzee is a baku.
** The elephant-like creatures in the Chamber of Birth in ''{{La-Mulana}}'' may or may not be baku.
** ''YuMeDream'' contains "a giant elephant-ram-boar-bear thing with purple hair" called a baku. It does live in the dream world, and attempts to eat the main characters' party.

* '''Kamaitachi''': Weasel-like creatures that attack in trios: the first one knocks down a traveler with a gust of wind, the second cuts the traveler with its sickle-like claws, and the third applies an ointment that stops the bleeding, leaving the victim with a bloodless but inexplicably large and painful wound.

** ''{{Naruto}}'' features a special technique that involves summoning a kamaitachi. In myth, the three kamaitachi looked like a whirlwind, and ''Naruto'' refers to things that are spiral-shaped.
** One of the Geomancer skills in ''FinalFantasyTactics'' is a wind attack called Kamaitachi that can trigger the Paralyze (i.e. Don't Act) Status Ailment.
** Among the first enemies Sir Arthur faces in Ghouls 'n' Ghosts are kamaitachi, depicted as small floating creatures with scythes that turn into tornados.
** Sneasel and Weavile from ''[=~Pokémon~=]'' are kamaitachi.
** In ''{{La-Mulana}}'', Kamaitachi first shows up as a MiniBoss in the Graveyard of the Giants, and reappears in Hell Temple.

** You can catch a tsuchinoko if you're lucky in [=MGS3=]. Which is odd, since it takes place in Russia. The team congratulates you when you do and you get an achievement.

** During one of the SchoolFestival episodes of ''AzumangaDaioh'', as the girls ponder Osaka's idea of an ''obakeyashiki kisaten'' ("haunted cafe"), they imagine Chiyo dressed as a nurikabe.
** In {{Okami}}, there’s a family of nurikabe that go by the name "Blockhead."

** One ''{{Hellboy}}'' story has him accidentally running across a household of ''Nukekubi''. Needless to say, he hits them and pokes fun at them. The story was imported word-for-word into the OVA ''Hellboy: Sword of Storms''.

‘‘Henge’’, a subset of youkai, are magical animals with ShapeShifting powers and human intelligence. They often [[HumanityEnsues assume human form]] and get into all kinds of mischief. Kinds of ‘‘henge’’ include Kitsune, Tanuki, and Nekomata.

‘‘Obake’’ is another Japanese word that can indicate some type of monster. Derived from the word for “to change,” it generally covers the subset of youkai that includes shapeshifting animals and {{Animate Inanimate Object}}s. Confusingly, however, the word ‘‘obake’’ can also be used to refer to ghosts, also known as ‘‘yuurei’’. See StringyHairedGhostGirl for more information.

** Ichimoku Ren from ‘’JigokuShoujo’’ is a tsukumogami; specifically, he is the spirit of a sword. He was given a human form by Enma Ai, so he could better work for her.
** ‘’OmamoriHimari’’ features as one of its protagonists a tsukumogami based in an English teacup.

** One UruseiYatsura episode features a ‘’karakasa’’ having a feud with a sentient raincloud.

** ‘’OmamoriHimari features a water sprite for a protagonist, who may or may not be a kappa.

** ‘’{{xxxHolic}} features the “Kurasu[[hottip: * :That’s “class” in Japanese]] Tengu,” who look like yakuza children on flying skateboards.

** Baku make an appearance in ‘’TheSandman: The Dream Hunters’’.

** The elephant-like creatures in the Chamber of Birth in ‘’{{La-Mulana}}’’ may or may not be baku.

** ‘’{{Naruto}}’’ features a special technique that involves summoning a kamaitachi. In myth, the three kamaitachi looked like a whirlwind, and ''Naruto'' refers to things that are spiral-shaped.

** Sneasel and Weavile from ‘’[=~Pokémon~=]’’ are kamaitachi.

* ''Demon's World'', an obscure arcade game also known as ''Horror Story'', features many enemies from various mythologies, and in the Japan-esque stage you get to fight kappa, karakasa, rokurokubi and other youkai.* ‘’{{Digimon}}’’, like ‘’[=~Pokémon~=]’’, has many youkai-based creatures.

* ‘’Gurumin’’ has [[{{Woolseyism}} Monsters]] as friendly [=NPCs=].

* ‘’HumanoidMonsterBem’’
* ''{{Inukami}}!’’ is almost entirely populated with various animal spirits, Inukami meaning "dog god".

