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kyuan religion of Okinawa are also believed to be                              -Z-
   C     Yosei.
   h                                                            Zashiki Warashi- is a Yokai, stemming from Iwate
   a     Yosuzume - is a mysterious bird that sings at night,   Prefecture.  According to folklore, to attract and
   p
   t     sometimes indicating that the Okuri-Inu is near.  A    maintain a Zashiki Wwarashi in the home it is said
   e     Yokai of birds, the knowledge of which are handed
   r                                                            that the spirit must be noticed, appreciated and cared
         down within the Aichi Prefecture towns of Tanoku-      for properly, much in the manner one would raise a
         chi/Kuroshio, Tomiyama/Nakamura, in Kitagawa,          child, though too much attention may drive it off.
         Aki District, in Minamiuwa District, Ehime Prefec-     The Zashiki Warashi is child-like in nature and is
         ture, and in other places.                             prone to playing harmless pranks and occasionally
         Yuki Onna "snow woman- is a Yokai that appears         causing mischief.  There are different variations as to
         on snowy nights as a tall, beautiful woman with long   who can see the Zashiki Warashi; usually this is lim-
         black hair and blue lips. Her inhumanly pale or even   ited to inhabitants of the house, sometimes to chil-
         transparent skin makes her blend into the snowy        dren.
         landscape.  She is at the same time beautiful and se-  Zennyo Ryou "goodness-like dragon-king"- is a rain
         rene, yet ruthless in killing unsuspecting mortals.    -god dragon. According to Japanese Buddhist tradi-

                                                                tion, the priest Kukai made Zennyo Ryuo appear dur-
                                                                ing a famous rainmaking contest at the Kyoto Imperi-
                                                                al Palace.

                                                                Zuijin- are kami warrior-guardians, who often hold
                                                                bows and arrows for mortals.  Statues of Zuijin are
                                                                often placed flanking shrine gates.
















































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