Japan Has a Wild ‘Night Parade of 100 Demons’ That’s Over 1,000 Years Old

Hyakki Yagyo, or also known as the “Night Parade of 100 Demons,” is celebrated in northern Kyoto at the Taishogun Shopping Street on the third Saturday of October every year, according to SoraNews24.

The Hyakki Yagyo refers to an uncontrolled horde of supernatural creatures known in Japanese folklore as oni (ogre or troll) and yokai (monsters, spirits, and demons).

While the exact origin of the parade is unclear, a Hyakki Yagyo with real yokai occurred on the same street during the Heian Period (794-1185).

Legend has it that it started when the residents abandoned their old antiques by the side of the road while cleaning up.

These antiques allegedly became angry and turned into spirits to seek revenge on the people living in the area in the middle of the night.

But this year’s celebration, however, doesn’t have real ghosts, ghouls or goblins. Students from Saga Art College created the scary costumes to help promote events like this in the area.

Although the celebration is filled with scary monsters and demons, the Night Parade of 100 Demons is reportedly not an official Halloween event.

Check out some other pictures and videos taken from the event below.

The next Hyakki Yagyo will take place on Oct. 17, 2020.

Featured Image via Twitter / @puppychan_dayo (Left, Right)