"Yōkai" are strange and supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore. They consist of monsters, demons, and goblins, but also includes ghosts, spirits, shapeshifters and other supernatural phenomena. Typically portrayed as "scary," they are merely lonely misfits that want to make friends.

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This idea originated from a place of loneliness. Personally, I related to "Umi-Bozu," a lonely sea monk who is known to cause calamity and destruction and attack ships and sailors. However, he was originally exiled at the edge of the sea because he unintentionally causes calamity. He comes out to sea and attempts to befriend the sailors but ends up accidentally hurting them. So I surrounded him with the group of friends he's always wanted.