Learn Japanese with Yokai! Vol. 4: The Fox and the Tanuki [PAPERBACK + DIGITAL]

For Upper Beginners to Intermediates

Living in shadows and the in-between world of dreams and reality, yōkai thrive in the Japanese imagination.

What exactly are yōkai? They are monsters, ghosts, unnatural beings, and even sentient household objects. Some are playful and mischievous. Others are clever, dangerous, and downright terrifying.

With this series, you don’t just read about yōkai — you learn Japanese through them.

About This Volume

Shapeshifting animals play a major role in Japanese folklore, and few are more famous — or more troublesome — than the fox and the tanuki.

In this volume, you’ll explore stories of deception, illusion, and transformation. Foxes disguise themselves as humans, conjure false rain, and manipulate reality itself. Tanuki are equally clever, often blurring the line between humor and danger.

These tales are not only engaging reading practice — they are foundational stories that appear again and again in Japanese culture, idioms, and modern media.

Length: 83 pages

Features

• Three complete essays or stories focused on fox and tanuki folklore
• Each story presented in three formats:
  1) Sentence-by-sentence breakdown with definitions and commentary
  2) Japanese-only version to test reading ability
  3) Full English translation to confirm understanding
• Sentence-by-sentence sections include furigana over kanji, a complete glossary, and clear explanations of important grammar in plain English
• A link to download free audio files is provided at the end of the book
• Each story includes both normal-speed and slow-speed recordings read by Yumi

Stories Included

• ① Nine-Tailed Fox
• ② The Legend of the Killing Stone
• ③ The Fox’s Wedding

Who Is This For?

This book is designed so that both newer learners and intermediate learners can benefit.

The ideal level is upper beginner, roughly around JLPT N4. Ambitious beginners can still enjoy the material by taking it slowly, while intermediate learners will appreciate the cultural depth and grammar explanations.

If you are learning Japanese and are fascinated by yōkai, folklore, and traditional stories of old Japan, click the Buy Now button and begin studying today.