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...
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.
