Uncanny Japan

Ofuda & Omamori: Lucky Talismans & Charms

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:41:00 -0000

After exploring animal spirit possession last episode, Thersa turns to the Japanese ways of staying safe, getting a little lucky, and maybe even finding love through ofuda and omamori, talismans and charms filled with divine power and everyday hope. With birdsong in the background and stories woven throughout, the episode ends on a quietly unsettling note that has ushi no koku mairi (cursing your enemies) vibes.

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Tsukimono: Possessed by an Animal (Ep. 187)

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:15:00 -0000

What is tsukimono? In Japanese culture, it’s the unsettling idea of possession—when a human or animal spirit attaches itself to you and usually does harm.

In this episode of Uncanny Japan, I explore animal possession: foxes, dogs, snakes, and even horses that cling to people for reasons both known and unknowable. What causes it? How can you tell if someone is possessed? And what happens when superstition crosses into real-world harm?

I talk about real eerie (and sometimes silly) historical accounts to my own deeply personal experience. I also look at the strange, the supernatural, and the very human consequences of this fascinating belief.

Perfect for listening while relaxing, walking, or drifting off to sleep.

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Takiyasha Hime & the Gashadokuro: Japan's Frog-Riding Witch & Giant Skeleton (Ep. 186)

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:28:00 -0000

A vengeful princess rides a giant toad into battle while a monstrous skeleton tears through castle walls — and these two legends are connected in ways you might not expect.

In this episode, I dig into the story of Takiyasha Hime, daughter of the infamous Taira no Masakado, and the terrifying Gashadokuro. How did a princess become a sorceress? What kind of magic involves frogs? And is that famous skeleton in Kuniyoshi's print really what everyone thinks it is?

I even found the actual spell she used to summon the skeleton. Should I read it aloud?

[Please Note: Some of the links are affiliate links (both Amazon and other). This means that at no cost to you, if you use and purchase through them I receive a small compensation. This is paid by the retailer. It also helps support me and my artistic endeavors. Thank you.]

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Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

About SpectreVision Radio

SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast network at the intersection between the arts and the uncanny, featuring a tapestry of shows exploring creativity, the esoteric, and the unknown. We're a community for creators and fans vibrating around common curiosities, shared interests and persistent passions.

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Why the Year of the Fire Horse is Dreaded in Japan and Cursed Kimonos (Ep. 185)

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0000

2026 is the year of the fire horse—a year that happens only once every 60 years. Across East Asia, it symbolizes transformation, intensity, and bold action. But in Japan? It's feared. Birth rates actually plummet during fire horse years because of a superstition that dates back to Edo-era Japan.

What does a cursed kimono that burned down 70% of a city have to do with this? And why was a young girl named Oshichi burned at the stake in 1666? Come with me as I explore the tragic story behind this uniquely Japanese superstition, the Great Fire of Meireki that killed over 100,000 people, and what the saying "if it burns down, we'll build again" means for embracing change during difficult times.

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Osechi: Japanese New Year Food Traditions (Ep. 184)

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0000

What if the meal sitting in those beautiful lacquered boxes held messages from the gods?

In Japan, osechi-ryōri isn't just New Year's food—it's a sacred offering. Each dish carries specific wishes: black beans for health, herring roe for prosperity, lotus root for clear vision into the future. Families prepare them before midnight, then rest for three days while Toshigami-sama, the deity of the coming year, visits every home.

But why can't you use knives during the first three days? What happens to the kitchen god? And why do martial arts schools break open mirror-shaped mochi in January?

Thersa shares her in-laws' traditions of food exchanges, the evolution from handmade to convenience store osechi, and the deeper spiritual layers beneath each symbolic dish.

This episode of Uncanny Japan is brought to you by Spectrevision Radio, a podcast network of creators and entertainers with a love for horror, the paranormal, and championing the "other." Check out the rest of the podcasts at www.spectrevisionradio.com.

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Japanese Moon Lore: Selfless Rabbits, Murdered Goddesses, and Tsukimi (Ep. 183)

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:16:00 -0000

Don't point at the moon—you might wake up without your ears.

In Japan, the moon rabbit isn't just making mochi. Its image was placed there by the gods to honor an act of pure sacrifice, a Buddhist tale that traveled from India through China and transformed along the way.

In this episode we explore Tsukimi moon-viewing traditions, the violent origin of the moon god Tsukuyomi, protective pompous grass rituals, and dozens of poetic names for moonlight—from the "moon you can stand and wait for" to the "moon that rises deep into the night."

Plus: moon-viewing thieves, spirit-attracting moonbeams, and why pointing at the moon might cost you more than you think.

Tsuki wa jōman. The moon is always full. Please Note: Some of the links are affiliate links (both Amazon and other). This means that at no cost to you, if you use and purchase through them I receive a small compensation. This is paid by the retailer. It also helps support me and my artistic endeavors. Thank you.

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About SpectreVision Radio:
SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast network at the intersection between the arts and the uncanny, featuring a tapestry of shows exploring creativity, the esoteric, and the unknown. We're a community for creators and fans vibrating around common curiosities, shared interests and persistent passions.

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Hōichi the Earless: A Lafcadio Hearn Reading (Ep. 182)

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 13:00:00 -0000

A blind musician is summoned to perform in the darkness. But who is listening? And what terrible price awaits a moment's oversight?

Today I read to you one of Lafcadio Hearn's most famous Japanese ghost stories: "Mimi-nashi Hōichi" or "The Earless Hōichi."

Please Note: Some of the links are affiliate links (both Amazon and other). This means that at no cost to you, if you use and purchase through them I receive a small compensation. This is paid by the retailer. It also helps support me and my artistic endeavors. Thank you.

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What Empty Spaces Need (Audio Drama) (Ep. 181)

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0000

🎃 HALLOWEEN SPECIAL 🎃

This year's Halloween episode is a full-length audio drama based on the urban legend of Sukima-onna—the woman who watches from the gaps.

An American English teacher in Japan loses everything: his job, his apartment, his passport. Drunk and desperate during a snowstorm, he finds shelter in an abandoned house. But he's not alone. Something lives in the cracks, the spaces between things. And it's been waiting for him.

Content Warning and Huge Spoilers, do not read unless you're a very sensitive person who needs content warnings before listening to a FRIKKIN' HALLOWEEN STORY--HELLOOO!, I'm about to ruin the ending for you, if you're so sensitive that you need a sensitivity reader-approved content warning, you should not listen to this episode or watch it on Spotify anyway: This story contains depictions of alcoholism, death by drowning, emotional manipulation/gaslighting, and peril involving children. Themes of isolation, homelessness, and psychological horror throughout. (Also, Terrie drops an S-Bomb.)

Written by: Thersa Matsuura and Rich Pav

Featuring the voices of: Thersa Matsuura and Rich Pav

Sound design: Rich Pav

Love this episode? Share it with someone who appreciates horror!

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Ame-onna - Rain Woman's Original Ghost Story (Ep. 180)

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:12:00 -0000

We're getting closer to Halloween. How about another ghost story?

Ame-onna, the rain woman - a haggard looking thing, soaked to the bone, wandering rainy nights. There's lore about her, rumors, theories... but she doesn't have her own ghost story. So I fixed that.

First, I'll tell you the fascinating history: from Toriyama Sekien's 18th century yokai art (where she secretly represented courtesans) to the evolution into a grief-stricken mother searching for her stolen child. The Chinese literary connections. The "morning clouds, evening rain" idiom. The transformation from ephemeral beauty to child-stealing spirit.

Then I'll read you my original story, "Rain for Days" - because Ame-onna deserved her own complete ghost tale. A middle child named Jiro. A mother's warning. Rainy days in old Japan. And the moment when the rain woman appears in his room, reaching out with bony fingers...

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Japan's Most Famous Ghost: My Retelling of Oiwa and the Yotsuya Kaidan (Ep. 179)

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:00:00 -0000

It's October. Time to pull a blanket around your shoulders, light a candle against the dark, and listen to a good old-fashioned ghost story.

There are many versions of the tragic tale of Japan's most famous ghost, Oiwa-san. But today, let me tell you my own retelling of her classic tale.

I told the story of Yotsuya Kaidan back in episode 42, but for this episode I rewrote the tale, telling it like a short story. The most famous version was a kabuki play written by Tsuruya Namboku IV called "Tōkaidō Yotsuya Kaidan" which premiered on stage in 1825. He wrote the story based on some true-life happenings and scandals and murders, but also weaving in the idea of the vengeance of the dead—of the vengeful ghost wife.

Oiwa's story has also been depicted in woodblock ukiyo-e art, film, TV, books, and even modern horror. Where do you think some of the inspiration for Sadako in the Ring series came from?

This is one of Japan's "Big Three" ghost stories—a tale of betrayal, revenge, and a curse that still follows those who dare to perform it. Just a heads up—it is a ghost story with a little body horror mixed in, so it could probably not be appropriate for the younger audience.

Let's begin.

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Sanshi: The Three Body-Parasite Problem (Ep. 178)

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:00:00 -0000

I finally got to go on a walk again after all the oppressive August heat. I live around rice fields, mostly. There are some houses, of course, along the main road, and then every so often, a knee-high stone tower or stele. These are called kōshintō.

What I found particularly intriguing was how these connect to some rather unsettling beliefs about spiritual parasites. According to the traditions I discovered, we have three of these sanshi living inside our bodies.

Come with me as I explore how entire communities once stayed awake all night just to keep these things trapped inside them.

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A Handful of Deadly Beach Beauties (Ep. 177)

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 13:00:00 -0000

Japan's summer heat is inescapable, driving people to seek relief at the beach. But what if I told you there are supernatural dangers lurking along Japan's 14,125 islands that make rip currents seem harmless?

In this episode, I share what I discovered about two particularly deceptive coastal yōkai: the iso-onna (coastal woman) who drains visitors of their blood, and the terrifying nure-onna - part woman, part massive snake, who uses cunning tricks to lure unsuspecting beach-goers.

You'll hear authentic ocean waves Richard and I recorded while researching this episode, plus stories from the Edo period about encounters with these shape-shifting entities who use beauty as their weapon.

Featured yōkai: iso-onna (coastal woman), nure-onna (wet woman)

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Introducing Uncanny Japan

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 12:39:00 -0000

Uncanny Japan is a podcast about all the more obscure corners of old Japan, from strange superstitions, cultural curiosities, to creepy creatures. Here you can discover all the lesser known gems that author Thersa Matsuura digs up while doing research for her writing. Uncanny Japan is a uniquely soothing podcast brought to life by immersive sound design or relaxing binaural soundscapes (ocean waves, autumn crickets, rice field frogs) all recorded right here in Japan.

Thersa Matsuura is a writer, folklorist, and graduate of the Clarion West workshop. Drawing on her over thirty years of living in Japan, she is the author of The Book of Japanese Folklore and the creator of the Uncanny Japan Podcast. Her horror short story collection The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award. Her forthcoming works include the Yokai Oracle Deck (Fall, 2025) and Legends of Japanese Mythology (Eyes Wide Editions, 2026).

Websites

Uncanny Japan Podcast - https://uncannyjapan.com/

Thersa Matsuura - https://thersamatsuura.com/

Books

(These links are affiliate, which means I’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you.)

The Japanese Book of Folklore - https://amzn.to/4mhPeDq

The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales (audio book read by Thersa) - https://amzn.to/411758Z

A Robe of Feathers and Other Stories - https://amzn.to/4ouci32

Yōkai Oracle Deck (pre order) - https://amzn.to/3HrZ0n1

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Uncanny Japan - https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan

Thersa Matsuura - https://www.youtube.com/@ThersaMatsuura

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Merch

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Support Us

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/thersamatsuura

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Japanese Afterlife Guide: Navigate Buddhist Hell & Death (Ep. 176)

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 12:31:00 -0000

So, you've died in Japan. Let me help you navigate the underworld and if we can, avoid the nastiest hells.

