My series of gouache and ink paintings depicts a parade of numerous supernatural entities and spirits, known as yōkai, parading through Japanese villages and countryside. This procession, Hyakki Yagyō, was a popular theme in Japanese art, and was usually shown in long scrolls in pre-modern Japan.

I’m interested in both science and myth, as these arenas of knowledge seek to explain the natural world. In Japanese mythology, yōkai provide explanation for natural phenomenon, such as echoing voices in a canyon, creaking floorboards, and other unusual and (at the time) unexplainable observations. In the modern era, these phenomena are explained via science and empirical deduction, but yōkai have not faded away. They have remained popular in contemporary media and culture and have influenced characters such as Yōkai Watch video games, numerous anime films and comics, and the Pokémon franchise.

Learning about yōkai has also allowed me to explore my ancestral Japanese heritage and culture.