what are yokai

Yōkai are a class of supernatural entities and spirits in Japanese folklore. The word yōkai is composed of two kanji characters which both mean "suspicious, doubtful." Yōkai are not literally demons in the Western sense of the word, but are instead spirits and entities, and they can be viewed as kami, although this comparison is more often applied to actively "antagonistic" yōkai. Their behavior can range from malevolent or mischievous to benevolent to humans. Yōkai often have animal-like features, but may also appear humanoid in appearance, or resemble inanimate objects. They are typically described as having spiritual or supernatural abilities, with shapeshifting being the most common trait associated with them. Yōkai are broad and vague, encompassing ghosts, gods, transformed humans and animals, spirit possession, urban legends, and other strange phenomena. The concept of yōkai is broader than the English-language monster or spirit, and it can indicate any unexplainable phenomenon. Yōkai had existed in Japanese folklore for centuries, but it was during the Edo period (17th-19th centuries) that they began to be widely seen in art. Today, yōkai continue to proliferate, using various media such as anime, manga, and video games to reach a global audience.