Nurikabe - ぬりかべ - [Yokai]

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Nurikabe - ぬりかべ

• About this yokai: Nurikabe blocks your way!!! - A Mysterious, invisible Yokai that blocks your path like an ever extending barrier at night: Most accounts of Nurikabe come from Kyūshū as a way of explaining why travellers might have gotten lost at night. if you're a friend to yokai perhaps he'll protect you instead.

• History: The popular rectangle, "Mr Wall" Nurikabe design [Similar to below] was originally drawn by Mizuki Shigeru (Yokai Scholar, Folklorist & Author/artist behind "Gegege Kitaro.") – it was said that he encountered a Nurikabe in New Guinea (during the war; in the 1940s.) - After nearly walking off a cliff, He says the yokai stopped him and saved his life.) – So, in a nutshell, that's why hes one of Kitaro's closer friends. - Mizukis version (along with Tsurube Otoshi) would also later inspire the "Whomps" of mario fame.

[Doodle of my take on a Shigeru Mizuki-esc Nurikabe]

More recently (in 2007) a 3-eyed-dog-like yokai which was labeled as "Nurikabe" was discovered: in BYU Bakemo no e [1660s-1802?] picture scroll – [Though some scholars also contest that the Nurikabe illustrated in Bakemono no e and the Nurikabe of Kyushus folklore are not the same as it appears to be a bit more lion-dog esc.]

[the nurikabe from BYU bakemono-e]

[the nurikabe from 1802]

I decided it would be fun to try and combine the two types.

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!