Description
YOKAI ENCYCLOPEDIA 2 (NE)
Book Summary
Immerse yourself in the fascinating supernatural world of Japan, guided by the legendary Shigeru Mizuki. This second volume of the definitive encyclopedia on yokai is an essential reference work that catalogs, illustrates, and describes in detail more than 800 mythical creatures, from nature spirits and ghosts to demons and guardian deities. With the rigor of a researcher and the talent of a manga master, Mizuki offers a comprehensive, entertaining, and visually stunning guide to understanding the rich mythological tradition of Japan.
What is it about?
This work is an illustrated encyclopedia that collects Shigeru Mizuki's vast knowledge of yokai, the monsters and spirits of Japanese folklore. Through its pages, the reader will discover a universe populated by creatures of all kinds, each with its own story, legend, and graphic representation. Mizuki not only classifies these beings but contextualizes them within popular tradition, explaining their origin, behavior, and the role they play in Japanese culture. The book is organized as an exhaustive catalog, where each entry includes an illustration by the author and a detailed description that combines scholarship with an accessible and often humorous tone. It is, in essence, the bible of yokai, a masterpiece that fuses the art of manga with mythological research.
Main themes
- Japanese mythology and folklore: an exhaustive exploration of the supernatural creatures that populate the legends of Japan.
- Yokai bestiary: detailed cataloging of over 800 entities, including spirits, demons, ghosts, and deities.
- Manga art as an ethnographic document: Shigeru Mizuki's work as a vehicle for preserving and disseminating Japanese oral tradition.
- Relationship between the natural and the supernatural: the Japanese animistic conception where every being, animate or inanimate, possesses a soul.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at fans of manga and comics in general, especially those interested in the work of Shigeru Mizuki and his influence on popular culture. It is also an essential read for scholars and enthusiasts of mythology, Japanese folklore, and cultural anthropology. Any curious reader who wishes to delve into the rich and complex universe of Japan's supernatural beings will find this encyclopedia a complete and fascinating guide.
What this book offers
- In-depth, structured knowledge of Japanese mythology, with detailed information on hundreds of creatures.
- The unique and unmistakable art of Shigeru Mizuki, which brings each yokai to life with his characteristic and expressive style.
- A complete and rigorous reference work, ideal for both consultation and continuous reading.
- A unique perspective that combines the entertainment of manga with the documentary value of an encyclopedia.
Technical specifications
- Author: MIZUKI, SHIGERU
- Publisher: SATORI EDICIONES C.B.
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: GRAPHIC NOVELS AND MANGA AS ART, MYTHS AND LEGENDS TOLD AS FICTION, GRAPHIC NOVELS, GRAPHIC NOVELS: MANGA
- Collection: SATORI ILUSTRADOS
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: September 2022
- Number of pages: 480
- Weight: 1187 g
Editorial assessment
This new edition of Shigeru Mizuki's Yokai Encyclopedia establishes itself as an unavoidable reference work for anyone interested in Japanese culture. Its value lies not only in the exhaustiveness of the catalog but in the artistic quality and encyclopedic knowledge of its author. It is a book that transcends the manga genre to become a first-rate ethnographic document, presented in an accessible and visually attractive format. A recommended acquisition for personal libraries and specialized collections.