Shōjō - 猩々 - [Yokai]

•About this Yokai•

If you’ve ever heard someone call someone else a “DRUNKEN MONKEY” in your favourite Animes English dub, then chances they where actually referring to this yokai! –

Shōjō - 猩々 - Shojo are happy go lucky, tipsy monkey-men who supposedly live off the coasts of Japan & China. - (in china they’re instead known as “xīng-xīng”) – they delight in drinking and brewing magical Sake - Due to the red face and orange hair of this yokai, their name is also the word used for ‘orangutan’ as previously stated, it is also slang to refer to someone who is a heavy drinker!! - There is a very popular kyogen play (a short performance in the middle of a longer noh play) & kabuki plays of the same name:

"Shōjō Midare" - 猩々乱 - is a story about a wine seller from china who dreams of selling alcohol and becoming rich enough to support his parents: he does so, and he succeeds in selling lots! - But one day, he meets an interesting customer who's never satisfied and drinks like a fish! He will not get drunk, no matter how much he drinks!! Curious, the seller asks the strange customer his name: the customer happily responds that his name is shōjō and that he lives in the ocean!  The mystery man then leaves (without paying.) –Feeling suspicious (& ripped off), the seller goes to a nearby beach with liquor in hand and he ready's a trap for this so called shojo: a big ol' crock pot full of sake. But, when he gets there. the Shojo is already red in the face flat-out-drunk, noticing the crock pot, it drinks some more, does an amusing, clumsy dance. When hes done. It notices that the seller has come to visit. Absolutely jubilant over the fact that the seller came out to see him (and grateful for more wine/sake) He rewards the seller with a crock pot which will never ever run out of drink! - The two then share a toast, rejoice and dance one more dance before they both pass out. - However, the man awakes the next morning, it seems that was all a dream.. he laments about his friend: but he is pleasantly surprised to realize that the magical pot is right next to him when he gets up!!

See also: "Kameosa"

Sticker Art by @Samkalensky (yo, thats me!) - Part of my Night parade of 100 Demons - Yokai & Japanese folklore sticker collection, weather resistant 4" Glossy sticker. Check my shop & follow @samkalensky for many more!