★Saori Press Vol.76★A special article for Japanese monsters!

2016-02-11

It’s always right beside you...?!  A special article for Japanese monsters (Yo-kai)!

 

 

(。-`ω-) “...................”

 

 

(  'ω') “...................”

 

 

(。-`ω-)“...................”

 

 

peco-japan.com

 

 

(  'ω') “Excuse me, Saori?  It’s time for the Press, you know?  I’m Otaku Republic’s Boss.”
 
 
(。-`ω-) “Hello everyone.  It’s Saori from Otaku Republic, who’s been thinking about our future Saori Press.”
 
 
(  'ω') “What are you worried about?  I’m here for you!”
 
 
(。-`ω-) “Thank you so much, Boss...  Actually, I’ve been thinking for a long time but...”
 
 
(  'ω') “Yep, yep..”

 

 

 

(;´д`) “I just feel that I have only been writing about what I want...”

 

 

 

 

(  'ω') “What...?  Mmm?  I mean, yeah...?  (This Press is supposed to be like that, no?)”

 

 

ヽ(ヾ;´Д`))) “It shouldn’t!  It shouldn’t be like this!  I want to make it more wonderful Press that is fun to read, informative and the one that all generations of people from the nice middle-aged to the little cute babies who just learned how to crawl will be pleased to read!”

 

 

(  'ω') “(The little cute babies who just learned how to crawl are not able to read in the first place.)”

 

 

http://livedoor.4.blogimg.jp/anico_bin/imgs/d/5/d5196758.jpg

 

 

(゜▽゜*) “I don't no longer write what I like!  So, for today!  I’ll write about something which will create your futures!”

 

 

(  'ω') “Okay, okay... try it then.  I (Boss) won’t stop.”

 

 

(゜▽゜*) “Alright then, let me share a game with you guys in which I’m now into!”

 

(  'ω') “Ahhh... do you remember what you just said 15 seconds ago?”

 

 

☆It’s always right beside you...?!  A special article for Japanese monsters!★

 

 

(*´∀`)っ “No hurry.  First, check this out.”

 

 

youkaiwatch2.blog.jp

 

 

(  'ω') “This is Yo-kai Watch and...?”

 

 

(*´∀`) “a game soft ‘Yo-kai Sangokushi’, which is collaborated with Koei Tecmo Games, which have also released Dynasty Warriors series and Samurai Warriors series!”

 

 

(  'ω') “Wow!  Awesome!  Even small children can study history through Yo-kai Watch now, huh?!”

 

 

(゜▽゜*) “You’re right!  Yo-kai Watch has been in the center of attention overseas with releases of its anime, games and toys!”

 

 

yokaiwatch.wikia.com

 

https://store.line.me/stickershop/product/5725/en

 

(  'ω') “Okay... I got it!”

 

 

(゜▽゜*) “Oh?  What is it, Boss?”

 

 

(  'ω') “So... you are going to write a special article about the Sangokushi which we can study history at the same time, right?!!!”

 

 

(゜▽゜*) “Ahhh... no... since I was poor at history tests...”

 

 

 

(  'ω')

 

 

 

(゜▽゜*) “In today’s article, we’ll focus on... yep, Yo-kai (Japanese spirits / ghost / monster)!  They tend to appear in Japanese anime or manga as characters... but I wonder how many of them you know?  Here we go!  Let me share some of those Yo-kai themed works!!

 

 

Youkai Watch

www.youkai-watch.jp

 

 

Natsume Yuujinchou (Natsume's Book of Friends)

matome.naver.jp

 

 

Gugure! Kokkuri-san

www.cafereo.co.jp

 

 

Monogatari Series

matome.naver.jp

 

 

Yozakura Quartet

tokyo-anime-news.jp

 

 

Hoozuki no Reitetsu

morning.moae.jp

 

 

Nurarihyon no Mago (Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan)

www.amazon.co.jp

 

 

Kamisama Hajimemashita (Kamisama Kiss)

www.bunkyodo.co.jp

 

 

YuYu Hakusho

matome.naver.jp

 

 

□What is Yo-kai at all?□

 

 

(  'ω') “So why are we focusing on Yo-kai this time?”

 

 

(゜▽゜*) “Yep!  That’s a great question!  To begin with, Yo-kai has been handed down as an ‘extraordinary existence’ that spread in ancient Japan.  They also have been called ‘Obake, Yuurei, Ayakasi or Mononoke’.  I thought it might be a great idea to share one of our Japanese cultures as a theme with you guys!”

 

 

world-action.net

 

 

(  'ω') “Wow.  You are so serious unlike usual.”

 

 

(゜▽゜*) “If you want to know those ones you often see in various anime or games, this awesome information will help you!  I bet you guys have seen these Yo-kai!”

 

 

■I’ve seen these Yo-kai in various works!  Here are some trivia about Japanese Obake and Yo-kai!■

 

 

★Jibaku-rei (restligeists / 地縛霊)

It’s a spirit that keeps staying in the place where it died, such as on land or in a building, being unable to accept and understand its death.  Or it’s also a death spirit that dwells in a certain place with a particular reason. (*´・∀・) Jibanyan (Yo-kai Watch’s) name came from this spirit ‘Jibaku-rei’, even though he can stay away from the place where he died...  Why...?  Oh well, it doesn’t matter since he’s so cute...

 

anipla.net

 

 

★Oinari-san (お稲荷さん)

It’s one of the Gods existing in Japan.  It was named after a ‘fox = Oinari-san’ since a sacred beast which serves this God looks like a fox.  It’s a God that hopes for rain-making or huge harvest, and there are about 30,000 shrines where this God is worshipped in Japan.  (*´・∀・)Since it’s been making human-being’s hopes come true, there tend to be more characters which are rather friendly to human-being in anime or manga.  It’s a wonderful God, being smart, mischievous and beautiful.

