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Japanese horror (also known as J-horror) is horror fiction arising from popular culture in Japan, generally noted for its unique thematic and conventional treatment of the horror genre differing from the traditional Western representation of horror. Mediums in which Japanese horror fiction is showcased include literature, film, anime, video games, and artwork. Japanese horror tends to focus on psychological horror, tension building (suspense), and supernatural horror, particularly involving ghosts (yūrei) and poltergeists. Other Japanese horror fiction contains themes of folk religion such as possession, exorcism, shamanism, precognition, and yōkai.

The history of Japanese horror can be traced back to the Edo period and the Meiji period, when horror fiction and ghost stories known as kaidan emerged in Japan. Additionally, the traditional Japanese theater forms of Kabuki and Noh often depicted narratives involving vengeful spirits and death; these elements of Kabuki and Noh influenced later works of Japanese horror, such as the films Onibaba (1964) and Kwaidan, which in turn inspired Japanese horror franchises like The Ring and Ju-On. Subgenres of Japanese horror include kaiju fiction, referring to works that depict giant monsters, and zombie fiction.