| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore |
| Best Blend of Narrative & Information | Japanese Mythology: A fascinating introduction to Japanese mythology, myths, and legends |
| Most Comprehensive | Handbook of Japanese Mythology (Handbooks of World Mythology) |
| Best Storytelling | Tales of Japan: Traditional Stories of Monsters and Magic |
| Best for Cat Lovers | Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan |
| Best Visual Aids | The Book of the Hakutaku: A Bestiary of Japanese Monsters (Yokai) |
Key Points
- The Book of Yokai — Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore is our top choice for books on Japanese mythology.
- Japanese mythology is complex, and there are numerous variations and subcategories to explore.
- The books in this list span multiple styles, giving you a healthy selection of options you might love.
World mythology is a fascinating subject to explore, partially because each culture has its own unique mythological story. Wherever you look, you’ll find new myths and hidden meanings.
Japan is no different, and it might even be more exciting to those who have never learned about eastern mythologies in general. Most, if not all, western mythologies are influenced by the myths of the proto-Indo-Europeans.
Those beliefs spread out from Eastern Europe or the Middle East, expanding across Europe and even making an impact as far south and east as India. Then, the subsequent Greek and Roman mythologies weaved themselves into nearly every European belief system in one way or another.
Alternatively, Japanese mythology developed independently of western mythology. The gods, figures, creatures, characters, and meanings are all unique to those that westerners are used to.
The books below were written for those with interest (but not expertise) in Japanese mythology. These are great jumping-off points for anyone looking to deepen their understanding.
Check Amazon- 331 pages.
- A look at Japanese folklore and its influence on culture with Yokai, or supernatural creatures.
- Written by an author who has spent years of research in Japan.
Check Amazon- 101 pages.
- Covers Japanese themes, traditions, history, and mythological deities.
- Advertised as making the topics it covers simple to understand.
Check Amazon- 375 pages.
- A textbook-like analysis of Japanese folklore.
- Looks at the origins of Japanese myths through folklore, Buddhism, and Shinto.
Check Amazon- 168 pages.
- A collection of 15 Japanese folktales.
- A timeless read for anybody who enjoys Japanese culture and history.
Check Amazon- 144 pages.
- A showcase specifically for cat and cat-like creatures of Japanese myths.
- Written by Zack Davisson, the author of numerous books on Japanese folklore.
Check Amazon- 228 pages.
- A bestiary that covers predominant figures of Japanese folklore.
- Part of a series of four books that cover Yokai.
Best Overall: The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore
- 331 pages.
- A look at Japanese folklore and its influence on culture with Yokai, or supernatural creatures.
- Written by an author who has spent years of research in Japan.
We chose The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore as our best book because it does the best job of incorporating Japanese culture’s global influence into the narrative about ancient mythology.
It relates to manga, anime, film, video games, and many other aspects of modern global culture with the historical roots of Japanese myth. The mythological figures of this pantheon are referred to as “yokai,” and this book does its best to examine their role in Japanese folklore.
In this analysis of yokai, the book taps into a deeper understanding of mythology and folklore in general, exploring how these stories are made and allowed to flourish. More specifically, the reader will get an appreciation of how individuals and cultures produce meaning and send it down the line to future generations.
The book is 331 pages long, has a superb 4.7-star rating on Amazon with over 1,550 ratings, and is available on Kindle and Audiobook.
The Pros and Cons of The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Over 1,500 excellent ratings | Not many visual aids |
| Explores numerous spirits (Yokai) in depth | Might not dive into the subject matter deeply enough for some |
| Touches on ancient and modern influences of various myths |
Best Blend of Narrative & Information: Japanese Mythology: A Fascinating Introduction
- 101 pages.
- Covers Japanese themes, traditions, history, and mythological deities.
- Advertised as making the topics it covers simple to understand.
Japanese Mythology: A Fascinating Introduction is the perfect middle ground for anyone looking to have an enjoyable read while learning a great deal of information. It’s not a sleeper, in other words.
You’ll learn the fundamentals of Japanese mythology and all of its key characters without having to pull out a notebook to keep track of the information. Instead, you’ll get a sense of the respective stories and how they tie together into one big tapestry.
You’ll also develop an appreciation for how these stories and myths impacted and helped create Japan as we know it today. If you get engrossed in this book, you’ll certainly finish it with a much deeper appreciation for Japanese culture in general.
It’s a relatively brief book, too, coming in at just 101 pages. It’s available in Kindle and paperback formats and has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon.
The Pros and Cons of Japanese Mythology: A Fascinating Introduction
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Covers the history of Japan | Some editions might have been poorly-printed |
| Looks at mythology in the context of Japanese culture and history | Could be “dry” for readers uninterested in non-fiction |
| Excellent overview of Japanese mythology |
Most Comprehensive: Handbook of Japanese Mythology
- 375 pages.
- A textbook-like analysis of Japanese folklore.
- Looks at the origins of Japanese myths through folklore, Buddhism, and Shinto.
Handbook of Japanese Mythology should be the go-to option for anyone who’s looking for a more academic understanding of Japanese mythology. That isn’t to say that this book is a dry read, though.
It’s just more comprehensive than most other non-academic books on the subject. The book uncovers the myths of various sects of Japanese culture, explores their roots, and offers context as to how they might be interpreted today.
You’ll learn about historical figures, real and mythological, appreciate events influenced by Japanese mythology, and even see how aspects of mythology impact behavior and rituals.
The book draws many crucial parallels between mythology and culture in Japan. For example, learn how myth influences beliefs about the imperial family or general attitudes toward societal norms within the country.
