The fun of the festival lies in the competitive kite battles where the participants attempt to cut each other's kite strings ...

Anime has become a global phenomenon. But even though millions of people watch it, many do not realize how deeply it draws on Japanese religious traditions. In this course, students learn to look ...

300+ Wolf Names and Meanings (From Alaska to Zion) originally appeared on PetHelpful.

Because they rely on hosts for a majority of functions, viruses aren’t considered alive. But entities like this one ...

Kurama, the fearsome nine-tailed fox in Naruto, draws inspiration from Japanese folklore's kitsune, magical foxes known for their cunning and transfor ...

In Japanese folklore, yokai take many forms — those of ghosts, demons and shape-shifters — and they’re still an ever-present part of the culture, says Ayano, who grew up in Japan and now ...

In Japanese folklore, appearances of these elusive marine creatures dubbed ‘doomsday fish’ are believed to foreshadow earthquakes, though scientists found no strong relationship between these ...

The Kappa is one of Japan’s most infamous mythical creatures—both mischievous and terrifying. Known for its love of cucumbers, strange habits, and eerie powers, this water demon has haunted ...

In Japan and throughout the world, snakes are prominent characters in mythology, from menacing creatures to guardian deities to awe-inspiring symbols of transformation and rebirth.

A deep sea oarfish washed up in Southern California. Some accounts say Japanese folklore saw it a bad omen, while others say the fish were seen as saviors.

A deep sea oarfish washed up in Southern California. Some accounts say Japanese folklore saw it a bad omen, while others say the fish were seen as saviors.