Yokai take over Guam Museum in hauntingly beautiful exhibit

By Ron Rocky Coloma

Japanese folklore creatures known as yokai have arrived in Guam—not in spirit, but through centuries-old scrolls, intricate prints and rare artifacts as part of the new Yokai Parade exhibition at the Guam Museum.

The show, a collaboration between the Japan Foundation, the Guam Museum and the Consulate-General of Japan in Hagatña, marks the global debut of a five-year international touring exhibition.

“This exhibition is part of the Japan Foundation’s touring exhibition, which will travel worldwide over five years,” said Naoko Leasiolagi of the Consulate-General of Japan in Hagatña. “Yokai Parade is one of 15 exhibitions in the collection. As the first stop on a tour across North America and Australia from 2025 to 2026, Guam serves as a symbolic kickoff for this exhibition.”

The island was chosen for more than its geographic location. Leasiolagi said Guam’s cultural heritage, steeped in reverence for nature and ancestral spirits, makes it an ideal setting for the showcase.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The island’s deep CHamoru heritage and strong connection to nature create a meaningful backdrop for engaging with Japanese yokai, which also reflect nature-based spirituality,” she said. “Hosting the exhibition in Guam emphasizes the shared sensibilities of island cultures and highlights Guam’s unique voice in this global cultural conversation.”

Yokai (妖怪) are supernatural beings in Japanese folklore that have long fascinated and puzzled generations. They range from animal-like creatures to completely invented monsters and are often used to explain the unexplainable.

“They were used to explain mysterious natural events before science,” Leasiolagi said. “Some are scary, others playful, reflecting curiosity and fear of the unknown. Passed down through stories, scrolls and prints, yokai express traditional beliefs about nature and spirits.”

From woodblock prints of the Edo period to modern-day appearances in anime, yokai have shifted over time—from fearsome omens to friendly icons.

“In the Edo period, yokai—once symbols of fear toward nature, darkness and spirits—became widely recognized through picture scrolls and woodblock prints,” she said. “As their images spread, they shifted from frightening to familiar, becoming part of everyday life.”

That transformation mirrors Japan’s modernization, as folklore became fused with media and commerce. “With modernization and the rise of science, yokai lost their role as real supernatural beings and became entertainment icons in anime, films and toys,” she added.

Today, yokai have become cultural bridges between generations—and even between countries.

“Yokai have greatly influenced contemporary pop culture in Japan and worldwide,” Leasiolagi said. “In Japan, anime like GeGeGe no Kitarō and games like Yo-kai Watch bring traditional yokai to modern audiences. Films like Spirited Away blend yokai folklore with fantasy. Globally, yokai motifs appear in franchises like Pokémon and attract interest from international artists and scholars.”

The exhibit also invites comparisons between Japan’s yokai and Guam’s own spirit figures.

“While Japanese yokai often represent psychological states and societal fears in visual form, Guam’s Taotaomo'na reflect reverence for nature and ancestral presence,” Leasiolagi said. “By contrasting these supernatural beings, the exhibition encourages young people to explore how folklore expresses the spirit of a culture.”

Transporting these delicate works, several hundred years old, required extensive coordination and care.

“Ensuring the safety and preservation of fragile artworks like scrolls, prints and artifacts is paramount,” she said. “This requires specialized packaging, climate-controlled transport and careful handling to prevent damage.”

The exhibition aligns with the Japan Foundation’s mission to promote cultural exchange, Leasiolagi added.

“Through historical art and modern interpretations, it reveals how Japan has viewed nature, fear and the unknown,” she said. “By presenting these stories in an engaging way, the exhibition encourages cross-cultural understanding and dialogue.”