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©2026 Kagemaru Himeno / SoundWorksK Marketing LLC.
by Kagemaru Himeno
Original illustration
Monkey head, tiger limbs, tanuki body, serpent tail — composite dread of ancient Kyoto reborn under a Reiwa moon.
In ancient Japan, Yokai (妖怪) were the embodiment of human terror—unknowable fears given physical form through the power of imagination. The creature depicted in this artwork is known as the "Nue" (鵺). Possessing the face of a monkey (猿), the body of a Japanese raccoon dog (狸), the limbs of a tiger (虎), and the tail of a snake (蛇), its composite form—a fusion of various human fears—can be said to be the very concept of "Yokai" itself. Physical descriptions vary across historical texts, showing diverse depictions particularly regarding the tiger and tanuki elements of its torso.
In ancient times, people heard an uncanny voice echoing through the nighttime streets as an omen of ill fortune, giving shape to the "Nue" in their minds. Each time they heard its call, they prayed in fear of impending disaster. Yet, Yokai were not meant merely to evoke terror; they profoundly shaped the Japanese psyche—serving as warnings of impending calamity, lessons to protect against danger, and moral tales against straying from societal virtues.
Renowned as one of the most terrifying Yokai, the Nue has been depicted repeatedly in Japanese creative works throughout history. Even in modern pop culture, its presence endures across mediums ranging from manga to television series, making memorable appearances in titles such as Jujutsu Kaisen, ONE PIECE, Hell Teacher Nūbē, Ninja Sentai Kakuranger, and more. To this day, the Nue continues to be passed down among the Japanese people as a synonymous symbol of Yokai.
Among the numerous legends of the Nue, the most well-known account appears in The Tale of the Heike (平家物語, Heike Monogatari), a 13th-century military epic. According to legend, when the Emperor fell gravely ill due to the Nue's ominous presence, the samurai warrior Minamoto no Yorimasa (源頼政) was summoned to shoot down the beast with a single arrow. Soon after, the Emperor miraculously recovered, and peace returned to Kyoto. Fearing the creature's curse, the people set its remains adrift on a boat down Kyoto's Kamo River; legend has it that when the vessel eventually washed ashore by the sea, the Nue was buried with great care and respect.
Reappearing tonight under a moonlit night in the Reiwa era (Japan's current period, beginning in 2019), clutching an arrow in its jaws, what message might the Nue be delivering to us now?
In ancient Japan, Yokai (妖怪) were the embodiment of human terror—unknowable fears given physical form through the power of imagination. The creature depicted in this artwork is known as the "Nue" (鵺). Possessing the face of a monkey (猿), the body of a Japanese raccoon dog (狸), the limbs of a tiger (虎), and the tail of a snake (蛇), its composite form—a fusion of various human fears—can be said to be the very concept of "Yokai" itself. Physical descriptions vary across historical texts, showing diverse depictions particularly regarding the tiger and tanuki elements of its torso.
In ancient times, people heard an uncanny voice echoing through the nighttime streets as an omen of ill fortune, giving shape to the "Nue" in their minds. Each time they heard its call, they prayed in fear of impending disaster. Yet, Yokai were not meant merely to evoke terror; they profoundly shaped the Japanese psyche—serving as warnings of impending calamity, lessons to protect against danger, and moral tales against straying from societal virtues.
Renowned as one of the most terrifying Yokai, the Nue has been depicted repeatedly in Japanese creative works throughout history. Even in modern pop culture, its presence endures across mediums ranging from manga to television series, making memorable appearances in titles such as Jujutsu Kaisen, ONE PIECE, Hell Teacher Nūbē, Ninja Sentai Kakuranger, and more. To this day, the Nue continues to be passed down among the Japanese people as a synonymous symbol of Yokai.
Among the numerous legends of the Nue, the most well-known account appears in The Tale of the Heike (平家物語, Heike Monogatari), a 13th-century military epic. According to legend, when the Emperor fell gravely ill due to the Nue's ominous presence, the samurai warrior Minamoto no Yorimasa (源頼政) was summoned to shoot down the beast with a single arrow. Soon after, the Emperor miraculously recovered, and peace returned to Kyoto. Fearing the creature's curse, the people set its remains adrift on a boat down Kyoto's Kamo River; legend has it that when the vessel eventually washed ashore by the sea, the Nue was buried with great care and respect.
Reappearing tonight under a moonlit night in the Reiwa era (Japan's current period, beginning in 2019), clutching an arrow in its jaws, what message might the Nue be delivering to us now?