Tons of Yokai!

Last Monday, I asked all my students to research their favourite Youkai or monster and then present it to the class. These are all (but one) young lasses around 20 and they worked in pairs. (I'll let you know when they did NOT use chat GPT or Google Translate.)

First up, some Tengu action. (Entries in quotation marks have been typed out by me.)

"Tengu have red faces, long noses and sometimes wings. They are strong, can fly and live in the mountains. Tengu are smart, but can be proud and playful."

Another pair of students:

"大天狗 Otengu The Otengu is one of the most powerful and fearsome types of tengu found in Japanese tradition. Tengu are creatures with red faces and long noses, often holding a fan called an uchiwa. They have various supernatural abilities. They can use their fan to create strong winds, freely fly through the sky, and show illusions. Tengu are kind to honest and pure-hearted people, but those who lie or act unfairly are said to be blown away by strong winds or cast down into the valley." 

Be sure to press the Label, tengu for previous blog entries about them.

There are two gals from Sri Lanka in my class. Here is Kulu Kumaraya, an incubus that plagues their females.

 

I can see why the young girls are smitten. He's a hunk!

There's a little video at that link.

Next time I'm in Shiroishi, I'll try and track down this creature - . 場牛沼の怪物

 

A couple of Kappa stories:

"The main characteristics of kappa are that they have a shell on their back, a plate on the top of their head, and webbed hands and feet. Their bodies are green, and they are about the height of a 3-6 year old. Their favorite foods are cucumbers and fish, and they enjoy sumo, but they also have a frightening side, as they can drag people into the water."

 Here's another hand-written story that I'll reprint in all its glory.

 

"Have you heard the legend about the "kappa" in Aomori? The face looks like a monkey, and the body is black. He has a habit of luring children in rivers and eating them. 

His favorite food is cucumber. So people in olden times throw in cucumbers into the river as bait. His plate on the head has a role to support vitality and power. Therefore when it dries, he will die. 

Actually, there is kappa gulf in Toono in Iwate. And there, we can challenge "kappa fishing". But we need to gain a "kappa capture permit". It will cost 200 yen. Let's start by purchasing a cucumber, hanging it and wait. That's all. If you succeed to capture that, you gain 10 million yen in Prize money so you must try it!" 

I am sincerely very proud of what she wrote for it was her personalized translation, not AI generated! The underlining in the text is my editorializing. 

As an aside, I have been to Toono and went Kappa Fishing. But, I didn't have a permit, didn't have a fresh cucumber, didn't capture a Kappa and didn't win 2,000,000 yen! 

 

Moving along, we have two different groups and their stories about Nurarihyon.

 

That's pretty tiny, so I'll type it out.

"Today, I'm going to introduce Nurarihyon. Nurarihyon is a famous Yokai. He enters people's houses when they are busy and acts like the owner. He drinks tea, smokes a pipe, and relaxes as though the house is his own. He doesn't help people or do bad things. He just behaves in a strange and mysterious way. The family often doesn't notice him because he acts so naturally. People say Nurarihyon appears in busy houses and is known as a very mysterious Yokai in Japanese Folklore." 

 

I once spoke of Hanako-san before at this link.

This next one is Zashiki-Warashi and I once spoke of her at that link.

 

Po...Po...Po...

 

I think this is the photo that goes with the above story.

 

Finally, I have an "original" story by two young gals who mashed a couple of classic monsters together in a Chat GPT extravaganza. Throw in an AI picture and you get the full package.

 

These are from my first-year class of 19 girls and one dude. In a few weeks, I'll present my 2nd year students' works. This has taken a lot out of me, so now I'm going to watch some spooky TV. I'll leave you with a lovely spider that is hanging around an outdoor staircase to the second floor.

 

 

The Flighteners!

One of my teaching gigs is a handful of students at a Flight school. My particular class is the second year of those who wish to become Airport Staff, comprised of 7 gals and a dude. I gave them a homework assignment to make a presentation about their favourite Yokai. In the lad's case, he chose a Witch from his hometown of Karachi, Pakistan called a Churel چڑیل. Since he drew most of his info from the Wikipedia page, I'll direct you to do the same. He did a great job presenting it and Air Dropped it for everyone to view his Power-point presentation. Unfortunately, I neglected to save it past its 10 minute limit. He also told an example of the Bride of Karsaz. In an effort to not freak out the girls, he kept it gore-free.