* ‘’Kamisama Hajimemashita’’, a manga about a teenage girl who accidentally becomes a Shinto god, naturally features youkai.

* ‘’{{Kanon}}’’: [[spoiler:Makoto is a kitsune who lost her memory in exchange for the ability to transform. It came with a hefty price.]]

* ‘’{{Naruto}}’’, which features several youkai-themed demon-beasts.

* ‘’NurarihyonNoMago’’ is based on a mafia-like family of Youkai that live in the present era, in an ordinary city, keeping it safe from other families/groups seeking power.

* ‘’[=~Pokémon~=]’’ which bases many of its creatures on youkai and other creatures from Asian mythology.
* ‘’Petopeto-san’’: Most of the cast are youkai of one kind or another, if not {{Half Human Hybrid}}s.

* ''{{Shin Megami Tensei}}'' has lots and lots of these, in addition to nearly every other culture's demons and spiritual beings, in the main series of games, as well as spin-offs.* ‘’Shounen Onmyouji’’
* ‘’SpiritedAway’’: Most of the background characters are some form of youkai.

* ‘’ThroneOfDarkness’’, a Diablo-like HackAndSlash uses nearly ''only'' monsters of these origins.

* '''{{Kitsune}}''': Fox spirits who are very intelligent and capable of temporarily assuming human form. They can have up to nine tails, depending on their age; a kitsune's number of tails usually has a direct correlation to is PowerLevel. A popular youkai for the CuteMonsterGirl.

* '''Tanuki''': Raccoon dog spirits. Pranksters and tricksters, Tanuki spirits are generally fat and jolly. Associated with good luck. Can cause problems for localizers because of their usually enormous testicles. Often erroneously localized as raccoons or badgers.

* '''Nekomata''': A seemingly ordinary cat that develops magical nature through long life. It looks like an ordinary house cat, except for the tail, which splits into two at half-length. While much smarter than it used to be, a nekomata remains just as whimsical, which may be dangerous with its new found powers of illusion and necromancy. It's said a cat will become a nekomata after turning 100 years old, getting its tail split and gaining human speech, transformation powers, a greater inteligence and others. The name is often used and confused for [[CatGirl catgirls]]. May be a MegaNeko.

* ''’Tsukumogami’'': [[AnimateInanimateObject inanimate objects]] that come to life after a hundred years. These can range from weapons to clothes to umbrellas (''karakasa'').

* '''Oni''': These are mountain spirits that share some things in common with trolls and ogres. The word is almost always translated into English as "demons" or "ogres." They are sometimes depicted as good or evil, but are usually morally neutral and interested in their own affairs. They prefer huge blugeoning weapons and hide loincloths. Sometimes blamed for streaks of misfortune. Others work jobs in FireAndBrimstoneHell. [[RedOniBlueOni Know the different kinds!]]

* '''Yuki-onna''': Literally means "snow woman". She rescues travelers lost in blizzards, but exacts a price - she sleeps with the traveler in order to steal precious body heat. On the other hand, other wicked Yuki-onna deliberately lead explorers astray in whiteout conditions.

* '''{{Kappa}}''': Water spirits, usually portrayed as small troll-like creatures with turtle shells. The top of their head is bald and usually has a small hole that holds the spirit's water reserve. They become powerless if they are left without water but since they love sumo wrestling, it is hard to tip them over to spill it. They range from mildly mischievous to very dangerous, sometimes going after children or people who defecate in their rivers. They can be bribed with cucumbers, which are their favorite food. For some reason, they are popular mascots in Japan, much like trolls in Norway.

* '''Tengu''': Mountain-dwelling crow spirits whose human forms originally had beaks, but have become [[GagNose phallically large noses]]. Long-nosed Tengu are red-skinned and humanoid, Karasu Tengu are anthropomorphic crows.

* ‘''Baku’'': A relatively benign example, being a tapir-like monster that eats bad dreams.

* '’'Kamaitachi'’': Weasel-like creatures that attack in trios: the first one knocks down a traveler with a gust of wind, the second cuts the traveler with its sickle-like claws, and the third applies an ointment that stops the bleeding, leaving the victim with a bloodless but inexplicably large and painful wound.

* '’'Tsuchinoko'’': A snake-like creature with a long, wide body.

