To Tokyo Dome for the Furusato Matsuri, a massive festival of awesome things from all over Japan. There was spectacular costumed dancing… …aisle upon aisle of the most delicious regional speciality foods… …and this dude: He’s a Namahage, a terror to Japanese children everywhere. If you’re lazy or disobedient, screaming, roaring Namahage might come to [...]
Category > The Monsters
The Tanuki who Spooked Me
Ever since I arrived in Japan I’d been wondering when I was going to run into these guys: They’re tanuki. I first learned about them and their unusual, um, anatomical powers from the brilliant Studio Ghibli anime Pom Poko, in which they star. While tanuki traditionally tend towards mischief rather than malice, it’s best not [...]
Where The Monsters Are Kept
One reason I came to Japan was to look for monsters. One place I’ve found them is Mandarake, in Nakano Broadway. It’s a hive-like mall of small stalls selling manga, anime, idol merch and all kinds of other stuff. My favourite things were the toys and figurines from old tokusatsu films and dramas. Everything was [...]
Vote Monster
Thanks to @Destroyer_199 for linking to the best thing to come out of the US presidential elections so far: If Godzilla became America’s president, could Tim become Britain’s prime minister? Now, that would be a ’special relationship’ I could believe in. ;p
Don’t Tangle with Tengu
Last weekend, while enjoying the generous hospitality of two new Japanese friends, I made a terrible mistake. We were talking about Tengu, and the festival in their honour held yearly in Shimokitazawa where I’m currently living. Having read something on this subject in the guidebook, I piped up brightly and said, ‘Tengu are yokai, aren’t [...]
I am Boj
Hello! Guest Blogger Laura here, bringing you another snippet of Monsterliciousness! My partner in crime Christian recently found this poetry book from his childhood: Apparently it used to completely horrify him. Quite right too! Honestly, it’s scaring me a little even now. This is down to terrifically terrifying writing from poets such as Ted Hughes, [...]
Sweet / Scary
One thing I’m having to get used to seeing here in Tokyo (especially at this time of year) are the face masks. They’re worn out of consideration for other people, to protect them from your germs when you’ve got a cold. There’s nothing sinister about them at all. Except… Yokai Attack! The Japanese Monster Survival [...]
The Right Guidebook
I’m typing this post in Tokyo, Japan. I’m here on what, for me, is the trip of a lifetime. I knew I’d need to bring the right guidebook. The top two are great – very useful, full of all sorts of excellent information. But for obvious reasons the bottom one is my favourite. I’ve only [...]
*Imagine the theme from Black Beauty here*
Are we sitting comfortably, dear ones? Because today we’re talking about magical horses. LOVELY! NOT. Isn’t he adorable? This is a kelpie. Kelpies live in lochs and rivers in Scotland, are very beautiful horses, and are terribly friendly. A kelpie will always be happy to help, a bit like an assistant in B&Q, but with [...]
Monsters at The Victoria and Albert Museum
This afternoon I met this dude: Isn’t he handsome? His name is Silver Streak. He was created by David Mach, he’s a good couple of metres tall and he appears to be made entirely out of coat hangers. Silver Streak is currently part of a really brilliant (and free) little exhibition called The Power of [...]
