Nurikabe (Mr. Wall) 8"x8" Yokai Print

The nurikabe (ぬりかべ) is a yōkai, or spirit, from Japanese folklore. Its name translates to "plaster wall", and it is said to manifest as an invisible wall that impedes or misdirects travelers walking at night. Sometimes referred to in English as "The Wall" or "Mr. Wall", this yōkai is described as quite large, to prevent people from getting around it. There is no way to slip around this yōkai; it extends itself as far as to the left and right as one might try to go. There is no way over it either, nor can it be knocked down. However, it is said that if one taps it near the ground with a stick, it will vanish, allowing the traveler to continue on his or her way.

Little is known about the true appearance of nurikabe because these yōkai are said to be invisible. During the Edo period, artists began to illustrate this creature, giving it an appearance somewhere between a grotesque, fantastic beast and a flat, white wall. Modern representations of the nurikabe depict it as a plain, gray, bipedal wall with vague face-like features.

• Printed on textured 100# matte cover

• Art by: Kevin Corrales (@splitplug.art)

• Size: 8" x 8"

• Note: Prints may ship separately from certain orders.