Humans have always sought explanations for strange phenomena, unusual dreams, or the feeling of an invisible presence. In Japanese folklore, such occurrences are often explained through yokai. Yokai are Japanese spirits or creatures—beloved, feared, and an integral part of popular culture for hundreds of years.
Stories about yokai have been told for over a thousand years. In this first major Swedish exhibition on yokai, you first meet them in the masterful scroll paintings, woodcuts and netsukes of the Edo period (1603–1868) and then follow their evolution into today's computer games, horror films and anime.
There are several types of yokai. Among the most popular are Tanuki, a cunning and playful raccoon dog. Another example is ghosts or spirits – Yurei. These are so terrifying that there is a tradition of telling stories about them on warm summer evenings so that the chills cool down the listener!
Eye candy for manga fans, ghost enthusiasts and gamers Svenska Dagbladet
The exhibition begins by focusing on the Edo period (1603-1868) when Japan closed itself to the outside world and culture flourished. During this time, yokai went from representing something terrifying and unpleasant to becoming entertainment and art.
Edo period artists were masters at depicting the bizarre stories in woodcuts and scroll paintings. In the exhibition you will find works by Hokusai, Kuniyoshi, Kyosai, Yoshitoshi, Sekien, and Kunisada. What features can you recognize in contemporary representations of yokai?
By understanding the historical and cultural background of traditional yokai, codes in Japanese popular culture today can be more easily interpreted. In the second part of the exhibition, in addition to modern interpretations of yokai, you'll encounter creatures like Godzilla and Pokémon. Can they be considered as yokai?
Supernatural beings in Nordic folklore have much in common with Japan's yokai. Like yokai, they made a difficult world easier to understand, often embodying different aspects of nature.
The exhibition also ties into our own Nordic mythology, featuring interpretations of Japanese spirits alongside Swedish ones, such as Näcken, by illustrator and author Johan Egerkrans.
In the exhibition you don't just observe. In addition to controlling yokai in video games and dancing with yokai in Yo-kai Watch Dance, you can also collect beautiful stamps or read fortunes for yourself and others. What will the yokai tell you?
The exhibition also explores horror and darkness. Those daring to enter the 15+ age-restricted room will encounter classic horror films such as Ringu (the original to The Ring) and Ju-On (The Grudge). The exhibition also shows how the Japanese storytelling tradition lives on through eerie internet urban legends.
