Japanese Bestiary
A Monster's Manual of Japanese Monsters

Here we have a list of as many Japanese monsters as I can put together. The monsters will be described independently, an image will be provided, stories and folktales from whence they appear will be given, and I will attempt to describe them in Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 edition format.


Please note that Japanese monsters are very loosely defined and there are so many conflicting stories about each monster - You will have to, in some instances, use your imagination to fill in the gaps, or, in some instances, pick from one of the many forms of a monster.

Any donation is welcome! Thanks!

Abura-sumashi
Aka-Name
Aka-shita
Ame-Onna
Ao-Andon
Ao-Nyoubou
Ao-sagi-bi
Azuki-arai
Azuki-babaa
Azuki-Hakari
Bake-Kujira
Bake-Neko
Bake-zouri
Baku
Basan
Betobeto-san
Biwa-Bokuboku
Chyouchin-Obake
Chyoupirako
Dai-tengu
Doro-ta-bou
Fune-Yuurei (Yuurei)
Futa-kuchi-onna
Garappa
Gashya-dokuro
Hari-Onnago
Hito-dama
Hitotsu-me-Kozou
Hitotsu-me-Nyuudou

Hone-onna
Hou-ou
Hyakume
Hyousube
Isonade
Iso-Onna
Itachi
Ittan-momen
Jyatai
Jyorou-gumo
Jyubokko
Kage-Onna
Kama-itachi
Kami-kiri
Kappa
Karakasa-kozou
Katawa-guruma
Kawauso
Kerakera-onna
Keukegen
Kijimunaa
Kijyo
Kirin
Kitsune
Kitsune-bi
Ko-dama
Komainu
Koromodako
Kosode-no-te

Ko-tengu (tengu)
Koto-furunushi
Kuchi-sake-onna
Kyourinrin
Mikoshi-Nyuudou
Mokumoku-ren
Mujina
Neko-mata
Ningyo
Noppera-bou
Nozuchi
Nuke-kubi
Nuppeppo
Nurarihyon
Nure-onago
Nure-Onna
Nuri-botoke
Nyuudou
Ohaguro-Bettari
Oni
Oni-bi
Onna
Onryou
Oo-Nyuudou
Otoroshi
Reiki
Rokuro-kubi
Ryuu (Tatsu)
Seto-Taishyou

Shiro-Uneri
Shishi (Komainu)
Shyami-Chyourou
Shyoujyou
Shyoukera
Suzuri-no-tamashi
Taka-Nyuudou
Taka-onna
Tatsu (Ryuu)
Tengu
Tsuchi-gumo
Tsukumogami
Tsurube-otoshi
Ubume
Umi-Bouzu
Ushi-Oni
Usu-tsuki-warashi
Uwan
Waira
Wa-nyuudou
Warashi
Yamabiko
Yama-uba
Yamawaro
Yuki-onna
Yuurei
Zashiki-Warashi