Halloween is here, and to many people that means ÎüѪ¹í (°ì²â¨±°ì±ð³Ù²õ³Ü°ì¾±, vampires), ħŮ (majo, witches), ÀÇÄÐ (¨°ì²¹³¾¾±-´Ç³Ù´Ç°ì´Ç, werewolves) and ¥¾¥ó¥Ó (zonbi, zombies).
Japan, however, has its own menagerie of supernatural beings known as Ñý¹Ö (²â¨°ì²¹¾±). The word is often translated as ¡°monster,¡± but the English term does not quite capture its full meaning.
Other Japanese words associated with monsters include ¹Öª• (°ì²¹¾±Âᨱ), »¯¤±Îï (bakemono) and ¥â¥ó¥¹¥¿©` (³¾´Ç²Ô²õ³Ü³Ù¨¡). But Ñý¹Ö encompass a broader range of beings and phenomena: some are ²À¤¤ (kowai, scary), others are ¤¤¤¿¤º¤éºÃ¤ (itazura-zuki, mischievous). Some are even believed to bring good fortune.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.