YOKAI EXPO 2027

Following the success of the inaugural event held in 2025, the organisers have announced that YOKAI EXPO will further expand its mission of sharing yokai culture with audiences in Japan and around the world. The first event attracted approximately 3,500 visitors and was organised by the Shodoshima Tourism Association and the Yokai Museum, with the cooperation of local organisations and municipalities.

YOKAI EXPO brings together organisations, researchers, artists, creators, performers, and cosplayers from across Japan who are engaged in yokai-themed activities. Through exhibitions, performances, workshops, talks, and creative programs, the event creates a vibrant space where participants and visitors alike can experience and celebrate the evolving appeal of yokai culture. Regional groups and organisations present their locally rooted yokai traditions, while the Mononoke Market offers a wide variety of yokai-themed goods such as crafts, accessories, and stationery, alongside interactive workshops and live performances. Tourism promotion initiatives highlight the attractions of Shodoshima and the wider Shikoku region, complemented by appearances from yokai characters and local mascots, as well as corporate and product showcases that include sampling, exhibitions, and sales. Popular food trucks will also gather at the venue, offering visitors the chance to enjoy Shodoshima’s distinctive local cuisine.

The event will feature a special Yokai Talk Show bringing together leading figures in yokai studies. Confirmed speakers include Kazuhiko Komatsu, folklorist and cultural anthropologist, and Goichi Yumoto, folklorist, yokai researcher, and Honorary Director of the Yumoto Goichi Memorial Nihon Yokai Museum (Miyoshi Mononoke Museum). Their discussions will explore the cultural, historical, and contemporary significance of yōkai.

A major highlight of the event will be the yokai fashion show “YOKAI COLLECTION SHODOSHIMA”, in which numerous cosplayers active throughout Japan will take part. In addition, the event will extend beyond the venue with the Shodoshima Hyakki Yagyo Parade, a dynamic procession that will proceed to Angel Road, the popular scenic spot where a sandbar emerges from the sea at low tide twice a day. The parade will be held twice in one day, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience a modern interpretation of the legendary Night Parade of One Hundred Demons set against Shodoshima’s coastal landscape.

The 2026 edition of YOKAI EXPO will be held in conjunction with the 4th Shikoku Yokai Festival and the 4th Setsubun Appreciation Gathering, with free admission and an expected attendance of approximately 3,500 people. In addition to the main event, a month-long tourism campaign titled “Oni Resort Shodoshima” will take place throughout February. Traditionally associated with Setsubun and oni (demons), the month will be reimagined as “Oni Month” (Oni-zai-getsu) on Shōdoshima, inspired by the concept of Kami-ari-zuki in Izumo. Through this initiative, the island aims to enhance tourism by positioning itself as a welcoming gathering place for yokai and oni from across Japan.