The Demons' Night Out

The Haykki Yagyo (百鬼夜行), literally "the night parade of a hundred demons," is one of the most famous tales in Japanese folklore. It first appeared in a Buddhist text in the 13th century, but its roots undoubtedly extend even further back. It is the story of a nightmarish evening during which legions of yokai, oni, and other fearsome creatures erupted from their usual hiding places to openly terrorize the world of the living. According to one version, they paraded down Kyoto's Ichijo-dori avenue in the late 1100s. Above, a trio of oddballs takes on a shmoo-like creature... Or is it an ambulatory potato? We'll never know for sure.

Now, for the first time in many years, the National Museum of Japanese History has successfully collected all of the surviving picture-scrolls depicting this night of terror into one gallery. They are hundreds of years old and represent cultural treasures. Gathered from temples, museums, and universities all over Japan, this is a rare opportunity to see all of the Hyakki Yagyo scrolls together in one place. 

The Hyakki Yagyo inspired countless generations of Japanese artists, including Toriyama Sekien, who penned an influential series of yokai guides in the 1770s; woodblock artists of the 1800s; and manga masters such as Mizuki Shigeru in the 20th century. The scrolls will be on public display from July 18th through August 30th, alongside a big LCD touchpanel allowing you to scroll through digital copies with your fingertips. Located in Chiba, it's a bit off the beaten path for Tokyo residents and visitors, but well worth the trip. We had to go all the way to Kyoto to see just one of these scrolls during the making of Yokai Attack. Trust me, you won't get another chance to see them all together like this anytime soon.

Comments

[Mark]

I think a modern day Haykki Yagyo is depicted in Ghibli's Pom Poko. I always wondered if the concept was a specific peice of folklore and where it came from, and this seems to be it. The exhibition sounds excellent.

[Leonardo Boiko]

The song to have in your player while visiting the gallery has to be Onmyō-za’s «Hyaku no oni ga yoru wo yuku» http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBo2sPwqDQ8