Japanese folklore is a treasure trove of mythological tales and legendary creatures that have captivated imaginations for centuries.
Among the most intriguing elements of this rich tapestry are the demons, or yokai, that embody a range of emotions, fears, and moral lessons.
These supernatural entities are not merely remnants of ancient beliefs; they have evolved alongside Japanese culture, influencing literature, art, and even modern media.
This blog aims to introduce some of the most terrifying Japanese demon names, offering a glimpse into their origins, stories, and cultural significance.

Japanese Demon Names
Japanese demon names are rich in folklore and mythology, with each name carrying its own unique meaning and history.
Some names are derived from ancient texts, while others have been passed down through oral traditions.
There is a vast array of Japanese demon names, each representing different characteristics and traits. Here are just a few examples that will send shivers down your spine:
- Akuma (悪魔): This name translates to “devil” or “demon” and is often used to describe evil spirits or creatures.
- Oni (鬼): These are malevolent demons with horns, sharp teeth, and a fierce, red-eyed appearance. They are believed to cause disasters and misfortune.
- Tengu (天狗): These demon-like creatures have long noses, wings, and a reputation for causing chaos and mischief. They are also known for their intelligence and martial arts skills.
- Yuki-Onna (雪女): Translating to “snow woman,” this demon is a beautiful, ghostly entity that appears in wintry landscapes and brings death to those who cross her path.
- Kami (神): While not technically demons, kami are powerful supernatural beings in Japanese mythology that can be benevolent or malevolent. They are often worshipped as deities.
- Jorogumo (絡新婦): Also known as the “binding bride,” this spider demon can transform into a beautiful woman who lures unsuspecting men to their doom before devouring them.
- Noppera-bō (のっぺら坊): These are faceless ghosts that appear human until they reveal their featureless faces, often scaring those who encounter them late at night near rivers or forests.
- Rokurokubi (ろくろ首): By day, they seem like ordinary humans, but by night their necks extend to grotesque lengths, allowing them to terrorize their victims with long-reaching, serpentine heads.
- Kappa (河童): These water demons are notorious for dragging people, especially children, into rivers and ponds. They have webbed hands and feet, a dish-like head that holds water, and a deadly grip.
- Yurei (幽霊): Ghosts of those who have died in a state of deep emotion or attachment, yurei are spirits that return to haunt the living, often seeking revenge or closure for their untimely deaths.
- Gashadokuro (餓者髑髏): Giant skeletal figures formed from the bones of people who died of starvation. They wander the night, seeking to crush the living and drink their blood.
- Tengu (天狗): This demon is known for its long nose, which represents pride and arrogance. They are also said to have the power of flight and control over wind and storms.
- Yamauba (山姥): Translating to “mountain crone,” this demon is depicted as an old, ugly woman who preys on young men in the mountains, often leading them to their deaths.
- Baku (貘): This dream-eating creature can shape-shift into various forms and consume nightmares by placing its trunk-like nose on a person’s forehead.
- Nekomata (猫又): These cat demons have split tails and are known for their ability to transform into humans or other animals. They are said to bring bad luck and misfortune.
- Kagekiyo (景清): This demonic entity is said to possess the body of legendary samurai Minamoto no Raikō and cause him to commit atrocities.
- Kumorigami (雲神): These demons are the deities of fog and mist, often depicted as giant monsters or shapeshifting foxes that bring confusion and paranoia to those caught in their fogs.
- Hitodama (人魂): These demon spirits appear as balls of fire or flying orbs and are said to be the souls of people who died suddenly or violently.
- Kokumotsu-shu (国本主): This demon is said to control the underworld and punish those who have committed evil deeds in life.
- Kijin (鬼神): These demons are powerful spirits that reside in mountains, forests, and other natural locations. They are known for their fierce temper and immense strength.
