This might be more appropriate if it was written around Halloween, anyway Ghost Stories have a long history in Japan as`PingMag reminds us with their Ukiyo-e Series #2: Ghostly Worlds piece.

Tim Screech of Mangajin Magazine explores the roots of Japanese Ghosts in detail.

He covers a number of ghostly terms and some well-known Yokai (or 'bewitching apparitions') and the connection with Shinto beliefs of Yurei (or spirits of those who died violently, not peacefully).

According to Tim's take, all this is related to the ancient Buddhist belief that "nothing in this world is stable, no form of existence is anything more than a wandering through flux. People may think they have a self, and may strive to build an ego, or worry about their personal consistencies or reputations, but these concerns are delusions. A "self" is an imaginary construct; and so, in a sense, "transformation" is actually the truest manifestation of being."

The illustration (taken from Tim Screech piece) is "Rokurokubi: A female monster with an extremely flexible neck."

Another episode in my PingMag (inspired) Thursday Series or should I call it Japanese explorations.

Scooby Doo were are you?

Previously: Monster Suit Paradise: Animal Costumes