Okay, I know this phenomena is a bunch of youkai marching down the street at night that will kill you unless you have some item of the buddhist faith, which I guess would mean something like nenju beads. Now a bunch of questions has been bothering me lately 1. Why exactly do they do this? For the lulz? 2. Is it a youkai only thing or can yurei join in? 3. Does it have to be a buddhist item or does for example my pentagram necklace have the same effect of sparing me their wrath? Or a ring with mantra on it if it must be buddhist?. 4. Are there similar phenomena in other countries? 5. Any stories about encounters with one of these processions? 6. When and where are these supposed to happen? Other than at night and in Japan I mean

On my own opinion, this belief is connected with Buddhism that's why Buddhist items can be used to save oneself from this parade of the hundred demons. Same case with stories from other countries, in our country, the Philippines, we used items related to Christianity to drive off evil spirits since majority in our country are Christians.

O-o I think that maybe the items of faith would work for any religion, but since Japan is historically and culturally a buddhist/shinto/taoist mix the use of a specifically buddhist item may not be as exclusive as it sounds. further, based on the purposes buddhism has played in the communities of japan for centuries, it is possible that these buddhist items represent something beyond buddhism itself. Also i suspect that any item of faith could be used.

as for why the youkai would do it, it could be simply a test of humanity or just a bunch of angry youkai going on a raid.

I wouldn't see any reason why yuurei wouldn't be able to help if so inclined. Faced with a bunch of bugged spirits, I don't think many would be in a sound enough state of mind to see the difference between a youkai and a yuurei... Sort of like if there's a mob in downtown LA, I wouldn't be sticking around long enough to look for different categories of people.

Peaceful parade, yep I'd be counting to see numbers of different sorts.

Why do they need to be angry to start with? It could simply parallel the European knowledge that you don't spy on fairy rings - if otherworldly beings are interrupted in their revels they can become furious with the temerity of the human, could be disgusted by the human, or have other motives that inspire unpleasant feelings in response to being confronted with the ugly little things (joke). Up to the point where the human is discovered, the beings may well have completely different feelings - whatever they'd naturally have when getting together in group, but they might become negative when they find a spy the same as a human would react to another human spying on them in the bath. In a group, they might be more likely to react the same as any human group can easily become a mob.

(New here - actually checking back on an old link I picked up in 2005 for a panel presentation, sorry to see the old board wiped out but good to see folks here again now.)

Welcome to the forums Alice! You may introduce yourself on the Introduction Thread at the General Discussions Board. Please feel free to look around. Back to the topic, I also agree that any item of faith may save one's life but again I would say that religion still greatly affects one's view on this topic. This is only my personal opinion and not necessarily the correct one.

helllo and welcome. Actually, you might be onto something. O.o no one likes party crashers.