What does Japanese Buddhism suggest happens after death? I found these traditional afterlife concepts fascinating - there's this whole intricate spiritual bureaucracy that kicks in once you die. I'm talking about a 49-day underworld journey, fearsome judgment ceremonies, and some surprisingly specific strategies for avoiding the worst punishments.

Come with me as I explore what I've discovered about these ancient Japanese Buddhist death traditions and how they still influence Japanese culture today.

Episode Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction & SpectreVision Announcement
(05:15) Japanese Death Journey Overview
(12:30) Buddhist Hell Concepts & Emma-ō Judge
(20:45) The 49-Day Underworld Navigation
(28:20) Karma Assessment & Reincarnation
(35:40) Practical Hell Avoidance Strategies
(41:15) Modern Buddhist Death Beliefs

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Taira no Masakado: The First Samurai's Flying Head & Tokyo's Cursed Shrine (Ep. 175)

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 21:38:00 -0000

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night wondering who Japan's first samurai was? And then maybe wondering if severed heads can actually fly? Well, that's exactly what I want to talk to you about today.

Today I'm going to tell you about the fierce, the legendary Taira no Masakado, who's been dubbed the first samurai. Was he a bad guy? Was he a good guy? And yeah, we'll get into airborne heads too, and curses. His story is wild - a 10th-century warrior whose severed head refused to decay and flew 200 miles home to Tokyo. Come with me as I share this incredible supernatural legacy.

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Saiō ga Uma: The Old Man's Horse & Finding Peace with Uncertainty (Ep. 174)

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:18:00 -0000

It's very strange, but this ancient Japanese proverb "Saiō ga Uma" has been popping up in my thoughts a lot lately. I kept hearing it mentioned, so I thought I'd share what I discovered.

"Saiō ga Uma" means "the old man's horse" - it's a 2,000-year-old parable about a man whose good and bad fortunes are never what they first appear. His horse runs away, villagers say "how unlucky." But the old man says "who's to say what's good or bad?"

I share why this wisdom has been resonating with me, especially after my hospital stay this year. Come with me as we explore this fascinating piece of Japanese wisdom and finding peace with uncertainty.

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Susanoo: Japan's Storm God - Chaos to Redemption (Ep. 173)

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0000

Ever wonder what happens when a Japanese god has serious anger management issues? This is the second episode in my Myth Tales series, and I want to share what I discovered about Susanoo, the storm deity whose story completely surprised me.

This isn't your typical heroic god story. Without giving too much away, let's just say his relationship with his sister (who happens to be the sun goddess) gets... complicated. And the consequences affect literally everyone.

This tempestuous deity's journey takes him from cosmic family drama to facing something truly terrifying - but I'll let you discover those details yourself.

Come with me as I explore this Japanese mythology that feels surprisingly relatable in ways I didn't expect.

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Tsuyu: Japan's Dreaded Fifth Season - Rain, Mold, and Yokai Spirits (Ep. 172)

Sat, 24 May 2025 00:00:00 -0000

Don't let anyone tell you Japan has four distinct seasons. You'll hear that a lot. But it's not true. Japan actually has five seasons. Everyone forgets tsuyu, the rainy season, and all that entails.

In this episode, I explore Japan's most dreaded time of year - the humid, moldy, relentlessly gray weeks of tsuyu. From the architecture designed to combat moisture to the rain spirits that emerge during this soggy season, here's what you need to know about Japan's overlooked fifth season.

You'll discover why traditional Japanese houses have those beautiful transom windows, meet the mischievous amefurikozo with his umbrella hat, learn about people who bring rain wherever they go, and find out how to predict weather using cats and swallows. Plus, I'll share the surprising beauty hidden within the gloom - from hydrangea festivals to sacred tea ceremonies.

Whether you're planning a trip to Japan or just curious about this unique cultural experience, this episode reveals why tsuyu is both the most miserable and most essential season in the Japanese calendar.

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Tōdaiki: The Candlestick Demon & Tang Dynasty Diplomatic Horror (Ep. 171)

Wed, 07 May 2025 02:03:00 -0000

Think modern travel is stressful? At least you probably won't end up transformed into a living candlestick by dark magic.

I've always been fascinated by stories about people who leave home and never come back. But what I'm about to tell you is worse than just disappearing.

I'm sharing two incredible tales from Japan's most dangerous era of international travel. One involves a family's worst nightmare - finding their missing father transformed into something called the Candlestick Demon. The other features magical adventures and clever problem-solving that will make you smile.

Both stories show what happened when brave envoys faced months-long journeys with no guarantee they'd ever make it home. Come with me as I explore these haunting tales of travel gone terrifyingly wrong.

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Lafcadio Hearn's "Readings from a Dream Book": Mystical Meditations on Consciousness (Ep. 170)

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0000

Sometimes we all need a little break from reality, and that's exactly what I'm offering in this deeply contemplative episode. Against the backdrop of soothing Pacific Ocean waves recorded on the Japanese coast, I read Lafcadio Hearn's complete mystical piece "Readings from a Dream Book."

This work from his collection "Shadowings" takes us into a dream realm where text appears and vanishes on phantom pages, revealing fragments of cosmic wisdom. We encounter a wave that fears breaking, pleading with the sea about the nature of eternal return, and souls trapped within a failing body, discussing the consequences of countless lifetimes.

Hearn's vision explores impermanence, reincarnation, and the eternal cycle of consciousness through cosmic time. The wave learns it has broken "times countless beyond utterance" and will break again, while cosmic particles journey through "every possible experience of the highest possible life."

I also share updates on my upcoming Yokai Oracle Deck launching this fall and a secret second book coming next spring, plus why Richard and I are returning to binaural recording to capture more soothing soundscapes for these uncertain times.

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Ryūjin: Harnessing the Power of Japan's Undersea Dragon God (Ep. 169)

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0000

Let's journey down to the bottom of the ocean to an underwater dragon palace called the Ryugu, or sometimes Ryugu-jo, owned and lorded over by Ryujin, the dragon god. And while we're there, let's learn more about all the myth and lore surrounding him and how you can personally connect with the spirit of the dragon god if you want.

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Mt. Fuji: A Fire Resistant Princess and a Sword Licking Mystic (Ep. 168)

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0000

Mount Fuji isn't just Japan's tallest peak - it's home to some of the most extraordinary legends in Japanese folklore. In this episode, I tell you about two remarkable figures who shaped its mystical identity.

First, meet Konohanasakuya-hime, considered the most beautiful of all Shinto goddesses - so stunning that cherry blossoms were modeled after her appearance.

Then there's the legendary Enno Gyōja (also known as Enno Ōzuna), a 6th-century mountain ascetic who founded the Shugendō tradition. His devotion to Mount Fuji was so profound that when captors threatened him with execution, he simply licked their sword blade.

I also share my own Mount Fuji climbing experience from the early 90s - a cautionary tale about the importance of proper preparation when tackling Japan's most iconic mountain.

From Sengen shrines across Japan to the mystical Peacock Spell, this episode reveals the spiritual foundation underlying one of the world's most recognizable peaks.

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Kanto vs Kansai: How Japanese Regional Food Differs (Ep. 167)

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0000

In this episode I talk about one of my favorite topics, one of the things that makes Japan special to me. It still gets me excited after all these years, and that is food.

I absolutely love that wherever you go in Japan, there are local specialties. But there are also certain foods that are prepared completely differently depending on what area you're in. And I'll get into those too.

I start by telling you about a friendly little rivalry we have here on Honshū. That's the Kantō versus Kansai. I live near there, kind of. There's a funny story involving Osaka sarcasm and udon. And let me tell you about the first time I had monjayaki - I was shocked.

I end by telling you one of my favorite food differences. It involves how eel is prepared, and the cultural reason is fascinating.

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The Golden Pavilion Has Weird Ghosts (Ep. 166)

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0000

What happens when you think you know everything about Japan's most famous temple? I discovered I knew almost nothing at all about Kinkaku-ji. Its real name isn't even what most people call it – there's an interesting story behind that. It wasn't always the size you see today either. Plus, high school students visiting on school trips have been capturing some pretty extraordinary photos that suggest there might be more to this place than meets the eye. Join me as I uncover the hidden history and gentle mysteries behind its golden facade.

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Walking in Old Japan: The Historical Gokaidō Routes (Ep. 165)

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:26:00 -0000

In today's episode, I'll be taking you on a stroll along the walking routes of Old Edo. There were five main ones, called go-kaidō - the five Edo routes, or the five historical roads of Japan. All five started at the exact same point on the Nihonbashi Bridge in then-Edo, now Tōkyō. Today, let's learn specifically about the two longer ones that led travelers to the old capital of Kyōto, the Tōkaidō and the Nakasendō.

Starting from the Nihonbashi Bridge, there are two main routes to Kyōto: the popular coastal Tōkaidō and the mountainous Nakasendō. Tokugawa Ieyasu's political strategies come into focus, including the sankin kōtai system that controlled feudal lords and his deliberate choice not to build bridges over major rivers. Staging post stations (shukuba) provided rest and refuge, while river porters carried travelers across dangerous waters. Travel guides mixed practical information with supernatural stories, and there's a beautiful haiku from Matsuo Bashō that captures the weariness of long journeys.

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Fudō Myō: The Unshakable Buddhist Deity and Sacred Fire Ceremonies (Ep. 164)

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0000

In this episode, I'll be telling you about someone I've had a crush on for the past couple years, Fudō Myō, and also about a very cool fire ceremony that will burn away all your worldly desires, ignorance, and purify you.

Meet Fudō Myō, the fierce Buddhist deity who burns away ignorance and worldly desires through Goma fire ceremonies.

Learn about the name meaning "the immovable or unshakable one," his role as a wisdom king in esoteric Buddhism, and how he converts rage into salvation. I'll also share my personal experiences attending Goma fire ceremonies, where I've witnessed the visually striking and powerful ritual.

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Bodhidharma and Daruma Dolls: Zen Buddhism Origins (Ep. 163)

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:15:00 -0000

In today's episode, I'll be taking you on a journey that involves supernatural balance, a touch of kung fu fighting, cringeworthy acts of concentration, a lucky toy that heals disease and helps you achieve your dreams, and will end delightfully in a moment of sheer, utter unadulterated and quite literal zen.

Let's start with a baby, a mysterious baby, born in southern India in the 5th or 6th centuries. He was a studious child who was drawn to Buddha's teachings. Let's call him Bodhidharma.

What happened after he traveled to China? How did he cross the Yangtze River? Why did he sit meditating for nine years until his legs fell off? And how did this legendary monk become Japan's beloved red Daruma doll that keeps popping back up no matter how many times you knock it down?

Come learn about the blue-eyed barbarian who founded Zen Buddhism, the "seven times down, eight times up" philosophy of resilience, and how to practice zazen meditation yourself.

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The Salt God and the Magic of Salt (Ep. 162)

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:45:00 -0000

During the 2011 Tōhoku tsunami, the water rose to the exact edge of Shiogama Shrine and retreated. At Japanese funerals, you're given salt to sprinkle on your shoulders before going home. Tiny salt pyramids guard shop entrances across Japan.

What connects these practices to a 2,000-year-old deity? Why does salt purify sumo rings, stop crematorium ghosts, and protect businesses? How did a warring states proverb about sending enemies salt become a code of samurai honor?

Meet Shiotsuchi-oji-no-kami, the Salt God, and discover the ancient seaweed technique that changed Japan forever.

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Turbo Granny: Japanese Urban Legend of the Highway Phantom (Ep. 161)

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0000

You're driving through a tunnel at 140 kilometers per hour when you hear knocking on the back window. You glance over your shoulder and see an old woman with long white hair running alongside your car, keeping perfect pace.

This is Tābō Baba—Turbo Granny. But she's not alone. There's Basketball Granny, Mikan Granny, Pogo Stick Granny, and Bonnet Granny too.

Why do these high-speed grandmothers haunt Hyōgo Prefecture's tunnels? What happens if you catch the basketball or make eye contact with the orange seller? And how did one pronunciation difference turn "affectionate grandmother" into "disrespectful old hag"?

