Creatures starting with S

Sa Gojō
Yokai

Sa Gojō (沙悟浄)

The Japanese interpretation of Sha Wujing, the water-monster from Journey to the West, often seen as a kappa-like river...

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500

Sagari
Yokai

Sagari (さがり)

A ghostly horse’s head said to hang from trees on Kyūshū, emitting eerie cries and bringing misfortune.

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513

Sakabashira
Yokai

Sakabashira (逆柱)

Sakabashira is a haunted pillar installed upside-down in buildings, believed to attract bad luck, spirits, and structura...

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557

Samebito
Yokai

Samebito (鮫人)

A shark-man yokai who once served the Dragon King of the Sea, known for crying jewel-like tears of blood and showing com...

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729

Sarugami
Yokai

Sarugami (猿神)

Sarugami is a wicked monkey spirit from Japanese folklore that terrorized villages by demanding human sacrifices, but wa...

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679

Satori
Yokai

Satori (覚)

Satori is an ape-like yokai from the mountains of Japan that can instantly read the minds of any human it encounters.

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630

Sazae-oni
Yokai

Sazae-oni (栄螺鬼)

Sazae-oni is a turban snail yokai from the sea that disguises itself as a beautiful woman to deceive sailors and exact r...

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567

Seiryū
Dragon

Seiryū (青龍)

Seiryū is the Azure Dragon of the East, a guardian spirit in Japanese and Chinese cosmology representing spring, wood, a...

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1323

Seko
Kappa

Seko (セコ)

Seko is a cheerful kind of kappa from Japanese folklore, known for its laughter and revelry near rivers at night.

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514

Senpoku-Kanpoku
Spirit

Senpoku-Kanpoku (せんぽくかんぽく)

Senpoku-Kanpoku is a mysterious human-faced frog yokai believed to appear at death and escort spirits to the afterlife.

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512

Sesshō-seki
Cursed Object

Sesshō-seki (殺生石)

Sesshō-seki is the legendary Killing Stone, tied to the death of Tamamo-no-Mae. It was believed to kill anyone who touch...

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639

Setotaishō
Tsukumogami

Setotaishō (瀬戸大将)

Setotaishō is a yokai warrior born from the shards of discarded pottery. Said to haunt kilns and storerooms, he represen...

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507

Shachihoko
Mythical Creature

Shachihoko (鯱)

Shachihoko is a tiger-headed fish from Japanese mythology, commonly used in architecture as a rooftop ornament to preven...

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746

Shibaten
Kappa

Shibaten ()

Shibaten is a type of mischievous kappa from the Shikoku region. Known for pranks and shapeshifting, it lives in rivers...

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480

Shiki-ōji
Spirit

Shiki-ōji (式王子)

Shiki-ōji is the most elite type of shikigami in Japanese folklore, summoned by powerful Onmyōji as a guardian spirit of...

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555

Shikigami
Spirit

Shikigami (式神)

Shikigami are summoned spirits from Japanese folklore, controlled by Onmyōji to carry out tasks such as protection, atta...

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909

Shikome
Spirit

Shikome (醜女)

Shikome are grotesque female spirits sent by Izanami to chase Izanagi out of the underworld, embodying death’s fury and...

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497

Shin
Sea Spirit

Shin (蜃)

Shin is a mythical giant clam that breathes out vapors to form vast mirages—illusions of castles and cities seen across...

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496

Shinigami
God

Shinigami (死神)

Shinigami are death spirits in Japanese folklore. Often likened to the Grim Reaper, they lead humans toward death or app...

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1687

Shiro-bōzu
Spirit

Shiro-bōzu (白坊主)

Shiro-bōzu is a mysterious white, faceless spirit known to appear silently in abandoned places, stirring a deep sense of...

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571

Shiro-uneri
Tsukumogami

Shiro-uneri (白うねり)

Shiro-uneri is a yokai formed from an old white dishcloth. Over time, it becomes animated and transforms into a twisting...