* ‘''Nurikabe’'': A monster that takes the form of an animate section of wall. It has the power to turn invisible, and likes to use this power to impede travelers.

* ‘''Rokurokubi and Nukekubi'’': Humanoid monsters. Rokurokubi are human by day but have extremely elastic necks during the night, while nukekubi can detach their heads from their necks and float away in search of human flesh.

!This page is [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=k6ytisy39obu85b4i051z9gu&page up for a merge]]

{{Obake}} is a related term.

** The ''[=~Pokémon~=]'' Vulpix and Ninetales.
** The nine-tailed fox in {{Naruto}} while being a giant monster, is an obvious reference.
** Demon Lord Nine-Tails in ''{{Okami}}''

** Someone might also mention Chizuru from ''{{Kanokon}}''.

* '''Oni''': These are mountain spirits that share some things in common with trolls and ogres. They are sometimes depicted as evil, but usually morally neutral and interested in their own affairs. They prefer huge blugeoning weapons and hide loincloths. Sometimes blamed for streaks of misfortune. Others work jobs in FireAndBrimstoneHell. Know the different kinds!
** A few side characters (The Ogre Triad, the winner of the final tournament, etc.), and probably Jin and Shishiwakamaru, of YuYuHakusho.
** Suika Ibuki and Yuugi Hoshiguma, both from the ''TouhouProject''
** The benefactors for the heroes of the ''{{Onimusha}}'' series, worse demons killed them off so they gave their power to humans. The Gameboy Advance "Onimusha Tactics" game gives nod to the different versions by stating that some escaped this fate by getting jobs in the Underworld.
** King [[strike:Yemma]]Enma and his underlings in ''DragonBall'', mostly bureaucrats working in [[strike:HFIL]] Hell.
** Lum from ''UruseiYatsura'' is a variation -- she's an alien, but of a race obviously related to folktale Oni
** To some extent, Kamen Riders of [[KamenRiderHibiki Kamen Rider Hibiki]] are all called Oni who fought the Makamous with martial arts and the power of music.
** One of the {{Transformation Ray}}s in KeroroGunsou essentially turns people into Oni, by cheaply slapping on Oni features, arming them with clubs and turning their clothes into hide loincloths. Female victims tend to wind up looking like Lum.
** Drahmin and Moloch from ''MortalKombat''
** Tarakudo and the other Oni Masks, the antagonists of one of the later seasons of ''JackieChanAdventures''.
** Meisuke "[[HellTeacherNube Nube]]" Nueno [[SealedEvilInACan sealed an Oni]] [[BodyHorror in his]] [[RedRightHand left hand]], and it becomes the signature element of the series. Two other Oni show up, younger siblings of the former, with vastly [[CompleteMonster different]] [[NobleDemon agendas]]. Nevertheless, they are all presented as [[PersonOfMassDestruction supremely powerful, destructive demons]] and the greatest threats to appear in the series.
** Kyousuke and Touka Kishi of ''{{Yozakura Quartet}}''
* One set of ''MagicTheGathering'' featured various Oni. They were classified as Demon Spirits and looked vaguely ogre-like, but they were also served by actual Ogres.

* '''Yuki-onna''': Literally means "snow woman". She rescues travelers lost in blizzards, but exacts a price - she sleeps with the traveler in order to steal precious body heat. On the other hand, other wicked Yuki-onna deliberately lead explorers astray in whiteout conditions.
** Mizore from ''RosarioToVampire''.
** Letty Whiterock from the ''TouhouProject''
** Yukina of ''YuYuHakusho'', technically Hiei, Toya may be some relation.
** Summon monster Shiva of FinalFantasy. Also, more directly, the enemy "Snow" in ''FinalFantasyVII''.
** Appears as a monster in the DungeonsAndDragons "Oriental Adventures" supplement.
** One of the teachers from AkazukinChaCha was a yuki-onna.
** The Marvel comic series {{Blade}} had [[OurVampiresAreDifferent a tribe of vampires that could turn themselves into ice shards and had mild control over weather alongside their normal vampire abilities]] called Yuki-Onna. of course some (if not all) of them were male.
** The ''[=~Pokémon~=]'' Froslass. You even meet one as a boss and it's gallery of [[HumanPopsicle frozen]] [[NightmareFuel victims]] in a [[PokemonMysteryDungeon spinoff series]].
*** To a lesser extent, Jynx.
** Yukime of ''HellTeacherNube''. Notice a trend? Thing is, this particular Yuki-Onna is a ClingyJealousGirl in a LoveTriangle over Nube's affections, and is generally friendly and nice [[BewareTheNiceOnes unless you get on her bad side]].
** The Yuki-onna Effect in ''YumeNikki''.
** Non-Japanese example: The Velvets from Neil Gaiman's ''{{Neverwhere}}'' are very clearly related - one offers to guide the protagonists to Islington's hall and [[spoiler: steals Richard's heat with a kiss. The Marquis makes her give it back, though.]]
** Oyuki from ''UruseiYatsura''.
** One appears in the segment "The Blizzard" of AkiraKurosawa's ''Dreams''.
** Sode no Shirayuki, the spirit of Rukia Kuchiki's sword in {{Bleach}}'s anime adaptation.
** Tsurara, The Yuki Onna from NurarihyonNoMago.

