Everyone has heard of vampires and werewolves, but how many have heard of the rokuro-kubi, the tsuchinoki or the sagari? Japan has a wealth of ghosts and monsters, collectively called yokai, which are totally unknown in the West. The bizarre and wonderful folklore of Japan includes giant corpse-eating rabbits, flaming pigs that steal human genitals, perverse water goblins, blood sucking trees, a dragon that impregnates women, cats who animate dead bodies, a zombie whale and a huge flesh eating sea cucumber that grows from a pair of discarded knickers!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Neil Arnold
Format:Paperback
The study of cryptozoology is a fascinating one, but sadly, like most subjects, there is always an element of regurgitation when it comes to some books. Richard Freeman's magnum opus, The Great Yokai Encyclopedia, is, thankfully unique, a monstrous volume that combines cryptozoological know-how, exhaustive folkloric study and a deep passion for monsters. Whether you are interested in Asian monsters, critters, folkloric phantoms and the like or not, you must take your hat off to Richard for constructing an unbeatable tome that reads like some surreal tapestry from Japanese history. Richard has peered under every rock and delved into every crevice to reveal a weird menagerie of beasts - only a fraction of such would have been heard of by even the most consumed of monster hunters and researchers. Whilst some of the apparitions contained within could well have been once real animals, there are also those entries which simply prove how bizarre folklore and belief can be, and that whether comical or truly horrifying, one can only become absorbed by this encyclopedia of the truly monstrous. This book is a vital piece in cryptozoology's ever changing cabinet of curiosity.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Richard Freeman is certainly proving to be great writer, after reading his Book on Dragon's with it's compelling and informative content I found myself eager for more. So on learning of The Great Yokai Encyclopedia it became a must on the books to buy list and It hasn't disappointed.
Knowing very little about Yokai (a class of preternatural creatures in Japanese folklore) but having an interest in Japanese ghost stories and legends, I found this book highly informative and captivating. Richard,introduces us into the world of Yokai with a brief history and how they have influenced Japanese Culture from Manga to Pokomon and Godzilla to films such as The Ring, whilst bring to our attention many others that have had little exposure in the West.
The A-Z section, opens up the doors to this strange world clearly defining the oddities that Yokai can manifest as well as showing where some could and very possibly be descriptions of real animals or parasitic illnesses. Some are just bizzare or humorous others playful or just disturbing.
A Highly enjoyable read, and definitely recommended.
Knowing very little about Yokai (a class of preternatural creatures in Japanese folklore) but having an interest in Japanese ghost stories and legends, I found this book highly informative and captivating. Richard,introduces us into the world of Yokai with a brief history and how they have influenced Japanese Culture from Manga to Pokomon and Godzilla to films such as The Ring, whilst bring to our attention many others that have had little exposure in the West.
The A-Z section, opens up the doors to this strange world clearly defining the oddities that Yokai can manifest as well as showing where some could and very possibly be descriptions of real animals or parasitic illnesses. Some are just bizzare or humorous others playful or just disturbing.
A Highly enjoyable read, and definitely recommended.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Wizzi
Format:Paperback
Two things:
First, Richard Freeman is probably the world's leading authority on dragon lore, so one would expect a work to be savoured. The author does not disappoint. His extensive research shines through.
Second,I don't know what's wrong with the copy owned by the above reviewer, but it sounds like a printing glitch to me - the illustrations in mine are perfect, and the odd anomalies are actually on the original illustrations.
No serious lover of dragons and the myths and legends which surround them, or indeed any other Japanese monsters, should be without this book.
First, Richard Freeman is probably the world's leading authority on dragon lore, so one would expect a work to be savoured. The author does not disappoint. His extensive research shines through.
Second,I don't know what's wrong with the copy owned by the above reviewer, but it sounds like a printing glitch to me - the illustrations in mine are perfect, and the odd anomalies are actually on the original illustrations.
No serious lover of dragons and the myths and legends which surround them, or indeed any other Japanese monsters, should be without this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Never judge a book by its cover!
As someone who curates a collection of Japanese material and as one who has given permission for the author to include some of this material for inclusion in the book I can happily... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Tall Man
1.0 out of 5 stars
£14 of disapointment
I was massively disapointed when I got this book, the quality of the illustrations in it are TERRIBLE! Really badly pixellated. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Rock99
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