curious ordinary
@curiousordinary.bsky.social
▪️Folklore▪️Myth▪️Magic▪️Art▪️
Sharing Japanese and supernatural folklore, mythology, yokai, culture and art. Also love books, cats, crows and trees.
http://linktr.ee/curiousordinary
Sharing Japanese and supernatural folklore, mythology, yokai, culture and art. Also love books, cats, crows and trees.
http://linktr.ee/curiousordinary
I just published a new article about turtles in Japanese folklore and culture including folktales, yokai, ghosts, and art. I really hope you enjoy it! 🐢
open.substack.com/pub/curiouso...
#JapaneseFolklore #JapaneseArt
open.substack.com/pub/curiouso...
#JapaneseFolklore #JapaneseArt
Turtles in Japanese Folklore and Culture
Folktales, yokai, symbolism and art
open.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:38 AM
I just published a new article about turtles in Japanese folklore and culture including folktales, yokai, ghosts, and art. I really hope you enjoy it! 🐢
open.substack.com/pub/curiouso...
#JapaneseFolklore #JapaneseArt
open.substack.com/pub/curiouso...
#JapaneseFolklore #JapaneseArt
Reposted by curious ordinary
Reposted by curious ordinary
In every village shrine and roadside altar, Tudigong, the kindly Lord of the Land, stands watch.
More than a deity, he’s the spiritual grandfather of the community, blessing crops, guarding homes, and anchoring families to the land beneath their feet. 1/2
#mythology
More than a deity, he’s the spiritual grandfather of the community, blessing crops, guarding homes, and anchoring families to the land beneath their feet. 1/2
#mythology
November 28, 2025 at 2:02 PM
In every village shrine and roadside altar, Tudigong, the kindly Lord of the Land, stands watch.
More than a deity, he’s the spiritual grandfather of the community, blessing crops, guarding homes, and anchoring families to the land beneath their feet. 1/2
#mythology
More than a deity, he’s the spiritual grandfather of the community, blessing crops, guarding homes, and anchoring families to the land beneath their feet. 1/2
#mythology
Reposted by curious ordinary
✨ Out Now ✨ The Yōkai Oracle Deck ~ 60 cards, 60 creatures, 60 nuggets of Japanese wisdom 🙌
Today's card of the day 🍀 ...
Gorgeous artwork by @pokgtu.bsky.social <-- Thank you 🙏
#adamsmedia #uncannyjapan #yokai #oracle #japanesefolklore #oraclecards #oraclereading #cardoftheday🔮 #newrelease
Today's card of the day 🍀 ...
Gorgeous artwork by @pokgtu.bsky.social <-- Thank you 🙏
#adamsmedia #uncannyjapan #yokai #oracle #japanesefolklore #oraclecards #oraclereading #cardoftheday🔮 #newrelease
November 29, 2025 at 1:08 AM
✨ Out Now ✨ The Yōkai Oracle Deck ~ 60 cards, 60 creatures, 60 nuggets of Japanese wisdom 🙌
Today's card of the day 🍀 ...
Gorgeous artwork by @pokgtu.bsky.social <-- Thank you 🙏
#adamsmedia #uncannyjapan #yokai #oracle #japanesefolklore #oraclecards #oraclereading #cardoftheday🔮 #newrelease
Today's card of the day 🍀 ...
Gorgeous artwork by @pokgtu.bsky.social <-- Thank you 🙏
#adamsmedia #uncannyjapan #yokai #oracle #japanesefolklore #oraclecards #oraclereading #cardoftheday🔮 #newrelease
Reposted by curious ordinary
'Takinokawa' from the series 'Pictures of Famous Places of Tokyo' - Utagawa Hiroshige II, 1884.
#JapaneseArt #ukiyoe
#JapaneseArt #ukiyoe
November 16, 2025 at 1:25 AM
'Takinokawa' from the series 'Pictures of Famous Places of Tokyo' - Utagawa Hiroshige II, 1884.
