FUKUSAKI, Hyogo Prefecture—An eerie initiative to transform the hometown of famed folklorist Kunio Yanagita into a haven for “yokai” ghouls is working wonders for local tourism, drawing more ...

Long before the supernatural mermaid-like “yokai” shot to fame, however, a U.S.-born illustrator living here started introducing Japanese ghouls and hobgoblins to the world while providing ...