Scary Japanese Demon Names
- Oni
- Tengu
- Jorogumo
- Yuki-onna
- Noppera-bo
- Kappa
- Gashadokuro
- Nurarihyon
- Rokurokubi
- Yurei
- Shinigami
- Ame-onna
- Oiwa
- Uji no hashihime
- Aka Manto
- Kuchisake-onna
- Nure-onna
- Taka-onna
- Funa Yurei
- Hone-onna
- Yatagarasu
- Hannya
- Rokurokubi
- Uwan
- Nuribotoke
- Shunpukumaru
- Kasha
- Tenome
- Ao-bouzu
- Yurei Zenshin
- Sotoba Komachi
- Ōkubi
- Mikoshi-nyūdō
- Tesso
- Dodomeki
- Nure-onago
- Kanbari-nyūdō
- Futakuchi-onna
- Sankai
- Kamaitachi
- Katakirauwa
- Otoroshi
- Betobeto-san
- Mikaribaba
- Ubume
- Goryo
- Aka-shita
- Buruburu
- Shōjō
- Yosuzume
Evil Japanese Demon Names
- Yamanba
- Nuppeppo
- Harionago
- Ippondatara
- Yamata-no-Orochi
- Futakuchi-onna
- Yamashiro
- Jikininki
- Amikiri
- Azukiarai
- Bake-kujira
- Nure-onago
- Furu-utsubo
- Sazae-oni
- Raijū
- Nobusuma
- Furuutsubo
- Sarahebi
- Aobozu
- Shōjō
- Zashiki-warashi
- Enenra
- Hinnagami
- Susanoo
- Hakutaku
- Onibaba
- Gaki
- Omagatoki
- Dorotabo
- Tenaga
- Kubikajiri
- Sankai
- Umi Nyōbō
- Yakubyōgami
- Iso Onna
- Uwan
- Jorogumo
- Sutoku Tenno
- Tsuchigumo
- Hōkoku
- Kijimuna
- Okiku
- Hideri Gami
- Ōkubi
- Kage-onna
- Goryō
- Hōsō Kami
- Ushioni
- Shoujou
- Himiko
Japanese Demon Names from Folklore
- Yurei
- Inugami
- Ryu
- Mara
- Okuri-inu
- Rasho-mon
- Yūrei
- Ao-andon
- Abura-sumashi
- Isogashi
- Gashadokuro
- Goryō
- Kamikiri
- Kasha
- Konaki-jiji
- Kuro-bozu
- Kyōkotsu
- Noppera-bō
- Nuppeppō
- Nukekubi
- Nozuchi
- Onryō
- Satori
- Shachihoko
- Shirime
- Tengu
- Tenjōname
- Tsuchinoko
- Tsukumo-no-mikazuki
- Umibōzu
- Uwan
- Yama-uba
- Yuki-onna
- Yurei
- Zashiki-warashi
- Yosuzume
- Hitodama
- Shitanagauba
- Karakasa-obake
- Kawa-no-kami
- Utsurobune
- Kurozuka
- Usotsuki Odori
- Boroboroton
- Ichimokuren
- Chōchinobake
- Shiryō
- Tachibanaya
- Azuki-arai
- Nurarihyon

Scary Japanese Demon Names from Mythology
- Ashinaga-tenaga
- Bake-danuki
- Buruburu
- Chochinbi
- Daitengu
- Enkō
- F of Ono
- Futakuchi-onna
- Gaki
- Hikeshibaba
- Hone-onna
- Hyakume
- Ibaraki-dōji
- Ikiryo
- Inugami
- Isonade
- Jatai
- Jinmenju
- Kamaitachi
- Kameosa
- Kawatarō
- Kiyohime
- Kodama
- Kyōkotsu
- Mizuchi
- Mokumokuren
- Myobu
- Nure-onago
- Obariyon
- Onbu-Obake
- Onikuma
- Raiju
- Rokuro-kubi
- Ryota no onna
- Samebito
- Sankai
- Sasarae
- Shachihoko
- Shiranui
- Sōgen-bi
- Syura
- Tenko
- Toire-no-Hanakosan
- Tsuchinoko
- Umi-nyōbō
- Waira
- Wanyūdō
- Wara-ningyō
- Yamabiko
- Yamajiji
Classic Japanese Demon Names
- Amanojaku
- Jikininki
- Kamikiri
- Shuten-dōji
- Kappa
- Nue
- Ōkami-no-musume
- Ashiarai Yashiki
- Yūrei
- Umibōzu
- Wanyūdō
- Abura-sumashi
- Nurarihyon
- Rokurokubi
- Kasha
- Mokumokuren
- Noppera-bō
- Konaki-jiji
- Ōkubi
- Tsurube-otoshi
- Ubume
- Akaname
- Shōjō
- Neko-mata
- Yamauba
- Yūki-onna
- Fūri
- Waira
- Yamata-no-Orochi
- Toko-oni
- Tanuki
- Sushi-keshi
- Furari-no-ushiro
- Raijū
- Kakuregama
- Tōfu-kozō
- Hitotsume-kozō
- Kanashibari
- Karura
- Minobi
- Tantan-bō
- Nurarihyon no mago
- Shiwaden
- Migawari
- Misaki
- Iyashika
- Omagatoki
- Susanoo-no-Mikoto
- Ame-onna
- Hanako-san
Cool Japanese Demon Names
- Namahage
- Akuma
- Hoshiguma
- Yamamba
- Tesso
- Daitengu
- Sojobo
- Fudou Myouou
- Yomotsu-shikome
- Aka-na-shi
- Otoroshi
- Gashadokuro
- Shoujo
- Yasha
- Hannya
- Kitsune
- Tanuki
- Nebutamushi
- Shikome
- Nue
- Jorogumo
- Nopperabou
- Goryou
- Rokurokubi
- Honeonna
- Azuki Arai
- Hyakki Yako
- Ubume
- Omukade
- Shoujou
- Gashadokuro
- Kamaitachi
- Tsuchigumo
- Nopperabou
- Heikegani
- Yanari
- Yamajijii
- Umibouzu
- Dodomeki
- Abura Sumashi
- Kasha
- Jikininki
- Bake-kujira
- Yanari
- Kamaitachi
- Ashiaraiyashiki
- Gashadokuro
- Makuragaeshi
- Futakuchi-onna
- Tenjouname

Demons Significance in Japanese Mythology
Oni – The Fearsome Ogres
Oni are one of the most well-known demons in Japanese mythology, often depicted as large, fearsome ogres with sharp claws, wild hair, and a menacing countenance.