I explain the Japanese language nuances, share the comedian who licked a muddy handprint on Mount Rokkō, and connect these legends to the DanDaDan manga character.

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Japanese Kanji Animal Names: Sea Pigs, Dirt Dragons & Poetic Language (Ep. 160)

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0000

In Japanese, some animals have names so creative they sound like fantasy creatures. Dirt dragons. Sea pigs. House protectors. Ocean moons.

Today I'm testing whether I can make you fall in love with kanji through a quiz about these poetic animal names. Some will surprise you. Some might make you laugh. And by the end, you'll have a fun fact to impress your Japanese friends with.

Grab a pen if you want to play along—but don't worry, you can't fail.

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Go-Away Monkey: Original Japanese Horror Story by Thersa Matsuura (Ep. 159)

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0000

A disease-ravaged town. A stranger with a captive monkey. One woman who refuses to become a monster.

When traveling performer Hanshiro arrives promising to grant wishes through his trained monkey Fukumimi, desperate townspeople see hope for the first time in years. But Okappa recognizes what others can't see: the cruel performance, the suffering animal, and her neighbors transforming into something far worse than plague victims.

An original short story from Thersa Matsuura's Bram Stoker Award-nominated collection "The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales." Dark Japanese-inspired horror about captivity, compassion, and the price of staying human when everyone around you has given up.

Content Warning: This story contains adult themes and disturbing imagery.

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Botan Dōrō: Lafcadio Hearn's Japanese Ghost Love Story (Ep. 158)

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000

A young samurai loses a shuttlecock over a garden fence and finds something far more dangerous: a beautiful woman who leads him into her home, serves him wine, and dances for him. When he discovers she died months ago, he's already under her spell.

What happens when love refuses to recognize death? And why does this story remain lesser-known despite its place among Japan's most famous ghost tales?

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Japan's Three Great Ghost Stories: Okiku, Oiwa, and Otsuyu (Ep. 157)

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000

Japan's three great ghost stories feature the onryō (vengeful ghosts) of Okiku, Oiwa, and Otsuyu. These tales have captivated audiences for centuries through ukiyo-e woodblock prints, kabuki theater, and modern horror films like The Ring and Ju-on.

In this episode, I read an article I originally wrote for Sotheby's, exploring how master artists like Tsukioka Yoshitoshi depicted these ghostly tales. Learn about Okiku, the servant girl who haunts a well counting dishes; Oiwa, whose disfigured spirit drives her treacherous husband to madness; and Otsuyu, the beautiful ghost of the peony lantern who claimed her lover from beyond the grave.

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Japanese Supernatural Trees: Bloodthirsty Kodama & Cursed Jubokko (Ep. 156)

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0000

Walk through a Japanese forest alone and feel that ancient presence watching you. Maybe it's kodama, the protective tree spirits that appear as ghostly lights. Or perhaps it's something more dangerous.

In this episode, Terrie explores Japan's supernatural trees—from the benevolent kodama spirits mentioned in the Kojiki to the bloodthirsty jubokko that feeds on human blood at ancient battlefields.

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Japanese Caterpillar Cult: The Tokoyo no Kami Uprising of 644 CE (Ep. 155)

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0000

In 644 CE, a man named Ōfube-no-Ō starts a new religion in Shizuoka Prefecture. His claim? A caterpillar living in mandarin orange trees is the god of eternal life. Worship it properly, and you'll gain riches and youth.

The movement spreads rapidly. Devotees throw their possessions by the roadside, shouting "New riches are coming." They create songs and dances for the bug. Shamans called kannagi preach the gospel of the caterpillar. The cult reaches all the way to the capital.

But what was this sacred insect?

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Moshi Moshi! You're About to Meet Some Demons! (Ep. 154)

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 00:20:18 -0000

Two fascinating phrases in Japanese that have very creepy origins. What are you really doing when you answer the phone "moshi moshi" anyway?

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Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Check out her books including The Book of Japanese Folklore by clicking on the Amazon link. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

Discord: https://discord.gg/XdMZTzmyUb Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/uncannyjapan.bsky.social Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/ Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Thersa-Matsuura/e/B002CWZ73Y/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1500180689&sr=8-1

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The Tragic (or not?) Tale of Anchin and Kiyohime (Ep. 153)

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 23:10:18 -0000

The Tale of Anchin and Kiyohime is an epic story of love, betrayal, and transformation into a serpent dragon, but there are several versions of this classic.

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Hokkaido Yōkai and Mythical Creatures (Ep. 152)

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0000

The northernmost island of Japan, Hokkaido, also has its own brand of yōkai and mythical creatures. Here I talk about seven of them.

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Chopsticks: Godly Tools or Death Bringers? ( Ep. 151)

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0000

Discover the intricacies of Japanese chopstick etiquette and lore. Learn about godly chopsticks, taboos that can bring death, and the concept of 'wa' (harmony) in Japanese culture. Avoid social faux pas and deepen your understanding of this seemingly simple yet complex utensil.

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The Dangerous Truth about the Jorō Spider (Ep. 150)

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0000

The joro spider, a colorful arachnid from Japan, is harmless but tied to folklore about shape-shifting brides who fatally ensnare lovers at waterfalls.

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Beto Beto-san Vs Teke Teke: Things That Stalk You at Night (Ep. 149)

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 22:42:04 -0000

Listeners who are sensitive to these topics should be aware that the episode contains potentially disturbing content: TRIGGER WARNINGS: Blood & gore depiction, Body horror, Childhood Trauma, Death from exposure, Death from falling, Death of a child, Death and dying, Decapitation, Fear and anxiety, Graphic content, Injury and mutilation, Loss of limb, Mayonnaise as a pizza topping, Mental distress, Physical injuries, Supernatural and horror elements, Suicide, Violence, War If you're ever walking alone on an empty street or path at night and you hear something distinctly not human following you, could it be the Beto Beto-san or the Teke Teke? One will take your life in the most horrendous way.

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Bug News: Body Parasites or Ghosts (Mushi no Shirase)? (Ep. 148)

Wed, 15 May 2024 00:00:00 -0000

Have you ever had a premonition or a foreboding feeling that turned out to be true? Was it a parasitic insect living in your belly or a ghost trying to tell you something?

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Falling Trees: Tengu or Furusoma (Creepy Dead Guy)?(Ep. 147)

Wed, 01 May 2024 01:09:06 -0000

If a you hear a tree fall in the woods, but can't find any sign of that fallen tree, is it the work of a tengu, a creepy dead guy ghost, or something else?

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Story Time: The Mirror Maiden by Lafcadio Hearn (Ep. 146)

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0000

Today I'll read you Lafcadio Hearn's short story: The Mirror Maiden.

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Ryomen Sukuna: Awesome Saint or Japan-Destroying Demon? (Ep. 145)

Sat, 30 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0000

The two-faced, eight-limbed giant named Ryomen Sukuna has been around since very early Japan, still is he a Buddhism-protecting hero or a cursed demon who tried to destroy Japan?

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Teru Teru Bōzu: Cute, Magical, Unsettling Origins (Ep. 144)

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0000

You'll often see ghostly-looking dolls strung up in windows in Japan on rainy days. What do they mean and why are they a little creepy?

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Rain by Okami (龗)

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Abe no Seimei & His Mysterious Place Near Me (Ep. 143)

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 07:14:42 -0000

Abe no Seimei was the greatest onmyōji in Japan. While he lived in Kyoto, he visited Shizuoka at some point and performed some magic, giving us another nanafushigi (seven mysterious things).

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Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy by clicking on the Amazon link. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

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Nami-Kozō: The Creepy Little Wave Boy (Ep. 142)

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0000

A nanafushigi (seven mysterious things) and a local yokai, the Nami Kozō or Wave Boy has a number of variations to his story, some involving real historical monks.

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The All-powerful Five Elements and You (Ep. 141)

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0000

In Japan there are two types of Five Elements, the gogyo and the godai and you can find them all throughout Japanese culture-in tea ceremony, martial arts, acupuncture, herbalism, esoteric Buddhism, and even in cemeteries.

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A Rollicking and Powerful Year of the Dragon 2024 (Ep. 140)

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0000

Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! Happy New Year! This is Thersa Matsuura and you’re listening to Uncanny Japan, Season 8. We just moved from the year of the Rabbit to the Year of the Dragon and I want to tell you all about it.

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Joya no Kane: Japanese Temple Bells Ring Out 108 Sins at New Year (Ep. 139)

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0000

What happens when 108 temple bell rings wash away a year's worth of sins?

Thersa has climbed the hill to her local Buddhist temple every New Year's Eve. The tradition is joya no kane—ringing out the old year's earthly desires with 108 ceremonial bell strikes. But why exactly 108?

This episode brings you into that midnight ritual through binaural recordings captured on New Year's Eve. You'll hear the deep, resonant bells that have marked this transition since the Kamakura era—until WWII confiscated the bells for weapons, forcing people to bang taiko drums instead.

Close your eyes and let the sound wash over you. Each ring carries away transgressions, clears negative energy, and opens space for new beginnings.

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Shochikubai: Pine, Bamboo, Plum and Samurai Shade (Ep. 138)

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Shochikubai means "pine, bamboo, plum" and are considered the three winter friends. You'll find them in New Year decorations as well as another interesting and surprising place. I'll tell more on today's show. [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.]

Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy by clicking on the Amazon link. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

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A Delightful Dive into Meiji Era Yokai News (Ep. 137)

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Today I’m going to do something a little different, again. I’m going to give you some real yōkai and paranormal news. Not current news, but stories that were actually published in newspapers during the late 1800s — and not in tabloids either, but in regular ol’ papers. And they are absolutely delightful to read.

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The Dreaded Northern Pillow (kitamakura) and Fan Death (Ep. 136)

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Is sleeping with your head facing north a practice that'll bring you bad luck and invite death or is it good luck, welcoming a restful night's sleep and money? [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.]

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"The Other Side" A Creepy Japanese Ghost Story (Ep. 135)

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 01:08:38 -0000

"The Other Side" is a ghost story I wrote using some of the more common Japanese scary tropes. Put on some headphones and turn out the lights and let me tell you a story.

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Music: You Only Live Once by Tim Kulig Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11913-you-only-live-once Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Creepy Haunted Tunnels in Japan (Ep. 134)

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0000

My guess is that Japan has more haunted tunnels than anywhere in the world. In this episode I talk about three of the creepiest and most well-known.

Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/uncannyjapan.bsky.social Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

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Okiku: The Haunted Doll (Ep. 133)

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0000

The Okiku-chan doll is believed to contain the spirit of the little girl who once owned her. This is seen by her constantly, slow growing hair.

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Myth Tales Vol. 1: Origin that Ends with Dragons (Ep. 132)

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Myth Tales is an immersive retelling of Japan's creation myth.

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Summer Festival Part 2: Games and Dancing (Ep. 131)

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Part 2 of Summer Festival in Japan is about unique games and dancing.

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Summer Festival: Outfits and the Eats (Ep. 130)

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 00:16:00 -0000

Come experience a small summer festival (Natsu Matsuri) with me. This is Part One: Outfits and Eats!

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"Concerning Tea"... a reading (Ep. 129)

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Learn about the history of tea and the tea ceremony in Japan, its origins in Buddhist rituals, and its later development into an art form. Listen to stories about the famous tea masters Rikyu and the legendary monk Daruma.

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Raijū: The Thunder Beast (Ep. 128)

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0000

The raijū or thunder beast is smallish, very weird-looking creature that darts around during thunderstorms and wreaks havoc on the community. Here's what you need to know about it.

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Story Time: Yuki Onna (by Lafcadio Hearn) (Ep. 127)

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0000

I read Lafcadio Hearn's classic tale, "Yuki Onna" or "The Snow Woman."

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Dōsojin: Cuddly and Carnal Road Side Statues (Ep. 126)

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Dōsojin are "road ancestor deities" from ancient times. They're different than ojizo or rakan statues. So what are they? What do they do? And which prefecture has the wildest festival to celebrate them?