* '''{{Kappa}}''': Water spirits, usually portrayed as small troll-like creatures with turtle shells. The top of their head is bald and usually has a small hole that holds the spirit's water reserve. They become powerless if they are left without water but since they love sumo wrestling, it is hard to tip them over to spill it. They range from mildly mischievous to very dangerous. They can be bribed with cucumbers, which are their favourite food. For some reason, they are popular mascots in Japan, much like trolls in Norway.
** The Koopas from ''SuperMarioBros.'' were based on this creature.
** As was Kapp'n from ''AnimalCrossing''.
** In ''FinalFantasyVI'', one of the spells can turn you into a kappa.
** ''Kappa no coo to Natsuyasumi'' tells a story of a boy who befriends a kappa.
** ''Kappa no kaitaka'' tells the story of a man who tries to raise one as a pet.
** Nitori Kawashiro from the ''TouhouProject''
** NagasareteAirantou has Tohno. The cute, cartoonish variety. Her presence never fails to point out the gaps in the main character's WeirdnessCensor.
** {{Hellboy}} is forced to fight one in ''Hellboy: The Sword of Storms.''
** The TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles are mistaken for these in the 3rd movie.
** Two Keronians in ''KeroroGunsou'' are mistaken for Kappa - Dororo, when he is found stuck in a boar-trap, [[spoiler:and an early Keronian soldier, who befriended Omiyo the Ghost Girl nearly a hundred years ago.]]
** ''SchoolRumble''[='=]s Harima is mistaken for one when he saves Tenma's cat Iori from drowning.
** Almost every ''HarvestMoon'' game ever.
** Also among the monsters introduced in Lupin's Defense Against the Dark Arts class in ''HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban''.
** The Ludicolo family from Pokémon. It was originally found in only Sapphire version, while its [[OneGameForThePriceOfTwo Ruby counterpart]] was Shiftry, a Tengu.
** Gawappamon from Digimon.
** A short story in ''UsagiYojimbo'' has Usagi encounter a kappa, later having to save another traveler from it.
** Also one is found in NurarihyonNoMago, as part of the main characters, it displays power to create links between water bodies transporting between lakes.
** In KappaNoKaikata the protagonist tries to raise a pet kappa.
** In {{Inukami}} episode 14, Keita gives a cucumber to a kappa, asking it to return the favor -- right now, if possible.

* '''Nekomata''': A seemingly ordinary cat that develops magical nature through long life. It looks like an ordinary house cat, except for the tail, which splits into two at half-length. While much smarter than it used to be, a nekomata remains just as whimsical, which may be dangerous with its new found powers of illusion and necromancy. It's said a cat will become a nekomata after turning 100 years old, getting it's tail split and gaining human speech, transformation powers, a greater inteligence and others. The name is often used and confused for [[CatGirl catgirls]].
** Two tailed demon-beast in {{Naruto}} is a two tailed cat.

* '''Tengu''': Mountain-dwelling crow spirits whose human forms originally had beaks, but have become [[GagNose phallically large noses]].

** [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Naturally]], Tengu Man from ''Game/MegaMan 8''.

** Both Haruka and Sugino in ''Tactics'' are tengu - Haruka is known as the Oni-eating Tengu before he is named and bound by the protagonist.

