Japan - Gaki, Hannya, Kappa, Kasha, Krappa, Kyketsuki, Tengu, Yasha

Gaki: Wailing corpses who thirst for blood. They have the traditional pale skin, hollow features and lack of body temperature. They have spectacular shape shifting abilities and can change into not only animals, but also look like other humans. They can even impersonate a living person. Might also be known as Jiki-Ketsu-Gaki.

Hannya: Usually female. A Hannya was once a truly beautiful woman that became insane and then possessed by a demon. She was transformed into a hideous creature that drank blood and ate children. Some of Japan's most disturbing and frightening examples of monster art present the Hannya in many of its hideous forms.

Kappa: The Kappa were said to be ugly, green child-like creatures that drag horses and cows into their watery homes where they suck the blood from their anuses. They will leave the water to steal fruit, rape women and steal people's livers but can enter into binding agreements promising not to attack people. Another Japanese vampire legend involves a vampire cat taking the form of a prince's concubine after killing her.

Kasha: Evil ghouls that are feared for their voracious appetites for corpses and blood. Because of the Japanese cremation custom, the creature must steal a corpse before it can be burned; larceny that often requires the theft of the coffin as well. To prevent this, a guard is placed over the dead and noises are made during the night to discourage the ghoul from racing away with a loved one, otherwise still under research.

Krappa: is supposedly similar to the Pelagganan of Malaysia, and the Phi Krasue of Thailand, otherwise under research.

Kyketsuki (Possibly also seen as Kyuketsuki): Vampires of Japanese folklore that can be induced to live on honey rather than blood.

Tengu: A bird-like vampire demon.

Yasha: A female vampire-bat of Japanese lore. A woman could become one of these creatures if she allowed anger to lower her status in rebirth. Still under research, but may possibly be connected to the Yaksha of India.


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