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Kitsune no Koban: Fox Money (Ep. 125)

Tue, 30 May 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Learn about Thersa Matsuura tells us about the fox’s coins, a children’s game based on finding seeds that look like gold coins.

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Story Time: Rokurokubi by Lafcadio Hearn (Ep. 124)

Mon, 15 May 2023 00:00:00 -0000

In this episode I read Lafcadio Hearn's "Rokurokubi," the quintessential story about this creepy Japanese beastie.

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Sweet Romantic Oriental Piano Song by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7075-sweet-romantic-oriental-piano-song License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Black-Toothed Yōkai (Ep. 123)

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 13:08:52 -0000

A couple black-toothed yōkai and where to find them.

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

旅立ちの里 by MOMIZizm

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Ohaguro: The Ultimate Beauty Hack of Ancient Japan (Ep. 122)

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Discover the history of ohaguro, a traditional practice in Japan where people blacken their teeth. Dating back to the Yayoi era, Ohaguro was first practiced only by the aristocracy but eventually spread to other classes and ages.

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Otogi2 by PeriTune - Royalty Free Music Material

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Doom and Bloom: Cherry Blossom Folk Beliefs (Ep. 121)

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Bloom and Gloom or Cherry Blossom Folk Beliefs or Sakura: The Wonderful and the Worrisome Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Akaname: The Thoroughly Gross Scum Licker (Ep. 120)

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Today we're going to talk about a yokai I've always be quite fond of, a little fella called Akaname or the Scum Licker!

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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The Legend of Shippeitaro (Ep. 119)

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Shippei Taro is both a folktale and a nanafushigi (strange occurance). I'll tell you all about this local legend as well as read you my translation of the famous story.

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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How to find and identify your own Yokai (Ep. 118)

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Explore the parallel world or ikai, and how it is inhabited not just by ghosts or spirits but also by yokai.

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Ushi Oni: The Bloodthirsty Cow Demon (Ep. 117)

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0000

The Ushi Oni is a Japanese legend of an ox-headed demon/ogre. It has different appearances but is often depicted as a giant spider with ox head, soft body and red horns. They are commonly found near water bodies like oceans, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and in forests & caves. They are stealthy creatures, with long tongues and claws, and are most dangerous around water.

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Shichifukujin: Your Personal Lucky God (Ep. 116)

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Which of the Seven Lucky Gods is your patron deity and what does it mean?

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Intro and Outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Six Japanese New Year Rules: Ancient Oshōgatsu Taboos (Ep. 115)

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0000

No cleaning for three days straight. No knives. No fire. And definitely no fighting with your family. Sound impossible?

There were the six strict rules Japanese people followed during oshōgatsu—the New Year holidays—to avoid angering the toshigami, a visiting deity who decided your luck for the entire year. Break one rule, and you might wash your fortune down the drain. Literally.

From the aku (scum) that made boiling food taboo, to the fire god kōjin who needed three days of rest, to the practical reasons behind eating cold osechi ryōri for days—Thersa explains why these traditions existed and how modern Japanese people creatively bend the rules with IH stoves and digital money.

How many of the six can you follow?

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Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Temple Statues: Why All the Red Bibs? (Ep. 114)

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0000

While strolling through the grounds of a Japanese temple or shrine you have no doubt seen the endearing sight of a statues decked out in red bibs. But why?

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Credits

Intro and Outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

JapanSoul by Yuki Hirose Artist website: https://original-bgm.booth.pm/items

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Karasu: Japanese Crows, Myths and Superstitions (Ep. 113)

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0000

The myth and superstition around Japanese crows/karasu is long and fascinating, sometimes quite weird.

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Credits

Intro and Outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Sweet Romantic Oriental Piano Song by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7075-sweet-romantic-oriental-piano-song License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist website: https://cemmusicproject.wixsite.com/musiclibraryfiles

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Goshuin: Temple or Shrine Stamps (Ep. 112)

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0000

Goshuin are special stamps you can get when you visit a shrine or temple. In this episode I'll tell you what exactly they are, how to get them, and the manners involved.

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Intro and Outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Creepy Story Time: Hashihime / The Bridge Maiden (Ep. 111)

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0000

My version of a creepy Japanese legend called Uji no Hashi Hime/The Maiden of the Bridge.

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Intro and Outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Ōkami: Japanese Wolf Part 2 Legends and Lore (Ep. 110)

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0000

In part 2 of the ōkami, the Japanese wolf, I talk more about the legends and lore behind the beautiful beast.

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Intro and Outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Ōkami: Japanese Wolf Part 1 (Ep. 109)

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0000

Kitsune are everywhere, games, manga, anime, artwork, guarding shrines, possessing people. But what do you know about Japanese wolves? Maybe not so much?

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Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Hunting for a Tsuchinoko (Ep. 108)

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0000

The tsuchinoko is a mysterious, mythical creature that can be seen and heard all over Japan since ancient times, but not one has ever been captured.

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Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Your Own Personal Buddha (Ep. 107)

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0000

Who is your own patron Buddhist deity? Listen and find out!

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Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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The Unconnected Dead: Muenbotoke (Ep. 106)

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0000

Graves with no one to care for them are called muenbotoke. Learn about a temple that gathers all those ashes and bones and makes Buddhist statues out of them.

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Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura and cicada

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The Sickle Weasel: Kamaitachi (Ep. 105)

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0000

What do you know about the yōkai, the sickle weasel or kamaitachi? Imagine an adorable little weasel sporting obnoxiously long blades on its paws. It appears out of nowhere so suddenly you don't even realize its attacked you, until later when you notice you've got a deep cut that strangely isn't bleeding and doesn't hurt.

Today, let's talk about this furry little madman and a few other related creatures, as well as a straight up, non ironic conversation I had with my friend about the kamaitachi.

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Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Another Chilling Children’s Song – Tōryanse (Ep. 104)

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0000

Do you remember when I talked about Kagome Kagome back in episode 53? A Japanese children's song that had curiously unnerving lyrics about a bird in a cage ("Oh when will it be let out?") And then the lines: "Tsuru to Kame ga subetta -- the crane and the turtle slipped"; and "Ushiro no shoumen dare? -- Who's behind me?")

Guess what? That's not the only goosebump-raising children's song in Japan. There's another. Well, at least one more.

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Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Final Listeners' True Spooky Tales - Weeping, Drowning, and Big Wall Blocking (Ep. 103)

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -0000

For the last Listeners' True Spooky Tales we're going outside again. Weeping women, grabbing hands, and great big walls that block your path.

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Credits

Intro/outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Creepy Piano Ambience by Tim Kulig Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8725-creepy-piano-ambience License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Listeners' True Spooky Stories: Forest Phantoms and the Black-Nosed Man (Ep. 102)

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -0000

Listen to some spooky real life stories that happened in the great outdoors.

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All music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Listeners' Absolutely True Japanese Ghost Stories Part 2 (Ep. 101)

Tue, 31 May 2022 00:00:00 -0000

More listeners' true Japanese ghost stories as well as one of my most terrifying experiences. This is part two of a three part series.

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All music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Listeners' Absolutely True Ghost Stories: Haunted Houses (Ep. 100)

Mon, 16 May 2022 01:05:57 -0000

To commemorate our 100th episode, we're sharing listeners' true ghost stories they've experienced while visiting or living in Japan.

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All music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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The Cat Grave, The Rat Grave: Nekozuka, Nezumizuka (Ep. 99)

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 02:18:16 -0000

Today I'll talk about a local legend: Nekozuka and Nezumizuka, the Cat's Grave and the Rat's Grave. It's not only a nanafushigi (one of the Seven Strange Happenings), it's extra special because an old man who has lived his whole life there told me the tale along with some extras his grandfather passed down to him.

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Credits

Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Hip Hop Flute Chill(loopable} by chilledmusic Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8531-hip-hop-flute-chill-loopable- License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Toilet Gods: Yes! There are More Than One! (Ep. 98)

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 02:18:12 -0000

Let me tell you all about the gods that are lurking in your loo.

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Supernatural Cats: Nekomata (Ep. 97)

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 02:02:38 -0000

The nekomata is a mysterious feline with two tails and a penchant for dancing.

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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The Killing Stone: Sessho Seki (Ep. 96)

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0000

It was all over the news: Japan's Infamous Killing Stone that was housing a chaotic, disaster inducing nine-tailed fox spirit, broke in half on March 5th, 2022. Is the fox spirit free? I'll tell you all about it on this episode.

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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The Human-Faced Tumor: Jinmensou (Ep.95)

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0000

On today's episode I'm going to tell you about an affliction that involved a strange growth on some part of your body that had the face of a human and did horrible things.

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Introducing the Uncanny Robot Podcast

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0000

As a bonus for Uncanny Japan listeners, we would like to share a preview of our brand-new show, "Uncanny Robot Podcast." Yes, more Uncanny goodness!

Wonderfully wild AI-created stories read by humans (that would be Thersa and Richard) with a little commentary thrown in, too. Thank you so much for subscribing and listening to Uncanny Japan. We really hope you like the new podcast as well.

https://www.uncannyrobotpodcast.com/

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Story Time: Tango no Hitobashira / The Human Pillar of Tango (Ep. 94)

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0000

The Human Pillar of Tango. This is a retelling of an old folktale that I've never seen translated into English.

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Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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The Ferocious Oni (Ep. 93)

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 01:41:22 -0000

Japanese oni are a very deep and varied subject. Learn about these mountain-dwelling ogres and what they do.

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Credits

Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Calm Dreamy Piano by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8791-calm-dreamy-piano License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Chindon-ya: Eccentric Street Musicians (Ep. 92)

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0000

Who are these eccentric street musicians dressed in bright kimono playing drums, bells, clarinet, and saxophone marching down your street? What do they want?

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Credits

Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Calm Dreamy Piano by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8791-calm-dreamy-piano License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Good Luck Superstitions in Japan (Ep. 91)

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -0000

It's been a rough couple of years, so today let's talk about some Japanese good luck superstitions.

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Credits

Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Laia by Woeha Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8710-laia License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Mayoiga: The Mysterious House You Find When You’re Lost (Ep. 90)

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 01:09:04 -0000

A mayoiga is a house that magically appears when you're lost in the forest or mountains. If you venture in, what will you find? What should you do?

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Credits

Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Sneakers by Brian Holtz Music Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8666-sneakers License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoog Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loop License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Little Trolls by Frank Schröter Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8104-little-trolls License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Sakuragaike: A Tortured Snake-Dragon Loses it Scales, Pt 2 (Ep. 89)

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 00:30:00 -0000

Today I'll tell you part 2 of the Sakuragaike Legend (and nanafushigi!) What was waiting at the bottom of the lake? Why was the snake-dragon suffering and how did his old follower help him? Where is Kouen Ajari The Snake-Dragon now?

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Electro Storm by Mikael Hellman Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8463-electro-storm License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Sakuragaike: A Snake-Dragon Coiled and Waiting, Part 1 (Ep. 88)

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 23:30:00 -0000

The story goes that a large snake-dragon lives at the bottom of Sakuragaike Lake. It's waiting. But where did this snake-dragon come from, and who is it waiting for? I'll tell you about this still obscure myth -- and nanafushigi -- in this episode of Uncanny Japan.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Electro Storm by Mikael Hellman Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8463-electro-storm License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Halloween Episode: Kokkuri Spirit Boards and WTF?! (Ep. 87)

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 23:33:37 -0000

Kokkuri or Kokkuri-san is the name for the Japanese ouija or spirit board. It's also the name for the spirit who visits during the game. For Halloween, Richard and I decided to try our hand at this super creepy pastime and you'll never believe what happens. Headphones on and buckle up!

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Scary Story Time: "Go-Away Monkey" (Ep. 86)

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0000

For the spooky month of October, I'm reading my short horror story, "Go-Away Monkey" from my collection The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales. It's set in an older Japan in a small village that has been ravaged by smallpox. If you remember Episode 4 (Monkeys and Monkey Lore), you'll understand the monkey show coming to town to drive away all the bad luck and disease. But does it work?

Written a full five years before the pandemic, it feels quite prescient to me. What do you think?

