Japanese Art of Extraordinary Beings

In many "dark fantasy" manga and anime, which are hugely popular today, characters use extraordinary abilities to carve out their destiny.
In Japanese art, too, characters who can be seen as prototypes of those manga and anime characters with extraordinary abilities, such as sorcerers or samurai who control magical beasts, have often been depicted. There are also works here and there, such as giants who slay demons and eat humans, or people whose hands stretch, that are reminiscent of world famous artworks. This timeless collection focuses mainly on creatures with "extraordinary abilities" who appear in ghost stories and legends from the Edo period and explains the current trends behind anime and manga.

• Chapter I: Lineage of Figures with Supernatural Abilities
  The Gathering and Revelry of Supernatural Figures; Arhats, Immortal Hermits, Sorcerers, Japanese Mythological Deities
• Chapter II: Astounding Physical Performances
  Shape-shifting and Extraordinary Mobility of Beings, Falling between Humans and Non-humans
• Chapter III: Threatening Natural Phenomena
  Disastrous Destructibility of Fire, Water, Wind, Thunder, Light
• Chapter IV: Concert of Beasts
  Terrifying yet Dependable Companions; Fierce, Mythical, Divine and Supernatural Beasts
• Chapter V: Profusion of Supernatural Beings
  Embodiments of Human Desires of Flight, Cloning Selves, Curses, Enchantment
• Chapter VI: Fantastical Battles
  Overflow of Life and Imagination; Demon-slaying, Dragon-slaying, Sorcerers' Duels, Grand Conflicts