Mononoke Diary Illustration by Ayako Ishiguro – Inou Mononoke Roku Emaki

The story “Inou Mononoke Roku,” which originated in the mid-Edo period, has been turned into a picture book through the collaboration of master yokai creators Natsuhiko Kyogoku and Ayako Ishiguro.

The story depicts the mysterious interactions between the protagonist Heitaro Inou and the yokai who come to scare humans.

This record of interactions, written in the mid-Edo period, has been novelized, made into picture books and plays numerous times, and recently adapted into manga and opera. It is considered the “pinnacle of yokai stories” that has evolved to this day. Not only do many eerie yokai, including the Demon King, appear, but real places that still exist today and historical figures also feature in the story.
Additionally, in Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, where the story originated, you can enjoy “Inou Mononoke Roku” in various forms, such as visiting related sites and the Miyoshi Mononoke Museum, which houses valuable materials.