#JapaneseArt #ukiyoe
#JapaneseArt #ukiyoe
In #JapaneseFolklore there is a tale about a couple who owned a cat. One day when the woman was putting on her make-up the cat came up to her and spoke, saying how pretty she was. She ran and told her husband what had happened and insisted that the cat must be some kind...
#MythologyMonday
1/4
#MythologyMonday
1/4
November 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
'The Autumn Colors at Mount Takao' from the series 'Fifteen Views of Kyoto' - Tokuriki Tomikichiro, ca. 1950s.
#JapaneseArt
#JapaneseArt
November 28, 2025 at 11:09 PM
'The Autumn Colors at Mount Takao' from the series 'Fifteen Views of Kyoto' - Tokuriki Tomikichiro, ca. 1950s.
#JapaneseArt
#JapaneseArt
Reposted by curious ordinary
October 18, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Reposted by curious ordinary
This Japanese print by an unknown artist titled 'Snow Demon' (ca. 1930s) depicts a demon or god creating snow. It seems to be part of a series depicting weather gods.
#FolkyFriday #JapaneseArt
#FolkyFriday #JapaneseArt
November 28, 2025 at 12:22 PM
This Japanese print by an unknown artist titled 'Snow Demon' (ca. 1930s) depicts a demon or god creating snow. It seems to be part of a series depicting weather gods.
#FolkyFriday #JapaneseArt
#FolkyFriday #JapaneseArt
Reposted by curious ordinary
In #JapaneseFolklore tsurara onna are #yokai also known as icicle women. When lonely single men gaze at icicles during winter, they admire their beauty and wish for a wife just as beautiful. Soon after, this yokai will appear, presenting as an ordinary woman.
#FolkyFriday
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#FolkyFriday
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November 29, 2024 at 6:03 AM
In #JapaneseFolklore tsurara onna are #yokai also known as icicle women. When lonely single men gaze at icicles during winter, they admire their beauty and wish for a wife just as beautiful. Soon after, this yokai will appear, presenting as an ordinary woman.
#FolkyFriday
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#FolkyFriday
1/2
Taira no Kiyomori was a powerful Japanese samurai leader and the head of the Taira clan. He is the central character in Heike Monogatari (The Tale of the Heike), an epic account that chronicles the rise and fall of the Taira clan in 12th century Kyoto. He is portrayed as...
#BookologyThursday
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#BookologyThursday
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November 28, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Yuki onna is a fearful #yokai appearing on snowy winter nights. She glides across the snow with her blue lips and transparent skin. Her icy gaze can be deadly and she will suck the life force out of you and leave you to die in the snow.
#FolkyFriday #JapaneseFolklore
🎨Sawaki Suushi
#FolkyFriday #JapaneseFolklore
🎨Sawaki Suushi
November 28, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Yuki onna is a fearful #yokai appearing on snowy winter nights. She glides across the snow with her blue lips and transparent skin. Her icy gaze can be deadly and she will suck the life force out of you and leave you to die in the snow.
#FolkyFriday #JapaneseFolklore
🎨Sawaki Suushi
#FolkyFriday #JapaneseFolklore
🎨Sawaki Suushi
On my last trip to Japan I discovered an intriguing Japanese Buddhist goddess called Marishiten who was introduced to Japan from India via China. She is depicted in various forms (both female and male) and was said to ride a chariot drawn by seven boars, or to ride upon a boar.
#FolkloreThursday
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#FolkloreThursday
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November 27, 2025 at 12:38 PM
On my last trip to Japan I discovered an intriguing Japanese Buddhist goddess called Marishiten who was introduced to Japan from India via China. She is depicted in various forms (both female and male) and was said to ride a chariot drawn by seven boars, or to ride upon a boar.
#FolkloreThursday
1/6
#FolkloreThursday
1/6
'Late Autumn in Kai' - Yamataka Noboru, ca. 1980's.