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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The Most Merciless Yokai: the Korori (Ep.85)

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 23:30:00 -0000

The obscure and terrifyingly deadly yokai, the korori, ravaged Edo Japan. On today's episode I'll tell you all about it, what it really was and how foreigners were the ones who brought it to Japan.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Taiko Warrior by Marron Fields Production

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Misemono: Edo Era Freak Shows (Ep. 84)

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 00:08:29 -0000

A misemono is like a carnival, museum, zoo, and freak show all rolled into one. Here you could see exotic animals, buy cure-all medicines, and check out mermaid mummies among many, many other thrills.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Happy breeze by chilledmusic Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7988-happy-breeze License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Ningyo: The Ugly (and Delicious!) Japanese Mermaid (Ep. 83)

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 22:00:00 -0000

A Japanese mermaid is called a ningyo (人魚) or human fish. Today I'll tell you about their history, the good, the bad, and the delicious!

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Obon Story Time: "At Yaidzu" by Lafcadio Hearn (Ep. 82)

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 13:07:55 -0000

It's Obon and today I want to read to you an essay by Lafcadio Hearn. He wrote it about the town he would stay at during summers, the town I've lived in for 25 plus years. Here he talks not just about the lantern floating ceremony, but also the ocean and ghost and gods and how we humans fit into it all.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Sweet Dreams by Agnese Valmaggia Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8100-sweet-dreams License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Hitobashira: The Tragic Stories of Human Pillars (Ep. 81)

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 12:33:36 -0000

How do you build a bridge that stands up to storms and floods? Well, you have to appease the nature gods, of course. But how do you do that? Human sacrifice seemed to have worked in the past. Today I'll talk about hitobashira or human pillars. An ancient tradition of insuring strong river banks, fireproof castles, and tunnels that won't collapse.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Sincerely by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5033-sincerely License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Lights by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5309-lights- License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Lost Place Atmospheres 003 by Sascha Ende® Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7675-lost-place-atmospheres-003 License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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The Adorably Creepy Tofu Kozo (Ep. 80)

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 08:15:11 -0000

The Tofu Kozo is a seemingly innocent little yokai who appears on rainy days offering a plate of tofu to unsuspecting people. What could possibly go wrong?

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Mushi Okuri: Sending Off the Bugs (Ep. 79)

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 22:52:05 -0000

Let's say you have a plague of insects, like millions of cicada awakening after a years-long slumber. Or worse, bugs that would rather devour your crops. And let's say this is happening 200 years ago so you don't have your pesticides or DDT to wipe them out.

What do you do?

Why you have an absolutely delightful festival, with dances, and Buddhist or Shinto prayers, and taiko drumming, flute fluting. It's called mushi okuri, (虫送り) or sending off the insects.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Utsuro-Bune: The Hollow (Space?) Ship (Ep. 78)

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 22:44:53 -0000

We're being visited by UAPs, Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon. Or you might be more familiar with their older name: UFOs. There is a lot of interesting news coming out these days. You've probably seen it.

Well, guess what, they've been coming for quite awhile and I have proof.

Today let's talk about the utsuro-bune (虚舟) or utsuro-fune, the legend of the hollow ship.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Suspenseful Cinematic Ambient by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6195-suspenseful-cinematic-ambient License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Story Time – "Kaguya Hime: The Bamboo Cutter and the Moon Princess" (Ep. 77)

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 10:29:44 -0000

Today I'll read to you, "The Bamboo Cutter and the Moon Princess" called Kaguya Hime in Japanese. It's an old tale that some believe talks about otherworldly visitors. Was the Moon Princess an extraterrestrial being?

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Acoustic Love (loopable) by chilledmusic Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7859-acoustic-love-loopable- License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Fuujin & Raijin: The Gods of Thunder and Wind (Ep. 76)

Sun, 16 May 2021 09:30:00 -0000

Who are Fujin and Raijin (the Japanese Wind God and Thunder God), where did they come from, and what do they do? Today I'll tell you about their origins in India and a Japanese Goddesses' decaying body.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Story Time: The Kappa's Abyss (Ep. 75)

Sun, 02 May 2021 08:20:24 -0000

Today's Story Time is one I found in an old collection of Japanese folklore. It's about a couple of conniving kappa and an innocent young girl. It's called "The Kappa's Abyss."

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Bama Country by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3417-bama-country License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Chill Movement by EdiKey20 Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7796-chill-movement License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Love Me by DreamHeave Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7753-love-me License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Jigoku Tayuu: The Mysterious Hell Courtesan (Ep. 74)

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 13:18:59 -0000

The Hell Courtesan (Jigoku Tayuu) is a mysterious figure that appears in art and story in Japan since the 1600s. But who is this beautiful high-ranked oiran who wears a kimono covered in images of hell? In this episode I talk about her legend and relationship with the eccentric monk Ikkyuu.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Rated G Tanuki Buttons: This Unbelievable Story Will Blow Your Mind! (Ep. 73.5)

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 22:51:46 -0000

Here is it already April first and the cherry blossoms are blooming and spring is in the air. I think today is a good day to tell you a story I've been wanting to share for awhile now. Remember last episode when I talked about the tanuki? Well, keep all that in mind when you listen to today's episode. Things are going to get weird.

This version is safe for 8 year olds and grandmothers.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Researched, written, directed, & produced: Thersa Matsuura

Mixed, edited, & sound engineered: Rich Pav

Voice of Terrie and Richard: Terrie and Richard

Voice of tanuki buttons: Julyan Ray

Sniffles, snorts, and chomps of tanuki: Alan Smithee

Foley: Richard and Terrie

That one line about Caligula: Joe Robson

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura.

Atmospheres #9 – Outskirts Of Town by Brian Holtz Music Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7668-atmospheres-9-outskirts-of-town License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Mourning Background by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7660-mourning-background License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Freedom by Alexander Nakarada Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4881-freedom License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Divertimento K131 by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3663-divertimento-k131 License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Peek-A-Boo by Brian Holtz Music Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7123-peek-a-boo License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

The Expanse by Alexander Nakarada Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4846-the-expanse License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Dawn Of The Apocalypse by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5627-dawn-of-the-apocalypse- License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

5 Am by Denis Sivtsev Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5959-5-am License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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PG-13 Tanuki Buttons: This Unbelievable Story Will Blow Your Mind! (Ep. 73)

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 14:56:10 -0000

Warning: This episode violates the Third Commandment, contains references to male anatomy and has uncensored words that could infect your soul, curve your spine, and keep the country from winning the war. Not safe for 8 year olds. Listener discretion is advised.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Researched, written, directed, & produced: Thersa Matsuura

Mixed, edited, & sound engineered: Rich Pav

Voice of Terrie and Richard: Terrie and Richard

Voice of tanuki buttons: Julyan Ray

Sniffles, snorts, and chomps of tanuki: Alan Smithee

Foley: Richard and Terrie

That one line about Caligula: Joe Robson

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura.

Atmospheres #9 – Outskirts Of Town by Brian Holtz Music Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7668-atmospheres-9-outskirts-of-town License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Mourning Background by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7660-mourning-background License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Freedom by Alexander Nakarada Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4881-freedom License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Divertimento K131 by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3663-divertimento-k131 License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Peek-A-Boo by Brian Holtz Music Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7123-peek-a-boo License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

The Expanse by Alexander Nakarada Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4846-the-expanse License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Dawn Of The Apocalypse by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5627-dawn-of-the-apocalypse- License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

5 Am by Denis Sivtsev Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5959-5-am License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Adorable Tanuki: Fluffy, Shape-Shifting, and Lucky! (Ep. 72)

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 09:30:00 -0000

Tanuki are those adorable, magical animals you find all through Japanese history. They're in folktales, art, legend, and even in modern day manga and anime. In this episode I'll talk about these furry, shape-shifting critters, touching on all the well known facts as well as some more obscure ones.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Lively Classical Piano Waltz by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7167-lively-classical-piano-waltz License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Dixi Dance by Frank Schröter Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7063-dixi-dance License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Kan no Mushi: Adorable Parasites Living Inside Your Spine (Ep. 71)

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 23:34:41 -0000

Let me tell you why your toddler might cry at night and throw tantrums and what you can do to remedy. It could be a mythical parasite that lives in their spine. And you might have them, too.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Sanzaru: Three Wise Monkeys and How They Can Help Extend Your Life (Ep. 70)

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 11:26:28 -0000

Everyone is familiar with the Three Wise Monkeys or as they're called in Japan Sanzaru (Three Monkeys). But did you know the See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Say No Evil creatures are actually a Japanese play on words? They're also an important part of an old folk belief that has to do with three worms escaping your body and a large deity with six arms and a blue face who vows to protect you.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website for the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Touching heaven by chilledmusic Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7533-touching-heaven License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Cursed Swords That Want to Murder You (Youtou) (Ep. 69)

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 04:31:56 -0000

A Muramasa blade is one of exceptional quality and great bloodlust. It's called a youtou (妖刀) in Japanese. Depending on how you translate that, it could mean cursed sword, mystic sword, or demon sword. In this episode I talk about one of the most well known youtou made by Muramasa Sengo.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website for the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Dreamsphere 1 by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/196-dreamsphere-1 License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Enjoying the Luck of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin) (Ep. 68)

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 22:55:09 -0000

In Japan the Shichifukujin or Seven Lucky Gods appear in a boat on the first day of the year to impart various kinds of luck on those they deem worthy.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Year of the Ox: Save Us All (Ep. 67)

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 23:33:28 -0000

The year 2021 is the Year of the Ox according to the animal zodiac. But what does that mean? On today's show I'll talk a little about the character of people born in this year, what to expect in 2021, and why the ox -- who should have been the first animal in the zodiac lineup -- got beaten by a rat.

I also have a super special announcement.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Summer Ambient Piano by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5504-summer-ambient-piano- License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Chinese Dreams by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6318-chinese-dreams License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Star Brightness In Dark Space by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7210-star-brightness-in-dark-space License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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Toshikoshi Soba: Breaking Off the Pain of 2020 with Noodles (Ep. 66)

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 09:04:25 -0000

Toshikoshi soba is the Japanese tradition of eating soba noodles on New Year's Eve. It's a custom that has continued since the 1700s. There are quite a few reasons why. Some have to do with long life, wealth, and breaking off all the hardships from the previous year.

