Japanese Yokai Are Coming... Gyeongju Expo, 'Amazing Yokai' Exhibition

Held at the Culture Center from the 13th to the 26th

The "Yokai Parade" exhibition, which began in Rome, will be held at the Gyeongju Expo Culture Center after stops in Seoul and Jeju.

Hosted by the Consulate General of Japan in Busan (Consul General Osuka Tsuyoshi), the Japan Foundation, and Gyeongju City, and organized by the Korea-Japan Cultural Forum, the exhibition "Yokai Parade: Mysterious Yokai from Japan" will take place at the Gyeongju Expo Park from the 13th to the 26th.

The exhibition introduces Japanese yokai culture, widely known through various toys and media such as films, focusing on Emaki (??, picture scrolls) and Nishiki-e (錦?, a type of ukiyo-e print made with various colors).

Throughout history and across cultures, various images of unexplained mysterious phenomena have existed, and Japanese yokai are among these supernatural characters that appear in numerous stories to surprise or frighten people.

A yokai at Itokuin Temple located in Iwaki City, Fukushima.

As times changed and new science and technology transformed people's lives, Japanese yokai gradually shed their fearful image and became playful, friendly companions.

In Japan, the culture of enjoying ghost stories continues during summer, and yokai frequently appear in TV shows, theaters, and animations.

This exhibition invites visitors into the mysterious world of yokai, focusing on the "popularization" of these Japanese supernatural beings.

A representative from the Korea-Japan Cultural Forum said, "We invested considerable time and effort to bring the exhibition, which started in Rome, to Gyeongju after Seoul and Jeju. This exhibition introduces the yokai culture hidden within the daily lives of Japanese people," expressing hopes for many visitors.

Gyeongju Expo Grand Park.

Ryu Hee-rim, CEO of Gyeongju Expo Park, stated, "In Japan, there is even a term called 'yokai industry,' showing how deeply yokai culture is rooted. Well-known animations and the cute 'Pokemon' are also based on Japanese yokai culture," adding, "We hope this exhibition will provide an opportunity to explore Japanese yokai culture and discover what kinds of yokai exist within our own culture."

The opening ceremony is scheduled for the 13th at 2 p.m. in the Culture Center exhibition hall, with attendance from the Consul General of Japan in Busan, Mayor Joo Nak-young of Gyeongju, and others.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.