#JapaneseArt
#JapaneseArt
November 27, 2025 at 11:29 AM
'Late Autumn in Kai' - Yamataka Noboru, ca. 1980's.
#JapaneseArt
#JapaneseArt
Just wanted to let everyone know about this terrible situation involving art theft so people don't unknowingly buy from this site.
You can support Matthew directly via his shop here: yokai.com/shop/ or Patreon here: patreon.com/theyokaiguy, and maybe re-share this to help spread the word. Thanks.
You can support Matthew directly via his shop here: yokai.com/shop/ or Patreon here: patreon.com/theyokaiguy, and maybe re-share this to help spread the word. Thanks.
It's happened again... An e-commerce site called Tokyo Tiger has stolen my art and is selling t-shirts and putting ads on IG/X with my artwork.
Do not buy from them.
These are not licensed products. They are stolen.
Do not buy from them.
These are not licensed products. They are stolen.
November 27, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Just wanted to let everyone know about this terrible situation involving art theft so people don't unknowingly buy from this site.
You can support Matthew directly via his shop here: yokai.com/shop/ or Patreon here: patreon.com/theyokaiguy, and maybe re-share this to help spread the word. Thanks.
You can support Matthew directly via his shop here: yokai.com/shop/ or Patreon here: patreon.com/theyokaiguy, and maybe re-share this to help spread the word. Thanks.
Reposted by curious ordinary
It's happened again... An e-commerce site called Tokyo Tiger has stolen my art and is selling t-shirts and putting ads on IG/X with my artwork.
Do not buy from them.
These are not licensed products. They are stolen.
Do not buy from them.
These are not licensed products. They are stolen.
November 27, 2025 at 3:46 AM
It's happened again... An e-commerce site called Tokyo Tiger has stolen my art and is selling t-shirts and putting ads on IG/X with my artwork.
Do not buy from them.
These are not licensed products. They are stolen.
Do not buy from them.
These are not licensed products. They are stolen.
In #JapaneseFolklore there is a belief that when animals and birds reach advanced age they can transform into #yokai. Aosagibi (blue heron fire) is a phenomenon that occurs when an elderly night heron develops supernatural qualities. Over time the heron's feathers begin to...
#LegendaryWednesday
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#LegendaryWednesday
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November 26, 2025 at 1:24 PM
In #JapaneseFolklore there is a belief that when animals and birds reach advanced age they can transform into #yokai. Aosagibi (blue heron fire) is a phenomenon that occurs when an elderly night heron develops supernatural qualities. Over time the heron's feathers begin to...
#LegendaryWednesday
1/6
#LegendaryWednesday
1/6
Japan's version of the moon rabbit tale is a perfect example of self-sacrifice. Originating from a Sanskrit tale, it tells of a fox, a monkey, and a rabbit who found an exhausted old man collapsed in the mountains. The monkey gathered fruit and nuts, and the fox brought fish...
#WyrdWednesday
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#WyrdWednesday
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November 26, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Japan's version of the moon rabbit tale is a perfect example of self-sacrifice. Originating from a Sanskrit tale, it tells of a fox, a monkey, and a rabbit who found an exhausted old man collapsed in the mountains. The monkey gathered fruit and nuts, and the fox brought fish...
#WyrdWednesday
1/3
#WyrdWednesday
1/3
Reposted by curious ordinary
A new challenger for cutest yokai ever has arrived. Have you ever heard of the yōfuku before? It's a relatively new discovery.
What do you guys think about this one?
www.patreon.com/posts/yofuku...
What do you guys think about this one?
www.patreon.com/posts/yofuku...
Yōfuku | Matthew Meyer (The Yokai Guy)
Get more from Matthew Meyer (The Yokai Guy) on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:18 AM
A new challenger for cutest yokai ever has arrived. Have you ever heard of the yōfuku before? It's a relatively new discovery.
What do you guys think about this one?
www.patreon.com/posts/yofuku...