* ''[[MagicTheGathering Magic: The Gathering]]'' (''Kamigawa'' block, which was heavily inspired by Japanese mythology)

* ''RanmaOneHalf'' frequently exploited Japanese folklore to provide their MonsterOfTheWeek
* ''RosarioToVampire''
* ''{{Saiyuki}}''
* ''SuperMarioBros''

* ''UruseiYatsura'' (despite the nominal sci-fi setting)

* In {{Naruto}}, several of the demon-beasts are youkai-themed
* ''HakabaKitaro''
* ''{{Kekkaishi}}''
* ''Tactics'', unsurprising since the show chronicles the adventures of a Japanese folklorist who practices Shinto and does exorcisms to make a little on the side.
* ''AzumangaDaioh'' has an episode where some Youkai are considered for a horror-themed cafe project.
* ''NatsumeYuujinchou''
* ''YuGiOhGX'': In the manga, Bastion briefly uses a deck comprised of youkai that centers around bringing cards back from the graveyard.
* ''HellTeacherNube''. Between these and {{Obake}}, it's practically the whole point. If they're not listed among the specific examples above, it's because they're [[MonsterOfTheWeek minor characters]], but trust us, these (and more) show up.
* ''MahouSenseiNegima'' has two [[HalfHumanHybrid hanyo (human-youkai hybrids)]] amoung Negi's {{Nakama}}, Setsuna (mentioned above under ''tengu'') and Koutaro who is half dog youkai.
* ''{{Yozakura Quartet}}''
* ''{{Mokke}}''
* As you might tell from above, a lot of {{Pokemon}} are based on youkai and other creatures from Asian mythology.
** So does {{Digimon}}.
* ''GeGeGeNoKitaro'', '''by the bulk'''.
* ''NinjaSentaiKakuranger'': The enemies are ALL Youkai.
** ''SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'': The enemies are based on Youkai, but not really the Youkai themselves. According to WordOfGod, they serve as the base of Youkai inspiration.
* NurarihyonNoMago is based on a mafia-like family of Youkai that live in the middle of the present era normal city keeping it safe from other family s/groups, that look for power.
* Not quite the same thing, but a boss in the game Wizard 101 is called Youkai.
* The ''DungeonsAndDragons'' "Oriental Adventures" setting features all kinds of youkai, including oni, kappa, tengu, and yuki-onna. Oni have made their way into the main game as [[OurOgresAreHungrier ogre mages]].
* The Luggage from {{Discworld}} might be an example of this.
* Kamisama Hajimemashita
* Shounen Onmyouji
* ''{{xxxHolic}}''
* HumanoidMonsterBem

* '''{{Kappa}}''': Water spirits, usally portrayed as small troll-like creatures with turtle shells. The top of their head is bald and usually has a small hole that holds the spirit's water reserve. They become powerless if they are left without water but since they love sumo wrestling, it is hard to tip them over to spill it. They range from mildly mischievous to very dangerous. They can be bribed with cucumbers, which are their favourite food. For some reason, they are popular mascots in Japan, much like trolls in Norway.

* ''TouhouProject'' (almost every known character IS a youkai)

* NurarihyonNoMago is based on a mafia-like family of Youkais that live in the middle of the present era normal city keeping it safe from other family s/groups, that look for power.

** The Yuki Onna from NurarihyonNoMago.

** Jubei and [[spoiler:his daughter]] Kokonoe (a CatGirl version of this) in ''BlazBlue'', although they're called 'Grimalkins' in-universe.

* ''TouhouProject''

Supernatural creatures drawn from Western sources often turn out to seem more like youkai in Japanese works. For instance, vampires. In the West you've got Nosferatu - a grotesque, undead monster who burns in sunlight and murders to preserve his hideous unlife. In Japan you've got [[CuteMonsterGirl exceptionally cute]] {{Fanservice}} protagonist [[RosarioToVampire Moka]], who is not undead, who harbors no ill-will towards the sun, and drinks tiny amounts of blood that do no harm to her "victim." (although Japan is also fond of [[JapaneseVampire using more classic, though still different vampires]]).

** Youko Kurama from ''YuYuHakusho''

** Yukina of ''YuYuHakusho''

** In Nurarihyon no Mago there a big amount of them, being show not only as the big nosed old men, but also as humans with crow wings or small anthro crow creatures.

* In {{Command and Conquer}}: Red Alert 3, the Empire has the Mecha Tengu/Jet Tengu, an anti-infantry skirmisher and air superiority fighter with a long nose. The Command and Conquer wiki explicitly points the connection to the mythical beast, calling it a half-bird half-man with a long nose and a bad temper.