In this episode of Uncanny Japan I'll talk about the history, the different names it goes by, and how you, too, can participate in this delicious tradition.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/XdMZTzmyUb

Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmbTSrQe1cxBy522vxAI8Bg Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Baku: The Eater of Dreams (Ep. 65)

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 23:34:12 -0000

The baku (獏) is a Japanese mythical creature that, when invited, slips into your room at night to gobble up your nightmares.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/XdMZTzmyUb

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Diving In The Oceans Of Kepler by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7062-diving-in-the-oceans-of-kepler License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Story Time: "The Dream of Akinosuke" by Lafcadio Hearn (Ep. 64)

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 03:44:32 -0000

"The Dream of Akinosuke" is Lafcadio Hearn's translation of a sweet Japanese (originally Chinese) folktale. In it you'll learn how insects can manipulate a person's soul.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Shinrei Supotto: Freaky Haunted Areas in Japan (Ep. 63)

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 23:57:12 -0000

Let's visit some local haunted areas or shinrei supotto in Japanese. The Suicide Forest, a very haunted tunnel, and a Severed Head Grave are all in today's show.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Yuurei: Japanese Ghosts from Protective to Wrathful (Ep. 62)

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 00:32:53 -0000

Yuurei are Japanese ghosts and they come in quite a few varieties, from the protecting shugorei to the vengeful and very dangerous onryou.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Oiran: The Glamorous and Wretched Life of a High Courtesan (Ep. 61)

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 23:55:38 -0000

An oiran is not a geisha. Although at first glance they may look alike, one is a more reserved entertainer who is still in existence today. The other is a high courtesan, long disappeared, who wore flamboyant brightly-colored kimono and walked on 20 centimeter high geta.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Kanreki: Your Auspicious Years, Yakudoushi: Your Calamitous Ones (Ep. 60)

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 09:07:36 -0000

Kanreki is the celebration of a 60th birthday. They'll don a red vest, called a chanchanko, a red billowy hat, called an e-boshi and be given a white fan to hold. Yakudoshi are the ages you're believed to be more susceptible to sickness, misfortune or some other disaster.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Traveling Through The Wonderful Universe by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6608-traveling-through-the-wonderful-universe License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Koumare Ishi: Inexplicable Rocks That Predict the Deaths of Monks (Ep. 59)

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 04:07:46 -0000

Koumare Ishi is one of the nanafushigi or seven mysterious occurrences from my area. The belief is that a rock is born from the side of the mountain, and when it falls the head abbot of the nearby temple, Daitoku, dies. It's been going on for hundreds of years, and even today there is a perfectly round stone poking halfway from the mountain.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Bon Odori: Dancing with the Dead (Ep. 58)

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 02:08:31 -0000

Bon Odori or Bon Dancing is a summer tradition held all over Japan. It's a chance for families to get together and have an enjoyable time dancing to the rhythmical music. Seeing as how the Obon season is also when ancestors visit from beyond the grave, they, too, can take part in the festivities if they wish.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Story Time - The Jellyfish Takes a Journey (plus eel and seppuku!) (Ep. 57)

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 05:15:44 -0000

Ever wonder why a jellyfish looks the way they do? Well, the Japanese folktale "The Jellyfish Takes a Journey" (Kurage no Honenashi) tells you how that came about. Then after that folktale, I'll give you a little trivia about the connection between eel and seppuku.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Food Superstitions and Sayings (Ep. 56)

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 06:46:40 -0000

Why shouldn't you eat crab and watermelon together? What will happen if you don't eat all the rice in your bowl? Today I'll answer these and a whole lot more. Japanese food superstitions and sayings are quite interesting and sometimes funny.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Star-Crossed Lovers (Tanabata) (Ep.55)

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 08:36:09 -0000

Tanabata is a Japanese festival based on the bizarre tale of two star-crossed lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi. In episode 55, I'll tell you their story, explain a little about the origins and how it's celebrated today.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Celestial Background by TwisteriumMusic Link: https://soundcloud.com/twisterium/celestial-background-besplatnaya-fonovaya-muzyka License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Waltz Of The Kindness by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6283-the-waltz-of-the-kindness License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Midsummer Sky by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4049-midsummer-sky License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Yokai-Related Sayings (Becoming a Tengu) (Ep. 54)

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 12:15:29 -0000

What if someone told you that you were turning into a tengu, one of those red-faced, long-nosed goblins? What would they mean? In this episode of Uncanny Japan, I talk about a handful of Japanese sayings that are based on youkai.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Summer Ambient Piano by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5504-summer-ambient-piano- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Medicine by WinnieTheMoog Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6256-medicine License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Creepy Children's Song (Kagome Kagome) (Ep. 53)

Fri, 29 May 2020 01:45:16 -0000

In Japan "Kagome Kagome" is an old children's game and the song that goes along with it. It's interesting because the mysterious lyrics have several different interpretations and most of them are pretty grim.

So listen to episode 53 of Uncanny Japan where I talk about this creepy song and several of the theories behind those odd lyrics.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Putting a Curse on Your Enemies (Ushi no Koku Mairi) (Ep. 52)

Sat, 16 May 2020 04:06:53 -0000

Ushi no Koku Mairi means visiting a shrine at the hour of the ox (between 1:00 and 3:00 am). It also means going there so you can put a curse on your enemy. Deriving from the legend of Hashi Hime (The Bridge Princess) and the Noh play Kanawa (The Iron Crown), this peculiar and frightening way of cursing those who have wronged you is definitely next level.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Kathrin by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/430-kathrin License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Marimba Thriller by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5335-marimba-thriller- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pixel Peeker Polka – faster by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4220-pixel-peeker-polka—faster License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Children's Day Iris Baths and Golden Boys: Japanese Traditions (Ep. 51)

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 03:10:00 -0000

Looking at the calendar, I see we're fast approaching Golden Week in Japan, and I wanted to share some of my favorite traditions from the most exciting holiday of all: Kodomo no Hi, or Children's Day.

In this episode, I explore three fascinating cultural discoveries that have captured my imagination. First, there's the ancient practice of iris baths, or shōbuyu - a beautiful tradition where families soak iris leaves in hot baths on May 5th. The idea is that the sword-shaped leaves and lovely fragrance will bring health, strength, and even samurai spirit to children. I'll share exactly how to create your own iris bath if you're curious.

Then I dive into the legendary tales of Kintarō, the Golden Boy - a chubby, naked kid with supernatural strength who was raised by a mountain witch and fathered by a red dragon. While I'm honestly not the biggest Kintarō fan (he's a bit too perfect for my taste), his origin stories are absolutely wild and worth exploring.

I also talk about the regional differences in Children's Day sweets - from kashiwa mochi wrapped in oak leaves to chimaki tied in bamboo. Plus, I discovered a fascinating tidbit about how the famous ukiyo-e artist Utamarō used innocent Kintarō scenes to cleverly work around government censorship in the late 1700s.

What I find most interesting about Kodomo no Hi is how it evolved from the old Boys' Day (Tango no Sekku) into today's Children's Day, and how these beautiful traditions connect families to centuries of cultural wisdom about raising healthy, strong children.

Come with me as I explore these hidden corners of Japanese culture - from practical bath rituals you can try at home to legendary folk heroes with mountain witch mothers. It's the kind of cultural treasure hunting I love to share with you here on Uncanny Japan.

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Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Story Time: Sand Walls, Paper Doors (Ep. 50)

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 01:12:52 -0000

I want to celebrate my fiftieth episode by reading my yokai story, "Sand Walls, Paper Doors" from my book A Robe of Feathers and Other Stories. This is the one that got me my book deal, my agent, and my best friend. Also, yokai, lots of yokai.

Thank you for listening, sharing, and reaching out these past three and a half years. I'm looking forward to the next fifty episodes!

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4397-sovereign License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Bicycle by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3434-bicycle License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Luminous Rain by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4007-luminous-rain License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Heartbreaking by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3863-heartbreaking License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Thinking Music by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4522-thinking-music License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Umbrella Pants by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4559-umbrella-pants License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Clear Waters by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3516-clear-waters License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cryptic Sorrow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3568-cryptic-sorrow License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Immersed by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3900-immersed License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Close Encounter with an Amabie (Ep. 49)

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 01:31:15 -0000

An amabie is a Japanese yokai that is said to have predicted a plague and then encouraged people to share its image to protect them from that previously predicted plague. Or something like that.

The amabie has recently been re-remembered all over Japanese social media with people posting their own adorable depictions of that long-haired, beak-faced, three-footed creature and wishing the current plague (Covid-19) to go away.

But that's not the half of it. Imagine my surprise when I learned of rumors about a mysterious glowing object was appearing just off the coast near my house. A little research and some very good friends and I was able to track down the when and where and sneak over in the dead of night and see what I could see.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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The Kappa's Fart (Ep. 48)

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 06:13:39 -0000

A kappa is a small, scrawny, aquatic yokai with a parrot-like beak, a tortoise-style shell on its back, and an indentation on the top of its head full of water. They're found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and even coastal areas. But what do they do?

While recently kappa have been rebranded to be very kawaii, that hasn't always been the case. Listen to find out how heinous these slimy critters can be.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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The Guest Room Child (Zashiki Warashi) (Ep. 47)

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 09:38:33 -0000

Have you ever been sleeping and had a bout of kanashibari (sleep paralysis)? Then during that surreal--most likely frightening--experience, have you ever had what feels like a ghost child crawling on top of you? Or maybe late one night when you're all alone, you've heard an unseen child giggling. Perhaps you've heard tiny footsteps running across the floor, or found little footprints on your floor or handprints on the wall. If so, you've probably just experienced a zashiki warashi (a guest room child). But don't worry, they're not bad news. In fact, they're the bringer of good luck and fortune.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Kanashibari: Sleep Paralysis and the Pillow Flipper (Ep. 46)

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 11:34:00 -0000

Have you ever woken up frozen, unable to move or speak? You're wide awake—or at least you think you are. You can hear everything around you, but you're completely paralyzed.

In Japan, this experience has a name: kanashibari. And the explanations? They involve a fierce Buddhist deity with a very specific tool, and a freaky-looking yōkai with a thing for pillows.

Come with me as I explore what happens when sleep paralysis meets Japanese folklore.

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Osechi Ryōri: Lucky New Year Foods in Japan (Ep. 45)

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 04:41:00 -0000

Akemashite omedetō. Happy New Year. I'm surrounded by moving boxes in my new creaky house, but I want to share Japan's amazing New Year food tradition—osechi ryōri.

It's a whole bunch of different dishes meticulously prepared in the days leading up to January 1st. Once finished, they're placed very artfully into jūbako—these gorgeous lacquered stackable boxes. Think of bento boxes, but much more elegant and only used for serving osechi.

Come with me as I explore these lucky New Year foods, what they symbolize, and how my father-in-law's kamaboko factory became part of our family's New Year traditions.

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Haunted Artifacts (Tsukumogami) (Ep. 44)

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 03:53:08 -0000

In Japan when an inanimate object reaches its 100th birthday and perhaps it was mistreated, or lost, or thrown away, it gains a soul and might possibly start playing tricks on people. This is called tsukumogami, or haunted artifacts. In this episode I talk about the tsukumogami and some traditional ones you could run across on a dark spooky night.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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The Great Horned Master (Tsuno Daishi) (Ep. 43)

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 05:02:15 -0000

When walking around Japan you might see a small rectangular piece of paper pasted near a front door or on a gate. On this paper is an image that can only be described as a demon or devil. While off-putting at first, this creepy little fellow isn't actually a bad guy; he's there to protect the family and household. In this episode I'm going to tell you why.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Story Time: Yotsuya Kaidan (The Ghost of Oiwa) (Ep. 42)

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 22:54:20 -0000

It's almost Halloween, so for this episode of Uncanny Japan I'm going to tell you a spooky tale called Yotsuya Kaidan, the story of Oiwa and her sad and vengeful ghost. The last ghost story I told here was in episode 25, Okiku and the Nine Plates (Bancho Sarayashiki). Well, Yotsuya Kaidan's main character, Oiwa, is another one of the biggies, who I'm guessing is even more well known than Okiku. There are so many versions of this story, so here I'm going to tell you mine. I'm going to try and stick to the originals as much as possible without getting too complicated and character heavy. I do encourage you to look into other versions of the story if you're interested. There are so many adaptations out there.

So go climb into bed, put on your headphones, turn out the lights, and let me tell you the story of Oiwa's ghost.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Japanese Superstitions II: Spider Lilies and Ghostly Trees (Ep. 41)

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 02:03:52 -0000

Why is the beautiful Spider lily also called a corpse flower? Why didn't samurai keep camellias in their gardens? Why do Japanese ghosts like to hang out under weeping willows?

On this episode I'll take on a few more Japanese superstitions, but this time plant and flower-related stories.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Daruma - He Cut Off His What?! (Ep. 40)

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 04:51:05 -0000

His eyelids. He cut off his eyelids. But that is not all that the Daruma (Bodhidharma) is famous for. He's the man who brought Chan to China and Zen to Japan. Some say he taught the Shaolin monks how to fight while other tales talk about how he invented green tea, or well, his eyelids did.

Join me and a thousand singing night insects while I tell you about the great sage, Daruma.

Also, you know how if you wait until the end of the credits in some movies you're rewarded with a little something? I won't say what, but my Sound Guy was a bit cheeky this episode. I wonder how many of my listeners will get the reference. Let me know.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Behind the Curtain: Advice for people coming to Japan (Ep. 39)

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 02:13:11 -0000

Episode 39 of Uncanny Japan is different, it's special. Today I forgo my usual format and invite my friend, fellow long time expat, and Sound Dude, Rich Pav, to join me in answering some listener questions about advice when coming to Japan. Here we talk about just a few things we've gleaned from our living-in-Japan experience. A longer version is available for my $5 and up Patrons.

