Happy New Year, readers!
2024 was a busy year, focused on fulfilling the Kickstarter, several art exhibitions, the first ever KaiKai Yokai Festival at Toei Kyoto Film Studios, and work on upcoming projects. The last of the Kickstarter orders for The Palace of the Dragon King shipped out in December, and it was such a great feeling to close off the year that way!
2025 is going to be an exciting year too, with several new projects coming out, and a new Kickstarter probably this fall! I’ll post about them here, but you can be among the first to know about them by following my Patreon or my Bluesky account (I have left X, Facebook, and Instagram, so you won’t find me there anymore).
Speaking of my new book, you can now order it from Amazon (affiliate link) or the Yokai.com webstore! Currently only the ebook is available on Amazon, while you can get signed copies and limited editions, as well as the super awesome Servants of Ryugu poster from Yokai.com.)
The Palace of the Dragon King (2024)
Japan is a nation spread out over fourteen thousand islands, so it is no surprise that its relationship with the sea is embedded deeply within its legends and folklore. According to mythology, the islands of Japan emerged from the depths of the primordial sea when the first gods stirred the waters with a spear. This illustrates the importance of the ocean to the development of Japan as both a country and a culture. It is a force that birthed and has sculpted its landscape, influenced its history, and inspired its imagination.
Yōkai—spirits and monsters found in Japanese folklore—reflect the complex relationship between Japan and the sea over its long history. The sea has served as a conduit for cultural exchange with continental Asia while also isolating Japan and allowing it to foster a distinct national identity. It has acted as both a protective barrier, shielding Japan from foreign invasion, and a destructive force, unleashing devastating tsunamis upon its shores. It is a vital source of sustenance, providing fish and seaweed that sustain the nation’s diet, yet it is also a realm of mystery and danger. These aspects are reflected in the number and diversity of aquatic yōkai. Some are playful, others are deadly; some grant wishes, others destroy; some bring terrible curses, and others provide divine protection.
This manual contains over 100 illustrated entries divided over five chapters that cover a wide variety of Japanese spirits, with a heavy focus on aquatic yōkai and maritime myths. Each creature is described in detail, including its habitat, diet, origin, and legends based on translations from centuries-old Japanese texts.