What do you guys think about this one?
www.patreon.com/posts/yofuku...
Itsumade are strange bird-like chimera in #JapaneseFolklore. They have a human face with a pointed beak, a snake's body, sharp claws and huge wings. They appear in the sky at night, flying in circles crying out 'itsumademo' which means 'until when?'
#LegendaryWednesday
🎨Matthew Meyer @yokai.com
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#LegendaryWednesday
🎨Matthew Meyer @yokai.com
1/2
November 26, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Itsumade are strange bird-like chimera in #JapaneseFolklore. They have a human face with a pointed beak, a snake's body, sharp claws and huge wings. They appear in the sky at night, flying in circles crying out 'itsumademo' which means 'until when?'
#LegendaryWednesday
🎨Matthew Meyer @yokai.com
1/2
#LegendaryWednesday
🎨Matthew Meyer @yokai.com
1/2
For #LegendaryWednesday's bird theme, dodomeki are not actually a bird but rather a #yokai appearing as a woman whose arms are covered in bird's eyes.
In #JapaneseFolklore dodomeki (many-eyed demons) are a #yokai appearing as women with their arms covered in bird's eyes. These yokai were once human girls or women who stole money and were cursed as punishment causing one hundred bird's eyes to sprout on their arms thus...
#MythologyMonday
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#MythologyMonday
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November 26, 2025 at 9:33 AM
For #LegendaryWednesday's bird theme, dodomeki are not actually a bird but rather a #yokai appearing as a woman whose arms are covered in bird's eyes.
A perfect tale from #JapaneseFolklore for today's #WyrdWednesday theme about selfless acts.
Long ago in Japan a strange thing happened. It was rice planting season and one of the farmers in the village was without a helper. To his surprise and delight, a stranger arrived and offered to help him. He worked very fast and by the end of the day all the...
#MythologyMonday #JapaneseFolklore
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#MythologyMonday #JapaneseFolklore
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November 26, 2025 at 8:14 AM
A perfect tale from #JapaneseFolklore for today's #WyrdWednesday theme about selfless acts.
Another beautiful reason to visit Japan. My list of what to see next time I visit is getting very long.
🍃🍁THE TEMPLE WITHOUT WALLS🍂🌨️
the autumn wind
twisting & turning
enters my gate
秋風や曲がり曲がりて門に入
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1814
Of all the temples in Kyōto, Jōjakkō-ji's (常寂光寺) seasonal transformations are some of the most beautiful.
...& this is where Kurobee lives🐈⬛
the autumn wind
twisting & turning
enters my gate
秋風や曲がり曲がりて門に入
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1814
Of all the temples in Kyōto, Jōjakkō-ji's (常寂光寺) seasonal transformations are some of the most beautiful.
...& this is where Kurobee lives🐈⬛
November 26, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Another beautiful reason to visit Japan. My list of what to see next time I visit is getting very long.
Yatagarasu is a three-legged crow and messenger of the kami (gods). Originally in Japan there was no mention of Yatagarasu having three legs, but over time this myth was blended with the Chinese myth of the three-legged sun crow.
#LegendaryWednesday #yokai #JapaneseFolklore
#LegendaryWednesday #yokai #JapaneseFolklore
In East Asian mythologies there is a three-legged crow believed to inhabit and represent the sun. In Japanese mythology the three-legged crow is Yatagarasu (which translates as eight-span crow), a divine messenger and servant of the sun goddess Amaterasu.
#FolkloreSunday #JapaneseFolklore
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#FolkloreSunday #JapaneseFolklore
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November 26, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Yatagarasu is a three-legged crow and messenger of the kami (gods). Originally in Japan there was no mention of Yatagarasu having three legs, but over time this myth was blended with the Chinese myth of the three-legged sun crow.
#LegendaryWednesday #yokai #JapaneseFolklore
#LegendaryWednesday #yokai #JapaneseFolklore