Yokai is a type of creatures in Japanese folklore such as Oni, Nopperabou, Yuki-onna, Rokurokubi, etc. They are not ghosts but mysterious freak creatures. (By the way, one of the best places to start learning about Yokai is Shigeru Mizuki‘s cartoons including Ge Ge Ge No Kitaro.)
A group of Japanese artists called Air Brake creates new media art installations that are inspired by the idea of Yoikai. In 2002, they made Yamiwarashi, which people wear (like they are haunted from behind) and makes it hard for them to see. If the wearer doesn’t move, he can’t see anything at all. But if he starts walking or running, he can see. Devices embedded in it provide this functionality.
[Yamiwarashi. Must keep moving unless you want to go back into the darkness.]
A video clip is available here.
More recently, the artists made Notorigaeshi. When people wear (or “haunted” by ) Notorigaeshi, they will experience difficulty talking. Every time the wearer says something, Notorigaeshi says it back to him with a 10-millisecond delay, forcing him to listen to and think about what he says.
[Notorigaeshi.]
Related websites:
Japan Media Art Plaza
Digital Stadium
MyCom PC Web