Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Horse Demon (馬鬼, Baki)
Category: Horse
The Myth
Baki is a modern yōkai described by Ariyuki Sato in his Yokai Encyclopedia (1980). According to Sato, it is born from the curse of a horse that suffered cruel treatment at the hands of humans. After death, the animal’s resentment transforms it into a supernatural horse demon.
The creature is not based on an older traditional legend. Its illustration in the encyclopedia uses a still photograph of the Uma-oni from the 1968 Daiei films Yokai Hyaku Monogatari and Yokai Daisenso. However, that film monster was originally depicted as a prison guard and has no traditional connection to the yōkai called Baki.
For this reason, Baki is generally regarded as a modern yōkai created by Ariyuki Sato rather than a creature from classical Japanese folklore.
Sources
TYZ. (n.d.). バキ (Baki). In 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1010655032.html