Yōjin (
Appearance[]
Yōjin's appearance in the 1986 movie.
Yōjin is the name given to paper spirits taking a form of Asian dragons being summoned by Qi. In general, they resemble traditional Asian dragon with four fingers on each limbs, a characteristic which can be generally found on Korean dragons rather than in China (five) and Japan (three).
Colorations of body differs among each anime adaptations, from blue, silver, and green with the yellow or red eyes.
Personality[]
Yōjin is loyal to Qi and is very hostile towards enemies. As a materialized form of paper spirits, Yōjin is also cautious towards flame yōkai.
History[]
1985 Anime[]
Qi summoning Yōjin in the 1986 movie.
Yōjin and Gahi being defeated alongside.
Yōjin appears in the third movie based on the third anime adaptation, GeGeGe no Kitarō: Saikyō Yōkai Gundan! Nippon Jōriku!!.[1] This was the first time that paper spirits summoned by Qi was given specific name and characteristics.
Yōjin was summoned as the trump card for Qi and largely troubled Kitarō and others. However, Maruge witnessed the moment when Qi manifested the paper dragon, Maruge identified that the dragon is indeed a paper spirit. Hearing this, Kitarō summoned Flame Yōkai Five but Bake-Bi with his Yōkai Ocarina to incinerate the dragon. Qi then awoke the unconscious Gahi and countered the Japanese yokai, but Kitarō made the fire yokai to possess his chanchanko and made a spiritual torch which can absorb and enlarge by Gahi's black gust.
Kitarō and others lured Gahi and set a fire on Yōjin, and made the two enormous yokai to collide and tangle. The two then crushed into Qi's castle, resulting in the corruption of it.
1996 Anime[]
Yōjin again appeared as the trump card of Qi, but was soon defeated by two wanyūdōs used as Yagyō-san's Yōkai Car.
This incarnation of Yōjin apparently lacked hind limbs and had a cat-like voice.
2007 Anime[]
A green-colored Yōjin was seen in the second opening and one of visuals for the film GeGeGe no Kitarō: Nippon Bakuretsu!!.
Powers and Abilities[]
Hair Needles Reflection in the 1986 movie.
Yōjin breaking down a tree in the 1986 movie.
In the 1986 movie, Kitarō gave up to defeat Yōjin after seeing its strength until its weakness was reported by Maruge. This incarnation of Yōjin appeared along with thunderclouds with yellowish and reddish lightnings. Additionally, a bolt of energy was seen when Yōjin nearly collided with Ubaga-Bi, although it is unclear whether or not these phenomena are parts of Yōjin's capabilities.
Unique Physiology: Since Yōjin is a manifested form of a paper spirit, it is durable against normal attacks to the point that Medama-Oyaji speculated it being immune against Geta, however they are extremely vulnerable to fire. It is unclear whether or not water, which is effective on other paper spirits, is also effective on Yōjin.
- Physical Prowess: Using its durability and size, Yōjin is able to overwhelm smaller opponents such as Kitarō and others. They use their fangs and claws to attack targets, and can also use their barbels as melee weapons. Yōjin in the 1986 movie had a solid body and effortlessly broke multiple trees with headbutts and tackles.
Levitation: Akin to other incarnations of paper spirits, Yōjin is capable of performing flights without wings.
- Wind: In 1986 movie, Yōjin can create a gust by flying due to its large size.
Hair Needles Reflection: Yōjin in the 1986 movie can swallow Kitarō's Hair Needles and reflect the attacks from its mouth.
Legend[]
Yōjin illustration.
Within the folklore introduced by Shigeru Mizuki, the actual Yōjin is a serpentine spirit or a serpentine deity who wears a red crown on his head and has countless minions including snakes and lizards and bugs.
At one point, Yōjin took over a local shrine which originally belonged to a local god. Yōjin continued to scare people, with illusions such as thousands of soldiers rushing or appearing in one's dream, whoever pass through in front of the shrine but don't put offerings. One man was also scared by Yōjin, but officers of the heaven later helped the man and the original god of the shrine, "slaughtering" a serpent of about several hundred meters in length along with its countless minions using either heavenly flame or lightning. The Yōjin was eventually taken to the courthouse of the heaven.
However, Yōjin again appeared in the man's dream and cursed the man because his family and minions were slain, however the heavenly officers reappeared and persuaded the serpent, and he eventually reformed and apologized to the original god and the man, and took his minions and went to the hell presumably to pay penalty for his sin.
Trivia[]
- Yōjin in the original illustration by Mizuki shares similarities with the ancient and original form of Chinese letter of "dragon" which depicts a serpent wearing a crown.
- One of paper spirits summoned by Qi in the second anime was a dragon-like monster with a head of a human and fins of fish. This entity has been mistaken as Yōjin by Japanese fans on several occasions.