(of Great Wave fame) created a series of sketches titled Hyakki Yagyō , though his interpretation was more abstract—skeletal figures melting into ink clouds. Hokusai’s yokai feel like fever dreams, where the brushstroke itself becomes a demon’s tail.

For centuries, this terrifying yet whimsical procession has captivated artists, terrified villagers, and inspired the DNA of modern horror and fantasy. But what exactly is this parade, and why does a simple scroll painting of a one-legged umbrella still haunt our collective imagination? The term Hyakki Yagyō translates literally to "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons." However, the number "one hundred" is a metaphor for a multitude. It refers to a chaotic, annual exodus where yokai (supernatural beings, spirits, and monsters) leave their haunted dwellings and march freely through the human world.

Tonight, before you turn off your light, look at the umbrella in the corner. Look at the pair of shoes by the door. Look at the old phone in the drawer.

They are waiting. And they are having a parade. Have you encountered the Night Parade in modern media? Do you have a favorite yokai from the scrolls? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

There is a specific moment in Japanese folklore when the world turns inside out. As the last vermillion light of dusk fades behind the mountains, the koshin (boundary between worlds) blurs. It is then, under a fractured moon, that the Hyakki Yagyō —the —begins.