They usually have reddish or bluish skin, and wear tiger-skin loincloths while wielding massive clubs.
The folklore surrounding Oni often paints them as malevolent beings who descend from the mountains to bring misfortune, disaster, and death to humans.
Famous legends include the story of Shuten-doji, a powerful Oni leader who was ultimately slain by the hero Minamoto no Raiko.
Modern Japanese media continually revisits Oni, portraying them in everything from anime and video games to literature and films, thus perpetuating their fearsome reputation.
Yurei – The Vengeful Spirits
Yurei are akin to Western ghosts, but often carry more intense emotional weight and complex backstories. T
ypically, Yurei are spirits of people who died with unresolved issues or strong feelings of vengeance. Their characteristics are marked by having white burial kimonos, long disheveled hair, and a haunting presence.
Notable examples include the tragic tale of Oiwa, who was betrayed and murdered by her husband, and Okiku, who was wrongfully accused of breaking a valuable plate.
Yurei also permeate Japanese pop culture, from iconic horror films like “The Ring” and “The Grudge” to various adapted forms in manga and anime, amplifying their eerie influence.
Tengu – The Mountain Demons
Tengu, often associated with mountains and forests, have a dual nature that makes them both feared and respected.
Historically, Tengu were depicted as bird-like creatures, but over time, their image evolved into that of warrior monks with red faces and long noses.
The tales of Tengu are abundant, recounting their trickster habits or their roles as protectors of sacred spaces.
One famous story involves the Tengu Sojobo, who is said to have trained the legendary warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune.
This complexity is reflected in their portrayal as either hostile entities that lead travelers astray or as guardians who impart wisdom.
Rokurokubi – The Long-Necked Women
Rokurokubi are unique among yokai due to their ability to elongate their necks, often at night while they are asleep.
By day, they appear as ordinary humans, but as darkness falls, their necks stretch to grotesque lengths. Sometimes, this transformation is involuntary, a result of a curse.
Legends about Rokurokubi vary, including tales of women who became these creatures due to transgressions or curses placed upon them.
Symbolically, they often represent hidden aspects of human nature and the duality of our inner and outer selves.
In modern media, Rokurokubi continue to appear in horror films, novels, and manga, capturing the imagination with their grotesque and tragic appearances.
Jorogumo – The Spider Woman
Jorogumo is a demon who embodies both allure and terror, as she can transform into a beautiful woman to lure unsuspecting men to her lair.
In her true form, she is a giant, deadly spider that preys on humans. Legends about Jorogumo are chilling, often involving her duplicitous nature and the inevitable demise of her victims.
One famous story tells of a man who fell in love with a beautiful woman, only to discover she was a Jorogumo attempting to devour him.
Jorogumo’s terrifying allure has influenced numerous works in literature and media, serving as a grim reminder of the dangers of deceit.
Kuchisake-onna – The Slit-Mouthed Woman
The legend of Kuchisake-onna, or the Slit-Mouthed Woman, is a relatively modern urban myth that has taken root in Japanese folklore.
According to the legend, this woman roams the streets wearing a surgical mask. She approaches potential victims and asks if they think she is beautiful.
If they respond positively, she removes her mask to reveal a grotesque slit extending from ear to ear. Depending on the reaction, her response can be deadly.
This tale originated in the late 1970s and has since been adapted into various horror films and stories, leaving a lasting impact on contemporary Japanese horror culture.
Conclusion
From the monstrous Oni to the haunting Yurei and the deceptive Jorogumo, Japan’s demonic folklore presents a fascinating and eerie array of supernatural beings.
These stories not only thrill and terrify but also offer valuable insights into cultural beliefs, moral lessons, and human nature.
The enduring fascination with these figures highlights the universal appeal of the mysterious and the macabre.
Whether you’re a fan of horror or a student of culture, the legends of Japanese demons provide endless avenues for exploration and reflection.
Have you ever encountered any stories or experiences with Japanese demons?