What Is Hyakki Yagyo? A Japanese-Style Halloween with Yokai Coloring Pages
Every October, pumpkins and ghosts show up everywhere. If you would like to try something different this year, why not take a look at Japan's own parade of spooky characters? Japanese folklore has its own tradition of night-time creatures, and it makes a wonderful theme for coloring.
In this article we look at the basics of Hyakki Yagyo (百鬼夜行), often translated as the "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons," and then introduce a yokai-themed coloring set with color samples from the Mori no Akari Series.
What is Hyakki Yagyo?
Hyakki Yagyo is a phrase for a procession of oni (demons) and yokai (supernatural creatures) that appear at night. An explanation created by the National Diet Library on Japan Search notes that these processions include not only demons and animals but also everyday objects that have turned into yokai.
When you look at old picture scrolls, the fun is not only in the scary side. You also notice the playful shapes: long, thin limbs, forms that remind you of familiar household items, and a line of figures that keeps moving forward. That sense of discovery is a big part of why yokai are such a popular subject for illustration.
Reference: National Diet Library, "Hyakki Yagyo" on Japan Search (Japanese)
What Halloween and yokai have in common
The Library of Congress explains that the roots of Halloween lie in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain and in later Christian customs. That does not mean Halloween and yokai folklore share an origin. They do not.
Reference: Library of Congress, "The Origins of Halloween Traditions"
Still, the two traditions share a certain atmosphere: a night when unusual figures appear, a lively crowd, and a touch of mystery. Their origins and cultures are completely different, but you can enjoy them side by side. If you would like to introduce Japanese yokai to friends abroad, or simply spend Halloween with a Japanese flavor, Hyakki Yagyo is an easy place to start.
About the "Hyakki Yagyo no Utage" coloring set
Hyakki Yagyo no Utage: Yokai Halloween Coloring is a coloring set with color samples that combines yokai with a Halloween mood. It is sold in the Mori no Akari online store. Please note that the product names in the store appear in Japanese.
Here is what Set 01 of the download edition includes:
- Format: Download edition (digital data). Nothing is shipped to you.
- Contents of Set 01: 3 line-art pages and 3 matching color samples, 6 images in total.
- Files: A ZIP archive containing a 6-page A4 PDF, a 6-page 8.5 × 11 inch PDF, and 6 JPG files. The two PDF sizes contain the same three artworks.
Set 01 features a nine-tailed fox, a black cat in a witch's hat, and a figure in Japanese dress working with spider silk. If you enjoy coloring moonlit scenes or the patterns on kimono, it is a good set to look at first.
▶ View Hyakki Yagyo no Utage, Download Edition Set 01
There are other sets in the series too. Compare the pictures and contents on each product page, and check the price, print size and file format before you buy.
Why coloring pages with color samples are helpful
"With color samples" means that, in addition to the coloring pages, you also get finished examples showing one way to color them.
- When you cannot decide on a color, the sample gives you something to start from.
- You can follow the sample's palette, or change it to your own favorites.
- If it has been a while since you last colored, it is easier to take the first step.
Yokai are a subject with no fixed color rules, which makes them ideal for experimenting. Use the sample as a guide and turn the parade into your own.
How a download edition works
A download edition is a digital product. You receive the data and print it yourself.
- Buy the product and download the files.
- Print the pages on your own printer or at a print shop.
- Color them with colored pencils or any other tool you like.
You can choose whatever coloring tools you prefer. Because paper and tools react differently, it is a good idea to test the colors on a margin or a spare sheet first. Please also follow the notes on the product page when you use the printed pages.
A few small tips for coloring yokai
- To create a night-time mood, start with deep blues and purples in the background.
- For glowing parts such as lanterns, add the brightest colors last.
- Limiting a yokai's face to a single color can make its outline stand out.
- If you are unsure, try changing just a few colors from the sample.
These are general ideas for coloring, not rules. There is no right answer, so feel free to experiment.
Who this set is for
- People who would like to spend Halloween with a Japanese atmosphere
- Anyone who loves yokai, Hyakki Yagyo, or Japanese folk motifs
- Colorists who want to work slowly while checking a color sample
- People who would like to share Japanese yokai culture with friends through pictures
- Anyone who likes to print at home and enjoy several pages at once
On the other hand, if you want a finished picture to hang on the wall, or you would like a physical item delivered by mail, a download edition is not the right fit. You print and color it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy every set to enjoy it?
No. Sets 01 to 12 are separate products. Open the pages that interest you and compare the pictures.
What does "3-page set" mean?
For Set 01 described here, you get 3 line-art pages to color plus 3 matching color samples. "3" refers to three artworks, and the set contains 6 images in total. For other sets, please check the breakdown on each product page.
Can children enjoy it with me?
Please check the age notes and warnings on the product page, and look at the line art, to decide whether a set suits the person who will use it.
Can I enjoy it after Halloween?
Yes. Yokai and Hyakki Yagyo are not tied to one season. The product name refers to Halloween, but you can color it any time of year.
Summary
- Hyakki Yagyo is a Japanese tradition of yokai and demons appearing in a night-time parade.
- It has also been a favorite subject for picture scrolls and illustrated books.
- Hyakki Yagyo no Utage is a yokai-and-Halloween coloring set with color samples, offered as a download edition.
- Each set differs, so check the pictures and descriptions on the product page.
This Halloween, take your time and add color to a Japanese-style parade of yokai.