Japanese Spirit Lore
Aokigahara Forest
The sea of trees, Aokigahara Forest or otherwise known as the hanging or suicide forest (as pictured above) is a site that is the center of much spirit speculation.
Research has been done with regards to not only the suicide rates in Japan in general but specifically in this forest.
Movies appeal to the morbidity of the vast depressing history of the forest creating spine tingling stories crafted around the recent and not so recently departed.
Urban Legends
Urban Legends like the one above (Do you think I am pretty?) can date back generationally as a form of folklore as cautionary tales.
The Boy Who Drew Cat's is another type of urban legend, though it too has a repeating caution of "avoiding large places at night - keep to
small". This folklore still holds a place in Japanese villages who keep drawings of cats around to ward off evil (Littledale 1970).
Animal Yōkai
While Yōkai is traditionally portrayed as a disturbing and dark affair, the Japanese do not all see them that way.
Animal spirits are positives forms of the Yōkai. lore, such as the ones told in Vengeful Spirits or
Loving Spiritual Companions? Changing Views of Animal Spirits in Contemporary Japan, covers the movement in Japanese society for rituals and ceremonies for
lost pets.
Animal Yōkai have gained popularity due to "literature. Once regarded as threatening, vengeful spirits, pet spirits have emerged as loving, faithful spiritual companions" (Ambros
2010).