Talk: Exploring Yōkai in Folklore, Art & Imagination
Tuesday, June 23
6:00pm - 7:30pm
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2026-06-23 18:00:00
2026-06-23 19:30:00
America/New_York
Talk: Exploring Yōkai in Folklore, Art & Imagination
Masaaki Suzuki gives an overview of yōkai, supernatural beings from Japanese folklore. Winners of the Yōkai Fan Art Competition will also be announced.
Princeton Public Library - Community Room
Princeton Public Library
Community RoomMasaaki Suzuki gives an overview of yōkai, supernatural beings from Japanese folklore. Winners of the Yōkai Fan Art Competition will also be announced.
Local resident and independent researcher Masaaki “Aki” Suzuki presents an introduction to the world of Japanese yōkai, supernatural beings that exist between humans and nature, fairy and monster.
Drawing on Japanese folklore, art history, and pop culture, the talk explores how yōkai differ from Western monsters and how animistic beliefs continue to influence manga, anime, and contemporary storytelling. From oni and tsukumogami to Demon Slayer and Pokémon, Suzuki examines how these mysterious figures have evolved over centuries through storytelling and visual art.
The event will also include a ceremony announcing the winners of the Yōkai Fan Art Competition, which invited teens ages 13–19 to create original artwork inspired by the mythological creatures of Japanese anime and manga. In addition, this program serves as the closing event for Spirits Among Us: Yōkai Paintings by Minako Ota, an exhibition featuring 25 original paintings exploring the world of yōkai, on view in the library’s second-floor Reading Room through June 26.
Community Room Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Assistive listening system compatible with personal T-coil-enabled devices (compatible headphones also available for use during programs)
- English-language subtitles for films (when available)
- If there is an accommodation that you need or would like so that you can fully enjoy library programs, please visit our Accommodations Request Form.
EVENT TYPE: | Lectures & Panels | Exhibitions | *No Registration |
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