There are certain books that take me right back to the days of flipping through old mythology tomes in my school library, something that I was very fond of back in those days. YOKAI by Koichi Yumoto is one of those books that brings me straight back to that time of wonder and fascination. I’d first heard about it in an article by Open Culture, who praised it as a colossal collection of yokai art that’s sure to entice those who, like me, have a soft spot for both world mythology and lavish fantasy art. The book features an astounding amount of full color artwork from the Miyoshi Mononoke Museum, which was founded by the book’s author and yokai scholar, Koichi Yumoto.
This edition which I ordered from Amazon was released in paperback in 2022, and I’ll admit that it gave me pause right out of the box. I know that paperbacks aren’t known to age gracefully, but this book was huge! Some damage over time is practically unavoidable, and the thicker the book, the more likely you’ll be adding some heavy creasing and wear around the binding. Still, I’ll admit the outer presentation is gorgeous. The cover is wrapped in a beautifully illustrated jacket, which will certainly help to mask any wear that will inevitably show up over time. For a paperback, it certainly earns points for style.
Within the first few pages, though, my first impression wasn’t great. The introduction and foreword sections are printed with small dark text on a grey-metallic silver background, and the lack of contrast made it difficult to read, especially depending on how the light was hitting the page. As someone who now wears reading glasses (reluctantly, I’ll add), I still had to reach for a magnifier just to make it through those opening pages comfortably. Thankfully, after the table of contents, the rest of the book shifts to a much more readable format.
The heart of YOKAI lies in its artwork, and this is where it absolutely excels. Page after page is packed with high-quality images from old Japanese picture scrolls. Every section starts with a brief introduction to the piece, offering just enough historical context before letting the images take focus. The printing is sharp and vibrant, with a surprising level of clarity that lets you really appreciate the intricate details. Many a creature finds itself displayed large enough to feel like its own centerpiece, and the way the artwork fills the pages makes it easy to get lost in the designs.
It’s worth mentioning that this book isn’t intended as a deep dive into the folklore or history of yokai themselves. There are no long-winded explanations or detailed mythological backgrounds for every monster shown. Instead, it’s a pure art book through and through. If you’re looking for encyclopedic entries or dense academic research, this isn’t the book for you. But if you’re like me, and you’ve always been visually drawn to strange and mysterious wonders of fantasy creatures, this book delivers more than most.
As I reached the final pages, I felt as though I’d taken a long, winding stroll through the surreal dreamlike world of Japan’s yokai spririts, guided by artists of centuries past. My early struggle with small, low-contrast text in the first few pages may have been a minor irritation, but it more than makes up for it with its breathtaking visuals and sheer abundance of artwork. For anyone who loves strange mythology, folklore, or fantasy art, this is one of those books that earns a permanent spot on the shelf.