Since this is an experiment, tell us what you think. Would this kind of show every so often be of interest to listeners? And if so, what topics would you like us to discuss?

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Story Time: Cicada by Lafcadio Hearn (Ep. 38)

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 02:15:27 -0000

In Episode 38, you can listen to Lafcadio Hearn's whimsical take on the cicada (semi) while enjoying some real time cicada singing in the background.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Oni Kara Denwa: The Ogre App to Discipline Your Child (Ep. 37)

Sun, 21 Jul 2019 04:30:09 -0000

Ever since I saw a mother discipline her child by threatening to call an oni/ogre, I've been wanting to do talk about this. Then I found out it really is a thing, an app called Oni Kara Denwa (A Call From an Oni, or as it's translated in Japanese: Ghost Call) to be more precise.

In Episode 37, I talk about what I've heard playfully called the oni appuli. It has over 10 million downloads and purports to help you raise your child. I've got a lot of thoughts and feelings about this one, but I try as much as possible to be objective when giving you an explanation of what it is and what it does.

What do you think? Useful? Traumatizing?

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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The Rock That Cries at Night (Yonaki Ishi) (Ep. 36)

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 02:00:22 -0000

A rock that gets weepy when the sun goes down, a pregnant woman slain alone in the mountains, a newborn baby visited by a ghostly priest who feds him candy to stay alive. These are all parts of this month's podcast: The Rock The Cries at Night (Yonaki Ishi). In this episode, I visit a local spot (one of the Enshu Nanafushigi / Seven Mysterious Things of Enshu).

Come listen to me tell the tale while I sit by some rain, thunder, and an ambitious frog.

It's a wonderful old legend, but can you find the big question (plot hole?) that I discovered when I researched and retold the story?

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Nanafushigi: Seven Mysterious Things (Ep. 35)

Mon, 27 May 2019 06:31:09 -0000

A giant hairy foot crashing through the roof of an old house and demanding to be washed. A festive tanuki band that appears in the dead of night and lures you into parts unknown. These are just two of the Honjo Nanafushigi. Nanafushigi can be translated as seven wonders, but they're more like seven mysteries. All over Japan you can find stories (old and new) of seven strange occurrences. As an introduction to my new idea of covering local legends and creepy tales, this month's podcast is about nanafushigi. I'll be talking about both the Honjo Nanafushigi and a little about how even all over Japan schools will often have their own nanafushigi that are more like local urban legends to spook and baffle the children.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Hidden by the Gods (Kamikakushi) (Ep. 34)

Mon, 06 May 2019 07:30:35 -0000

Today's show feels like a wacky and wonderful one. You see, I started talking about the tengu in Episode 32 (Heavenly Dogs and Brilliant Swordsmen), but I wasn't able to cover one of my favorite things about this red faced, long nosed, mountain warrior. That being the notion of kamikakushi (神隠し) or being spirited away. In this episode I get into that but the more I researched the really wild and fascinating information I ran across.

In this Episode 34: Spirited Away (Kamikakushi), I'll tell you about the Shinto scholar Atsutane Hirata who back in the 1800s interviewed and wrote a book about a boy (Torakichi) who had claimed to have been abducted by a tengu for many years. There are stories of 100-days fasts, trees that glow from an inner light, and small unlucky men riding horses who are born from the placenta of a new born baby.

All this while I walk through a drizzly evening, recording the first frogs of the season.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Story Time: Hoichi The Earless by Lafcadio Hearn (Mimi-nashi Hoichi) (Ep. 33)

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 05:07:44 -0000

After coming to live in Japan (1890), Lafcadio Hearn listened intently to the folk stories and ghostly tales that were related to him. He then wrote them down in English, adding his own unique style and began publishing books of his gathered observances and retellings. Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan, Exotics and Retrospectives, and Kwaidan to name a few.

Today on Uncanny Japan, I read you "Mimi-nashi Hoichi", arguably Mr. Hearn's most well-known story. A story that has been made into a movie, appears on stage, shows up in manga, music, and is told on stages even today. As a matter of fact, I have tickets to go see a performance of Mimi-Nashi Hoichi in May.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Heavenly Dogs and Brilliant Swordsmen (The Tengu) (Ep. 32)

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 13:01:14 -0000

There are two types of tengu: the karasu/crow tengu and the hanadaka/long-nosed tengu. They're both awesome martial artists and fearsome foes, among other things. In this episode, I'll introduce you to these two super cool Japanese yokai and tell you a little bit about their lore.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Story Time: Of a Mirror and a Bell (Lafcadio Hearn) (Ep. 31)

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 06:29:09 -0000

Story Time is a little bit different than the usual Uncanny Japan podcast. Instead of me telling you about some interesting, odd, or spooky tidbit, I'll be reading you a story. This is something I do over on Patreon once a month. There I call them Bedtime Stories and they're more varied, from obscure pieces of folklore I find, translate, and slightly reimagine (for the story's sake), to pieces I discover in the public domain and sometimes even my own work. But that's that.

Here on Uncanny Japan, I've decided to also occasionally visit story telling. The folktales will be different than the ones on Patreon and I'm going to start with some of Lafcadio Hearn's wonderful pieces that are up on Gutenberg.

Another thing, on the regular Uncanny Japan podcasts I use my binaural mics to record ambient sounds from my little part of Japan. However, with the Story Time episodes I'll be using a music bed provide by my musician son, who also does the intro/outro music.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Human-Faced Fish (Ep. 30)

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 05:11:26 -0000

Next time you're staring down into a rowdy school of koi, keep an eye out for the one that has a human face. This is a jinmengyo and rumor has it if you see one a tsunami is on its way.

Or maybe if you're lucky, you'll get a glimpse of the nekomengyo/cat-faced carp. Which is much cuter until it grows those long legs and walks around at night.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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The Devils are Coming! (Setsubun) (Ep. 29)

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 11:03:22 -0000

The devils are coming! Or the ogres or demons, depending on how you translate the Japanese word oni (鬼). February 3rd is Setsubun in Japan and it's not just the day before spring according to the lunar calendar, it's also the day that oni prowl the streets and children must pelt them roasted soybeans to insure good luck for the coming year. In this episode of Uncanny Japan, I talk about Setsubun and the various ways it's celebrated.

This years good luck direction to face when eating your eho-maki is east northeast.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Ebisu, The Leech Boy Who Became a God (Ep. 28)

Mon, 14 Jan 2019 14:14:42 -0000

I'm starting 2019 off with the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichi Fukujin), or, well, more specifically ONE of the Seven Lucky Gods: Ebisu. He's the only one born and bred in Japan and, boy, does he have some seriously weird backstory.

Come listen to me talk about Ebisu while binaurally recording a walk through Kyoto Station.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Ojizo Bound in Ropes Doused in Oil (Ep. 27)

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 05:01:32 -0000

The ojizo only wants to ease our suffering, and for that he gets tied up in ropes, doused in oil, and his head lopped off. Episode 27 of Uncanny Japan talks a little more about the ojizo statue, bringing to light some of the curious, unique, and bizarre manifestations of this beneficent deity.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Ojizo. The Little Guy Saving You and Yours From the Torments of Hell (Ep. 26)

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 08:42:12 -0000

An ojizo-sama is here to put aside his own enlightenment in order to save us all from the torments of hell. True story. He is especially partial to children, expectant mothers, firemen, travelers, pilgrims, stillborn, miscarried, and aborted babies. Do you have some kind of pain? He's here to take that away, too.

The background binaural sounds are a small group of Japanese men and women playing a game of gateball. They're rooting for each other, taking the piss out of each other, and finally running out of time and losing their games against one another.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Bancho Sarayashiki: Okiku and the Nine Plates (Ep. 25)

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 23:43:20 -0000

One, two, three... Okiku kneeling, counts the priceless plates that have been entrusted to her. Four, five, six... her samurai master, Tessan, stands, hands on hips, he watches her trembling hands. Seven, eight, nine... Okiku gasps. She checks the wooden chest, looks around panicked. There were ten. Now there are nine. Where did the other one go? Tessan enraged accuses her of stealing it, or perhaps breaking it and hiding the pieces. Where did she hide them? Maybe in the well. Tessan drags the poor servant girl from the room and to the well where in a fit of rage he throws her in to her death.

The following night Tessan awakes to the sound of Okiku carefully counting the plates. One, two, three... When she reaches nine and discovers there is no tenth plate she lets out an inhuman scream that shakes Tessan to his bones. This happens again and again until driven mad, Tessan takes up his own blade and ends his life.

Episode 25 of Uncanny Japan is me on a local train telling you about Okiku, the poor servant girl who is still believed to haunt the well where she perished so many years ago. If you hear her count to nine, you too will die a horrible death. If you hear her but flee before she gets to seven, you may perhaps live, but you may also lose some of your mind.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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A Bedtime Story: Kachi-Kachi Mountain (PG Version) (Ep. 24)

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 23:54:59 -0000

Episode 24 of Uncanny Japan is a story, a Bedtime Story. Here I read to you my retelling and reimagining of a classic Japanese folktale Kachi Kachi Yama (Kachi Kachi Mountain). There are quite a few versions of the story out there. This one is very PG and everyone friendly. The more true-to-the-original and very slightly R-rated is over as extra content on Patreon.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Kuchisake-onna: The Slit-Mouthed Woman (Ep. 23)

Thu, 20 Sep 2018 13:41:00 -0000

I've had quite a few requests via email, DMs, and reviews for a show on Japanese urban legends. This episode is in answer to those requests. Here are two urban myths that have always intrigued me: The Slit-Mouthed Woman (kuchisake onna) and The White Thread That Comes from Your Ear (mimi kara shiroi ito).

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Great Screaming and Uninterrupted Pain More Buddhist Hells (Ep. 22)

Mon, 03 Sep 2018 15:00:00 -0000

Here are the last four Buddhist Hot Hells for your enjoyment. There is extreme heat, much screaming, and a flaming rooster. Also, I was able to catch a local summer festival on the binaural mics. That is very cool.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/XdMZTzmyUb

Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Screaming and Crushing in Four Buddhist Hells (Ep. 21)

Tue, 14 Aug 2018 13:30:00 -0000

The first of two podcasts this month, Episode 21: Screaming and Crushing in Four Buddhist Hells, is just about that, four of the eight Buddhist Hot Hells. Come listen to what happens when you kill a mosquito, commit mutiny, or convince your drunken friend to do your evil bidding.

Also, you don't want to lie, lest an oni pull your tongue out with red hot pliers. Look. That's what it says right up there.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

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Credits

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/XdMZTzmyUb

Credits

Intro and outro music by Christiaan Virant from the album Ting Shuo.

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Ship Goddesses, Boat Ghosts, and Sea Monks (Funadama, Funa Yurei, Umi Bozu) (Ep. 20)

Thu, 19 Jul 2018 10:00:00 -0000

The third Monday of July is Umi no Hi (海の日), Marine Day, so this month on Uncanny Japan I decided to talk about three otherworldly ocean creatures: Ship Goddesses, Boat Ghosts, and Sea Monks. Funa dama (船霊), funa yurei (船幽霊), and umi bozu (海坊主).

This month's Bedtime Story (over on Patreon) is a folktale I translated called: The Umbrella Sea Monster.

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Notes: The intro/outro music of Uncanny Japan is a song by Christiaan Virant (from the album Ting Shuo).

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The Heavenly Demon (Amanojaku) + Bedtime Story! (Ep. 19)

Tue, 26 Jun 2018 18:00:00 -0000

This month's podcast is a special one. Not only did I do a podcast about a strange little creature called the amanojaku (天邪鬼), but at the end I attached one of my Bedtime Stories that I record monthly for my Patrons. So if you stay tuned after the podcast (a whopping 10 minutes), you'll be treated to my interpretation (the happy-ending version) of Urikohime (瓜子姫), The Melon Princess and the Amanojaku.

