Let me tell you a story.
A real, kuromaku story.
about monsters in Japan.
This one starts in a mountainous region of Japan
In a remote and impassable lost valley once used as a last stand hideout by the Heike clan.
You can find Yokai……..monsters
I was on walkabout in Japan, when I came upon a learned and wise old Japanese man. He told me a story of how, as a child growing up in Shikoku, he had heard stories of monsters hidden deep in the valleys of Iya. He told me how to get there but made me swear I wouldn’t go…said the buses were terrible.
So off I went, in search of the fabled Japanese folklore creatures..the Yokai.
It is said…by many Japanese I’m guessing, that there exists a race of creatures not entirely of this world. Life forms that cover a range of personifications and characteristics mirrored by humanity. Some are bad, some are tricksters, cheeky little buggers… and some are friendly.
Off in search I went, it took months, the old man was right! The buses really were a dog’s breaky.
I travelled to find the daunting view of the valley I needed to explore,
I walked past waterfalls and upon the narrowest tracks with ledges 200 metres straight down. I saw no one, heard no animals… I had my headphones in.
Eventually I came upon another man who told me to stop. I shouldn’t be travelling in this part of the valley, It was…unusual ahead.
Or he could have just been saying G’day.
I came to an impasse, a ropebridge used by ninja’s to defend the valley and play on in their spare time. It was a deadly crossing fraught with danger
I saw this ancient dude crossing and I was right as rain. If he could do it.
The valley seemed to close in on me as I walked, and then up ahead, I thought that there was an object ahead.. It was a building, I walked closer, could it possibly be. Had my journey finally ended. I MUST be close to where the monsters lived? I mean..right?
So I walked stealthily, like a Ninja, I was on the tiniest trail walking alongside the most magical creek. It was Autumn prime. The coloured leaves of the valleys forest set the most magical atmosphere I had ever experienced, like stepping into another world. Was this it? Was I actually entering the fabled Yokai grove? I was pretty excited so I ducked quickly back to use the toilet. no monsters in there thankfully. I continued walking the trail, a large set of boulders appeared in the creek. It was approaching dusk, I was tired, I needed a beer. I was about to turn around when it caught the slightest attention of my unconscious brain. That moment when you switch off one thought and change to another. Right in that moment,
I saw it,
There was something on that rock!!
I stared in quiet disbelief for moments.. Holy snapping duck shit.
It was a Yokai
He paid me little attention, just out catching some rays. But he smiled, so I waved and carried on up the path, surely not a monster?
It was as if my eyes had been opened, a moment of clarity that is difficult to express, but as I continued my walk into their home, the Yokai continued to greet me. They all started appearing… some crazy dudes lived in this forest, but all friendly as…think I really fitted in here.
So the Yokai ARE real
They are also pretty cool people who just like to be left quietly to their own devices and life. Mostly harmless I would say of these woodfolk. A good lesson to observe in life.
Before I left I made a quick visit to see the village leader. She might have boogled me because I left feeling a bit of a shambles. Didn’t know if my left boot was on my right foot. Her puppy was nice though.
As I left the valley, feeling somewhat deprived of the company of these little fella’s. I found the memory fading quickly… Lucky I took some quick notes or this story would remain hidden. On the way out of the Yokai valley, I met a wisened old Japanese man who emparted on me some very important knowledge.
The buses really are shit around here……
Kuromaku View 