Discover Japanese Legends & Folklore

Different cultures around the world have their own sets of myths and stories to tell. Whether they are based on fact or fiction, these legendary stories have truly highlighted the history and essence of the cultures from where these stories originated.

The Japanese, whose race is highly regarded for its deep and rich cultural sense, have a vast lineup of myths in the form of legends and folklore (collectively known as Japanese mythology), which ranks with the best of the world.

Although these were influenced by ancient Chinese traditions and culture, Japanese legends and folklore are on a league of their own. These are more than just stories because they represent a complex belief system followed by the Japanese, having been based on the traditions of Japan’s two major religions, Shinto and Buddhism. Moreover, agricultural folk beliefs also have an influence in Japanese mythology since agriculture has been the main source of living in Japan, especially during the ancient periods.

Given the vast and diverse history of Japanese legends and folklore, their influence had an effect not only in Japanese literature, but also in other aspects of Japanese society such as politics, cultural background, and even the country’s history.