It’s 375 pages long, has an excellent 4.7-star rating on Amazon, and is available on paperback only. This book is also a part of the “Handbooks of World Mythology” series, which includes 8 books in total.
The Pros and Cons of Handbook of Japanese Mythology
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Explore the historical and social impacts of Japanese myth | Lacks storytelling quality |
| Most comprehensive text on our list | Not as visually appealing as other items on our list |
| Satisfying for readers looking for academic understanding | Might not be the right fit for casual readers |
Best Storytelling: Tales of Japan: Traditional Stories of Monsters and Magic
- 168 pages.
- A collection of 15 Japanese folktales.
- A timeless read for anybody who enjoys Japanese culture and history.
Anyone with an interest in folklore or fairy tales will have a great time burning through these stories. It will feel similar to paging through a selection of Grimm’s Fairytales or revisiting Alice in Wonderland.
Chiba Kotaro compiles these traditional Japanese stories with exceptional skill, wit, and poetic faculty. The reader will find that they’re more engrossed in the prose than they might be if they read, say, Little Red Riding Hood, however.
These traditional tales are touching, scary, beautiful, and intriguing. You’ll find 15 stories included, each one as unique as the last. It’s impossible to get an appreciation for mythology without reading its source texts, and folktales are the original thing. Without folktales, there’s no mythology to analyze.
The book is 168 pages, available in Kindle and hardcover formats, and includes numerous beautiful images. Tales of Japan: Traditional Stories of Monsters and Magic also has a 4.8 rating on Amazon with over 1,860 reviews.
The Pros and Cons of Tales of Japan: Traditional Stories of Monsters and Magic
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Features actual Japanese folktales | Not analytic or theoretical |
| Beautiful and captivating writing | Doesn’t offer very much context for the stories included |
| Supportive illustrations and imagery | Could be more challenging for those unfamiliar with Japanese culture |
Best for Cat Lovers: Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan
- 144 pages.
- A showcase specifically for cat and cat-like creatures of Japanese myths.
- Written by Zack Davisson, the author of numerous books on Japanese folklore.
Did you know that Japanese mythology includes cats a lot more frequently than western mythologies do?
Cats have existed as important allies with humans in the fight against disease for thousands of years. As such, they’ve weaved their way into our cultural beliefs and mythologies – particularly those of Japan.
Japan features cats much more heavily, and the resulting characters are fascinating. Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan explores these feline mythological figures in detail, covering their significance and providing beautiful paintings and other visual representations.
It’s the perfect coffee table piece for any cat lover with a little penchant for mythology. This is another book that’s not going to dive deeply into the roots of Japanese mythology, but rather explore some of its finest and furriest characters.
The second edition includes a 10-meter “Japan Supernatural” painting, runs 144 pages long, and is available on paperback.
The Pros and Cons of Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Deep dives feline figures unique to Japanese mythology | Limits itself to cat-related figures |
| Contains beautiful artwork and depictions of characters described | Unavailable on Kindle |
| Discusses mythological cats in historic and modern contexts | Some figures may be scary for younger readers and children |
Best Visual Aids: The Book of Hakutaku
- 228 pages.
- A bestiary that covers predominant figures of Japanese folklore.
- Part of a series of four books that cover Yokai.
For those of you looking to see the gods as you learn about them, The Book of Hakutaku is an excellent choice.
The name of this book is ancient, although the collection of artistic renditions and stories was compiled recently. History tells us that a magical beast once gifted “The Book of Hakutaku” to an emperor, and this book contained visual and textual information about all of the entities of the spirit world—good and evil.
So, in that spirit, this book is a bestiary (a compendium of beasts) listing many of the predominant figures in Japanese mythology. It features over 100 spirits and is 228 pages long. It’s also available in paperback and Kindle formats.
The Pros and Cons of The Book of Hakutaku
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent visual representations | Doesn’t always explain mythological figures in context |
| Covers a wide range of spirits and mythological figures | Lacks some depth for those who want academic-level knowledge |
| Includes written descriptions and facts | Explores specific figures rather than the stories they exist in |
How to Choose The Right Book About Japanese Mythology
For those of you looking to sit down and take notes on a book on Japanese mythology, we suggest the Handbook of Japanese Mythology. This is the option that will give you the best ratio of informational width and depth, allowing you to feel confident in your general understanding of the subject.
A handbook of some kind is a great place to start in any case. You can use the knowledge from more comprehensive texts to improve your experience reading more specific books, such as The Book of Yokai.
Those looking for a real-world understanding of the way Japanese mythology factors into modern life should pick up The Book of Yokai. If you’re not looking for a lot of history or analysis, look to purchase a collection of folktales or a compilation of stories like Tales of Japan—Traditional Stories of Monsters and Magic.
Folktales are really the source texts of mythology, and they’re usually very enjoyable. There’s a reason people have remembered and passed these stories along for centuries and centuries.
Reading a combination of informative, analytical, and compilation-style books may be the best way to get a well-rounded understanding of this subject.
Up Next…
- Animals of Japan
- The Story Behind Japan’s Square Watermelons and Their Skyhigh Price
- What Bears Live in Japan?
| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore |
| Best Blend of Narrative & Information | Japanese Mythology: A fascinating introduction to Japanese mythology, myths, and legends |
| Most Comprehensive | Handbook of Japanese Mythology (Handbooks of World Mythology) |
| Best Storytelling | Tales of Japan: Traditional Stories of Monsters and Magic |
| Best for Cat Lovers | Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan |
| Best Visual Aids | The Book of the Hakutaku: A Bestiary of Japanese Monsters (Yokai) |
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