 

 

bosel.blog64.fc2.com

 

 

★Oni (ogre / 鬼)

It has been an existence which means ‘strong’, ‘bad’, ‘scary’ and ‘tremendous’.  The word of “Oni” have been used to be described as ‘non-human existence’ in some folktales but the image of ‘villains that harm humans’ was established later on.  Most of the time, they have horns in the heads and swing iron sticks about.  (*´・∀・)By the way, they sometimes wear ‘underwear made from tiger skins’ in Japanese folk songs… very sexy.

 

 

www.4gamer.net

 

 

★Enma Daiou (Yama / 閻魔大王)

It’s a God that convicts a criminal of crimes that the dead committed while alive as a king of the other world.  The dead are supposed to confess their crimes that they committed before they died in front of this Enma Daiou.  They must not lie to him but if they did, they would have their tongues pulled out...  It’s such a tremendous God. (*´・∀・) When I (Saori) was a kid, used to be threatened by my mother if I lied; “You’re gonna have your tongue pulled out by Enma Daiou!”  Phew! 

(※Enma Daiou is on the left side of the picture below.  The one on the right is a subordinate who scolds a lazy Enma Daiou.)

 

matome.naver.jp

 

 

★Tsukumogami (付喪神)

It’s a God or a spirit that dwells in any object that has been used for long years.  It’s been said that the kind spirit dwells in the objects when the owners use them affectionately, so that they can protect their owners when the bad spirit dwells in the object. When the owners treat them violently, they can revenge on the owners.  (*´・∀・)By the way, the characters appearing in Touken Ranbu are classified as this God / spirit, as ‘a God dwelling in historical old swords’ as well.  I cannot imagine that handsome God dwells in my thing that I use affectionately.  If you use your things affectionately, something good will happen to you.

 

 

matome.naver.jp

 

 

★Nurarihyon (ぬらりひょん)

The image of ‘a supernatural monster’ has become established in Japanese folklore maybe from him...  They sneak into someone’s house and act as if it is their own houses.  Because it looks like human, anyone who sees it will mistake it for ‘the owner of the house’, making it very hard to expel him.  Its image is more like a elegant adult Yo-kai’s.  (*´・∀・) It’s dandyism.  It is usually described as a ‘strong Yo-kai’ in anime or manga.  It might appear in front of you as your boss...

 

matome.naver.jp

 

 

★Nekomata (猫又)

They are old cat Yo-kai whose tails are split in two. It is believed that when cats get old, they become smarter. That’s why some can even talk to humans…  But in some cases, they might attack and eat humans who get lost in the forest.  They are often described as the ones that deform to human form, manipulate the fire or like to lick the oil of lamps.  In anime or manga, there are often in the stories in which tame cats turn into Nekomata and save the owner’s crises. (*´・∀・) Cats will never forget kindness and love that they have received in their lives.

 

 

xn--l8j7a0c7a5g2497avwxa.com

 

 

★Inugami (Dog God 狗神/ 犬神)

They are Shikigami (a class of beings in Japanese mythology belonging to the spirits known as kami), who used to serve ‘Onmyōji’  Onmyōji‘took a role on exterminating bad Youkai’.  Basically, they don’t have a good image since they are usually used for curses.  Actually, the method of ‘making’ Inugami is too cruel to write down here.  So, we recommend that you shouldn’t even search for it.  If they are not working for humans, they might do something mischievous such as haunting them.  (*´・∀・) By the way, it might be confusing, compared with Komainu (狛犬), but Komainu is the God that protects the shrine, so they are different.

 

www.youtube.com

 

 

★Yuki-onna (snow woman / 雪女)

Yuki-onna are women Yo-kai, who appear on snowy days and kill humans that they meet.  Yuki-onna’s beautiful appearance attract men, in the meantime, they try to kill them.  From the image of the snow, we tend to think of them as ‘cold’, or ‘unemotional’ but we can think of them as the image of ‘kindness = heartwarming’ at the same time, since the snow melts with warmth. (*´・∀・) Basically, she is so beautiful and strong.  Most of the time, they appear in the game as strong characters, so we recommend that you should let them join in your group.

girlschannel.net

 

 

(  'ω') “Do we need your comment ( → (*´・∀・)),though???”

 

 

(゜▽゜*) “What are you talking about!  We do!  Now I bet you guys became a Yo-kai expert with this article, right?  Maybe you’ll be able to survive even if you meet any Yo-kai on the street tomorrow?!

 

 

youkaiinfo.blog.jp

 

(  'ω') “We’ll be dead if we are in that kind of situation.”

 

 

(゜▽゜*) “Oh?  I was thinking the same way too!”

 

 

(  'ω') “Be more responsible for what you say.”

 

 

(*´∀`) “Phew!  I did great work today too...  I feel like I’ve saved 25 little sheep that are lost in the whole world!  Alright now, we’ll see you at the next Saori Press!”

 

 

(  'ω') “Everyone, please do not believe everything written in this article since it might include Saori’s personal thoughts as well as the truth.  If you really want to learn what the Yo-kai are like, try some anime or games!  It is very easy to get the idea what they are like in visual!  Okay now, we’ll see you next week!”

 

Here comes the result of Osomatsu-San Popularity Vote!

Campaign commemorating for Holding Osomatsu-San Popularity Vote!

You’re going to have a little gift if you purchase any Osomatsu-San’s item, commemorating for Holding Osomatsu-San Popularity Vote!  Look forward to what you’re gonna get!  Make sure you buy it as soon as possible since they’re limited!

 

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★Updating every Wednesday!  Saori Press that Saori in Otaku Republic sends!!★ 

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