STORY OF THE BRIDE AT KARSAZ
From time and again many people have reported seeing a woman dressed up in red bride clothes on the road of Karsaz, Karachi.

The three gals who did Not use their tablets in presenting, wrote the following:

(Click the above pic to embiggen.) We'd already learned of Rokuroku-kubi (top) and of Kappa (bottom) in previous blog entries. The middle one is Sunakake Babaa who is known as "Sand Throwing Hag", you may know her from Gegege no Kitaro. I never knew she was a Tanuki!

The other image I scammed from the net is this one from Power Rangers. She looks like an S&M Gremlin.

The other gals also Air-dropped a message. I managed to save one of them. I also spoke of Hanako-san earlier. (Just scroll back in the blog. I can't do all the work for you.)

The girl who spoke about a Tanuki, giggled throughout her presentation.

The above is an example of what you can find when you Google it yourself. This Tanuki is not affiliated with those that sit in front of restaurants beckoning in customers. Nor is the Tanuki from Ghibli's Pom Poko.

The most innocent of the Yokai would have to be Zashiki Warashi. (I also spoke of her earlier in my blog.)

Finally, the last of the presenters spoke of the Oni and gave a nice little speech about them, including a shoutout for Setsubun. Best part is the video she showed us about an Oni's Pants!

Unfortunately for the Nihongo-impaired, I was unable to find the English version that she used. (Take my word for it, it wasn't very good. 

On Thursday I have a class with a dozen elderly adults with a similar homework assignment. I doubt whether I'll get too many Air Drops.

I popped into the Mall on the way home just to see what's up. The Halloween decorations are starting to make way for Xmas. The Daisou shop has very little left.

The flower shop that occasionally sells pumpkins has some very tiny ones at not so tiny prices.

There are still a few places with some Halloweeny items.

 

Even the UFO Catcher hasn't much spooky stuff available. New KitKats though!

Finally, though not for Halloween per se, there is a Pop-up store across from the Pet Shop. Just in time for the new movie.

Here's a Venom for ya, sitting atop some Tsum-Tsum style erasers.

Oh right, before I forget. I watched "Talk to Me" about a Ouija-Hand! Not too bad.

For a different take on the Countdown, check out Me and You and a Blog named Boo.

I'll be heading to a different mall tomorrow afternoon. Wonder what I'll find there...

Potty Time!

I'm feeling much better today and so I spent the day doing pretty much nothing. I discovered that my missing pouch of Point Cards had turned up, so I head down to the local cop shop to retrieve it. That was about all I did. After dinner, I started rummaging through boxes looking for various goods to showcase for my daily Venom blast. (Such as this wallet which I won at UFO Catcher.)

I think I'll replace my Scar pouch with this to keep my Parking coins within. 

After much rummaging, my brother emailed me with the request that I do some Comic Cataloguing so I can advise him. He has graciously offered to catalogue the comics I have sitting in a friend's basement and get them ready for resale. Since I'm not going home anytime in the foreseeable future, this seems as good a time as any to sell them off. (Besides, I need the money!)

Therefore, all of these distractions means that I don't have anything to post today! I looked at my Yokai book and selected this little gal.

I first chose Zashiki-Warashi because I mistook her for Hanako of toilet time fame. (Click either of those to learn about loo-Yokai! Alas, Zashiki-Warashi is merely a friendly little spirit that pulls pranks on homeowners.

Since I was talking about the loo, I managed to find some Gachapin/Mukku TP. I'd just run out of my Christmas supply!

I can't end the day on such a pleasant note, so here's some info about Akaname. This Yokai likes to lick the filth and scum that accumulates in bathtubs and bathroom stalls. Charmin! Charming!

If that hasn't grossed you out too much, go visit fellow countdown blogger, Dispatches from the Macabre Republic.

Hopefully, I'll have a more extensive entry tomorrow. Stay clean everyone!