YOKAI

Yokai is a broad Japanese term for spirits, monsters, and supernatural phenomena — from mischievous objects to fearsome demons. They are not strictly good or evil; many are simply strange beings that exist alongside the human world, each with its own habits and meaning.

Kitsune are fox spirits that grow more powerful and grow more tails as they age, up to nine. They are clever shapeshifters, sometimes tricksters and sometimes devoted guardians, and are closely tied to Inari, the deity of rice and prosperity.

Oni are often called demons, but their role is double-edged. They punish the wicked and guard the gates of the underworld, and their fearsome image is also used to ward off evil — protection worn as much as it is feared.

The long-nosed tengu mask represents pride and discipline. Tengu were said to test the arrogant and teach the humble, and their distinctive faces became a reminder of vanity held in check by mastery.