Yōsei
Yōsei (妖精, bewitching spirit) is a Japanese word that is generally synonymous with the English term fairy (フェアリー). Today this word usually refers to spirits from Western legends, but occasionally it may also denote a creature from native Japanese folklore. For example, according to an old folk belief from Iwate Prefecture, it was once feared that the yōsei could bring the dead back to life.
References
- "Definition: Yōsei". Daijirin Dictionary. Retrieved 2007-07-20.
- "Yōsei". Kaii-Yōkai Denshō Database. Retrieved 2007-07-20.