Japanese Myths: Captivating Myths, Legends, and Tales from Japan
Matt Clayton2022

Did you know that, according to Japanese mythology, there are said to be an infinite number of kami that inhabit every part of nature?

Japanese mythology offers a fascinating lens from which to gaze upon the natural world. Through tales of heroic samurai, creepy vengeful ghosts, and deities that wield the mighty powers of nature, these stories and mythical figures emphasize the importance of humans living harmoniously with their surroundings.

It is often said that in order to understand a country’s culture and history, one needs to simply look at the stories they tell about the world around them. By learning about different kami and yokai, by examining the role both Shintoism and Buddhism have played in the shaping of myths, and by simply reading folktales and ghost stories, one can gain an appreciation for modern Japanese society.

While it would be impossible to gather all the different Japanese myths with all their local variations into a single book, this introductory guide provides the interested reader with a nice, if somewhat modest, collection of stories to get them started on this fantastical journey.