Photo/Illutration Illustrations of “yokai” ghouls and hobgoblins drawn by horror manga artist Shigeru Mizuki are displayed at a special exhibition in Yokohama. (Yusuke Masuda) ((c) Mizuki Production)

YOKOHAMA--The Sogo Museum of Art here is running an exhibition that taps into the secrets of Shigeru Mizuki’s creative process for his drawings of “yokai” ghouls and hobgoblins.

Mizuki (1922-2015) is best known for his “GeGeGe no Kitaro” horror manga series.

The artist used to frequent a used bookstore district to collect publications of Toriyama Sekien, an ukiyo-e artist of the Edo Period (1603-1867), and folklorist Kunio Yanagita. Mizuki gained inspiration from these works.

His yokai illustrations were always based on folktales and ukiyo-e paintings, and he used his imagination when he only had textual information.

The exhibition features 112 yokai illustrations, reference materials used for his works, and his comic books translated into various languages.

His work tools and yokai statues are also on display.

The “Hyakkiyako Exhibition of Mizuki Shigeru” is being held at the museum on the sixth floor of the Sogo Department Store’s Yokohama outlet until March 10.

The venue is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with last entry at 7:30 p.m.

Admission is 1,600 yen ($11) for adults, 1,400 yen for senior high school and college students and free for junior high school students and younger children.

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