8 signs that your snail is an ogre: Sazae-oni revealed

Ever squashed a snail in the street? Ever eaten a snail, albeit with French cheese? Ever filled an icecream container with snails, painted their shells different colours using your new set of textas, then raced them all afternoon? (OK, so maybe this last one is just me and my sisters, but still…) Ever wondered what [...]

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Fight demons, learn about luck and choose a charm: Japanese demons webquest

Japan’s demons or yōkai are different from any you’ve known. Some yōkai like to shake beans. Others drink oil, or eat cucumbers, or ride your nightmares into the night.. Most of them would like to eat you. If you want to stay safe, you’ll need to know more about how to attract good luck in [...]

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What colour were yōkai demons? Download colouring-in sheets

The Takeshita Demons books feature Japanese monsters and demons, called yōkai (or youkai). Many yōkai were first drawn by Toriyama Sekien, a Japanese artist who lived in the 1700s. These colouring-in sheets feature his original drawings. Head to the resources section of my website to download PDFs for these activities. A kappa is a water-loving [...]

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Japanese yokai memory game: test your memory, learn some Japanese and spook yourself out!

Want to hunt some yokai? You’ve come to the right place! I’ve posted a new game on my website: It’s a ‘match-the-pairs’ challenge that uses the artwork of Toriyama Sekien. Sekien is famous for his early depictions of Japanese monsters, better known as yokai. HOW TO PLAY It’s simple! Use your mouse to click on [...]

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