Yokai Tales Gallery

Aged zither imbued with spirit over centuries, sounding forgotten melodies when left in quiet rooms.

The Edo-period artist Toriyama Sekien depicted many yokai in the form of musical instruments and everyday objects. Among them was the Kotofurunushi, an enchanted koto (Japanese zither), which he illustrated and described in his famous collection of yokai. Meanwhile, the Hizen no Kuni Fudoki records a mysterious tale about a koto in what is now Saga Prefecture.

Saga

An alternate manifestation of the enchanted instrument, echoing ancient folklore recorded in the Hizen Fudoki.

The Edo-period artist Toriyama Sekien depicted many yokai in the form of musical instruments and everyday objects. Among them was the Kotofurunushi, an enchanted koto (Japanese zither), which he illustrated and described in his famous collection of yokai. Meanwhile, the Hizen no Kuni Fudoki records a mysterious tale about a koto in what is now Saga Prefecture.

Saga