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769

Shiryō
Ghost

Shiryō (死霊)

Shiryō are the spirits of the dead that linger in the world of the living, sometimes appearing due to sorrow, anger, or...

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789

Shisa
Guardian

Shisa (シーサー)

Shisa are lion-dog figures from Okinawan mythology, often placed in pairs at entrances to protect against evil and invit...

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607

Shishi
Guardian

Shishi (獅子)

Shishi are lion-dog statues placed at temple gates in Japan to ward off evil and balance spiritual forces. They appear i...

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834

Shōjō
Spirit

Shōjō (猩々)

Shōjō are red-haired sea-spirits known for their love of sake and joy. They appear in theater and folklore as dancing, l...

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579

Shōkera
Spirit

Shōkera (しょうけら)

Shōkera is a mysterious yokai that peers into houses through skylights, believed to watch human behavior and quietly pas...

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494

Shōki
Hero

Shōki (鍾馗)

Shōki, also known as Zhong Kui, is a legendary demon-queller adopted into Japanese folklore. He is revered as a protecti...

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728

Shunoban
Spirit

Shunoban (朱の番)

Shunoban is a red-faced ghost or ghoul in Japanese folklore that startles people by appearing suddenly on dark streets....

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512

Shuten-dōji
Oni

Shuten-dōji (酒呑童子)

Shuten-dōji is a fearsome oni from Mt. Ōe in Japanese folklore. Known for kidnapping noble women and indulging in sake a...

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820

Sodehiki-kozō
Spirit

Sodehiki-kozō (袖引小僧)

Sodehiki-kozō is an invisible yokai known for sneaking up on unsuspecting pedestrians and tugging at their sleeves, star...

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552

Sōgenbi
Ghost

Sōgenbi (叢原火)

Sōgenbi is a flaming ghost from Kyoto, said to be the spirit of a monk cursed for stealing oil from a temple. It appears...

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547

Sōjōbō
Tengu

Sōjōbō (僧正坊)

Sōjōbō is the daitengu of Mount Kurama, regarded as the king of all tengu. He is known for his martial prowess, deep wis...

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762

Son Gokū
Mythical Creature

Son Gokū (孫悟空)

Son Gokū is the Japanese interpretation of Sun Wukong, the monkey king from Journey to the West. Known for his strength...

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747

Soragami
Tengu

Soragami (空神)

Soragami is a disciplinary tengu-like demon summoned to punish spiritual wrongdoing. It appears in stormy forms and enac...

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544

Soraki-gaeshi
Phenomenon

Soraki-gaeshi (空木返し)

Soraki-gaeshi is an eerie auditory yokai event where the sound of trees being felled echoes through the forest, but no e...

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469

Sorobanbōzu
Spirit

Sorobanbōzu (算盤坊主)

Sorobanbōzu is a ghostly monk who appears at night with an abacus, making eerie counting sounds in darkened buildings.

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470

Sōtangitsune
Fox Spirit

Sōtangitsune (宗旦狐)

Sōtangitsune is a legendary fox spirit from Kyoto, known for its refined wisdom, shapeshifting abilities, and connection...

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545

Sunakake-baba
Spirit

Sunakake-baba (砂かけ婆)

Sunakake-baba is a sand-throwing hag yokai who blinds travelers by casting sand into their eyes at night.

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760

Sunekosuri
Yokai

Sunekosuri (すねこすり)

Sunekosuri is a small creature that rubs against people’s legs at night, causing them to stumble as they walk.

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690

Suppon-no-yūrei
Ghost

Suppon-no-yūrei (すっぽんの幽霊)

Suppon-no-yūrei is a ghost with the eerie face of a soft-shelled turtle, haunting areas with a grotesque and unsettling...

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500

Suzaku
Dragon

Suzaku (朱雀)

Suzaku is the Vermilion Bird of the South, a fiery guardian from East Asian cosmology representing summer, fire, and the...

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918

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