"Yamauba [yamamba] are the old hags and witches of the Japanese mountains and forests. . . . Yama uba were once human, but were corrupted and transformed into monsters. They usually appear as kind old ladies. Some sport horns or fangs, but most often they look just like ordinary elderly women, with no sign of their evil nature until they attack." (from Yokai Wiki)
An innovative and synergistic mixed media anthology -- an exciting hybrid of scholarly and creative writing--that encourages engagement, instruction, and rich reading response
Casts a wide net to include academicians, poets, fiction writers, professional Noh performers, contemporary choreographers and performance artists, and visual artists--all focused on one topic with broad application to gender and folklore studies.
Readers interested in women's issues, Japanese culture, literature, Japanese performing arts, mythology
Readers concerned about environmental issues will feel a sense of resonance with the power dynamic universality of the mountain figure.
"The yamamba is still robust in contemporary Japan. She is depicted in various literary works and media including film and manga. Yamamba-like figures such as yamanba-gyaru (yamanba gals) whose unique fashion took major cities by storm, particularly Shibuya in Tokyo, from 1998 through 2000 are still remembered vividly (if not fondly)."--Noriko Reider, from the Introduction
There are 233 programs in women's studies and 56 graduate programs in folklore in the US