The podcast: The amanojaku is a nasty Japanese beastie that predates Buddhism, might have originated from a Shinto deity, who you can usually find getting trampled on by the Four Heavenly Kings at temples all around Japan.

Amanojaku is also a word used to describe a contrary person.

I want to give super special thanks to my Tech Guy for working so hard on getting the sound so good. I'm not an attention-to-detail kind of person. But he is and works his butt off, not to mention he has mad skills. Thank you, Rich Pav!

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Notes: The intro/outro music of Uncanny Japan is a song by Christiaan Virant (fromthe album Ting Shuo). The music bed on the Bedtime Story is by Julyan Matsuura. I'm looking forward to having more of his songs accompanying my Bedtimes Stories and most likely the intro/outro soon.

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The God of Smallpox (Housougami) (Ep. 18)

Sat, 19 May 2018 03:00:00 -0000

Welcome to May's Uncanny Japan. In this episode I talk about the God of Smallpox (housougami/疱瘡神). Come listen to the beliefs in this fearsome god and how dogs and the color red kept him at bay.

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Notes: The intro/outro music of Uncanny Japan is a song by Christiaan Virant (“Yi Gui” from Ting Shuo). The whole album is just gorgeous as it everything else by FM3.

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Granny Dumping Mountain (Ubasute Yama) (Ep. 17)

Sat, 21 Apr 2018 02:00:00 -0000

This month on Uncanny Japan I talk about Ubasuta Yama (姥捨山) or Granny Dumping Mountain. Back in old Japan when times were tough and there were too many mouths for one family to feed, they might do something called kuchi herashi (口減らし) or getting rid of mouths. One way to do this was to send one (or more) of your children to live with a wealthier family. Another way to cut down on the number of mouths that needed to be fed was to haul grandma or grandpa up into the mountains and leave them to fend for themselves. Some say it's just a folktale, others say why of course this happened! What do you think?

ETA: The station in Nagano is Ubasute Eki (姨捨駅). I mention in the podcast that the first character for uba is little sister. I was wrong, it's 'aunt'. So throwing away aunts. Who I am supposing are older than little sisters.

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Notes: The intro/outro music of Uncanny Japan is a song by Christiaan Virant (“Yi Gui” from Ting Shuo). The whole album is just gorgeous as it everything else by FM3.

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Playing Hide and Seek by Yourself (Hitori Kakurenbo) (Ep. 16)

Sun, 18 Mar 2018 02:00:00 -0000

Hitori kakurenbo (一人隠れん坊 ) means playing hide and seek by yourself. It sounds silly, but it's actually a super creepy, Japanese urban myth that involves you all alone at night with nothing but a stuffed animal, some red thread, and a knife.

Come listen to this month's Uncanny Japan where I talk about how to play hitori kakurenbo while my binaural mics pick up all the sounds of sitting beside a river at dusk.

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Notes: The intro/outro music of Uncanny Japan is a song by Christiaan Virant (“Yi Gui” from Ting Shuo). The whole album is just gorgeous as it everything else by FM3.

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Inviting a Friend to Die (Rokuyo) (Ep. 15)

Mon, 19 Feb 2018 19:00:00 -0000

The rokuyo (六曜) or six days is the Japanese calendar that you consult when preparing to engage in various affairs: wedding, funerals, trips, and business dealings to name a few. Some days are good for some things, other days are good for others. Some days are just bad, bad, bad.

If you take a good look at a lot of Japanese calendars and daily planners, they have two small kanji written in the corner of every day. These signify which of the six rokuyo that particular day is. You definitely don't want to incur bad luck and have your wedding on a butsumetsu (仏滅 ) or invite a group of mourners to join the deceased loved one in the Buddha's paradise by holding a funeral on a tomobiki (友引).

This month's podcast is all about the rokuyo. Come listen while you take a ride with me on the local train via binaural mics.

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Notes: The intro/outro music of Uncanny Japan is a song by Christiaan Virant (“Yi Gui” from Ting Shuo). The whole album is just gorgeous as it everything else by FM3.

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Sokushinbutsu: The Corpses of “Living” Buddhas (Ep. 14)

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 21:00:00 -0000

Listen to me talk about this wonderfully surreal thing I found: Living Buddhas (ikibotoke, 生き仏 or sokushinbutsu, 即身仏). The thing is, they're not really alive, at least not anymore. *cue scary music*... no, seriously, cue the scary music, things are going to get weird.

Also, because I didn't mention it in the podcast the background of this month's Uncanny Japan was recorded at a local temple on New Year's Eve at midnight. The sounds you hear are the people milling around wishing each other a Happy New Year and the temple bell being rung 108 times (to ring out our humanely sins). The latter thing is called Joya no Kane.

If you're interested in ikibotoke/sokushinbutsu or self mummification, I found a page in Japanese about a route you can travel to see all the Living Buddhas in their respective temples up in Northern Honshu, in Yamagata Prefecture. Below I translated the highlights:

Start at Nangakuji (南岳寺), a nine-minute car ride from Tsuruoka Station (Yamagata Prefecture). Here you can find TetsuRyouKai, who became a sokushinbutsu in 1881.
A 30-minute drive from there will take you to Honmyoji (本明寺) where you can see the Living Buddha, Honmyouji Shonin.
Next take a 20-minute jaunt to 龍水寺大日坊・湯殿山総本寺 (Yudonosansouhonji). Here you'll be able to pray to 真如海上人.
Hop back in your car and drive 8-minutes to Yudonosan Churenji (湯殿山注連寺). The sokushinbutsu at this temple passed away in 1829.
Lastly, drive one hour to Kaikouji (海向寺) . Here there are two Living Buddhas: Chukai (忠海上人）who became an ikibotoke in 1785 and Enmyokai (円明海上人) who became an ikibotoke in 1822.

It is said that these Living Buddhas can answer your prayers. So there's that. Also, if you're into amulets, the self mummified monks' robes are changed occasionally and the cloth from the old garments is used to make omamori.

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Notes: The intro/outro music of Uncanny Japan is a song by Christiaan Virant (“Yi Gui” from Ting Shuo). The whole album is just gorgeous as it everything else by FM3.

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Teachers Running (Shiwasu) (Ep. 13)

Sun, 17 Dec 2017 19:00:00 -0000

Everyone's busy. It's the end of the year. Come listen to me talk about how we spend December in Japan while you listen to a mochi-pounding event in the background on binaural mics. There is cleaning, haircuts, paying debts and staying up all night to avoid gray hair.

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Notes: The intro/outro music of Uncanny Japan is a song by Christiaan Virant (“Yi Gui” from Ting Shuo). The whole album is just gorgeous as it everything else by FM3.

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Goroawase: Tricky Numbers (Ep. 12)

Thu, 16 Nov 2017 03:00:00 -0000

In Japan numbers can be tricky. Four is thought to invite death. Nine brings suffering and agony. But, hey! Eight is good!

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Notes: The intro/outro music of Uncanny Japan is a song by Christiaan Virant (“Yi Gui” from Ting Shuo). The whole album is just gorgeous as it everything else by FM3.

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The Devil’s Gate (Kimon) (Ep. 11)

Wed, 18 Oct 2017 03:00:00 -0000

You have one. I have one. We all have one: a Devil's Gate. It's the place where oni (Japanese devils) sneak into your home, steal all your good luck and fine health, and scuttle away. It's the place you have to be very careful about and treat with respect. The problem is, most of us have no idea where our Devil's Gate (kimon) is, much less what to do to appease and/or keep out those pesky devils.

Walk with me in the pouring rain and listen to this month's podcast. It's all about your devil's gate, where to find it, and what might be done to protect yourself and your family from those intrusive luck-nabbing oni.

This incident I talk about in the podcast (the moving and my mother-in-law) was the impetus for my short story "My Devil's Gate" that was published in my first collection: A Robe of Feathers and Other Stories.

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Notes: The intro/outro music of Uncanny Japan is a song by Christiaan Virant (“Yi Gui” from Ting Shuo). The whole album is just gorgeous as it everything else by FM3.

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Gaki: Hungry Ghosts (Ep. 10)

Wed, 13 Sep 2017 06:00:00 -0000

Careful. Living a life of luxury while being selfish and coveting your neighbors goodies just might lead you to another spin on this Wheel of Life. This means after you die you'll be reborn not as a human again, not even as a squirrel in someone's backyard. You might just come back as a hungry ghost, and let me tell you why that's not a very good thing.

This month's podcast is about Japanese hungry ghosts or gaki in Japanese. Not for the feint of heart.

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Credits

The intro/outro music of Uncanny Japan is a song by Christiaan Virant (“Yi Gui” from Ting Shuo). The whole album is just gorgeous as it everything else by FM3.

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Obon Part Two: Sending Away Fires (Okuribi) (Ep. 9)

Tue, 15 Aug 2017 00:00:00 -0000

This month's podcast is Obon Part Two, the time when you have to send ol' grandma and grandpa back to the World of the Dead. There are various ways of doing this. I talk about two, the chill, mellow way and the flinging-balls-of-fire-into-the-air way.

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Credits

The intro/outro music of Uncanny Japan is a piece by Christiaan Virant (“Yi Gui” from Ting Shuo). The whole album is just gorgeous as it everything else by FM3.

Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Check out her books on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a creepy bedtime story sent to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

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Obon Part One: On Cucumber Horses They Ride (Ep. 8)

Sun, 16 Jul 2017 20:00:00 -0000

In Japan, Obon is the time of year when all the ancestors' spirits make the long haul back to the world of the living to pay a visit. It's kind of a big deal. Butsudan-altars are decorated to the hilt and families wait expectantly for grandma and grandpa, great grandma and great grandpa (not to mention great, great, great grandma and grandpa) to arrive and hang out.

This month's podcast is part one of Obon, welcoming fires and cucumber horses.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

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Credits

The intro/outro music is a piece by Christiaan Virant (“Yi Gui” from Ting Shuo). The whole album is just gorgeous as it everything else by FM3.

Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Check out her books on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a creepy bedtime story sent to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senninbari: The Thousand-Stitch Belt (Ep. 7)

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 01:00:00 -0000

The senninbari or one thousand-stitch belt is a magical kind of sash worn by soldiers in World War 2 to ward off enemies bullets and impart super human strength.

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Credits

The intro/outro music is a piece by Christiaan Virant (“Yi Gui” from Ting Shuo). The whole album is just gorgeous as it everything else by FM3.

Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other show is The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

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Japanese Superstitions Part One (Ep. 6)

Mon, 15 May 2017 20:30:00 -0000

Why can't you cut your fingernails after dark in Japan? What happens if you whistle at night? And why do spiders bring good luck in the morning but bad luck at night?

These aren't just random rules—each superstition has roots in old Japan's daily life, from the tools people used to the dangers they faced after sunset. Some reasons are practical. Others are... unsettling.

In this episode we explore three common Japanese superstitions and uncovers the surprising (and sometimes dark) explanations behind them.

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Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Kishibojin: Japanese Demon Mother Who Became Child Protector Goddess (Ep. 5)

Fri, 14 Apr 2017 01:30:00 -0000

In this episode, I explore Kishibojin (or Kishimojin)—originally the Hindu deity Hariti—who made her way through the Lotus Sutra into Japanese Buddhism and Shinto practice. You'll hear about the pomegranate she holds (said to taste like human flesh), her ten demon daughters with names like "Spirit Snatcher" and "Flowery Teeth," and the temples in Tokyo where mothers still pray to her today.

From recording at the windswept docks of my small Japanese town, I share the complete story of this fascinating deity who embodies the Buddhist concept of transformation through understanding.

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Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Monkeys and Monkey Lore! (Ep. 4)

Fri, 17 Mar 2017 21:30:00 -0000

Monkey lore in Japan is vast and confusing—monkeys can be good, monkeys can be bad, depending on what you're looking at. There's a wordplay thing going on with the word "saru" that explains a lot. Then there's this whole connection between monkeys and horses that shows up everywhere in old Japanese art. And finally, there are these creepy faceless monkey charms you can buy in Kyoto and Nara.

Come explore Japanese monkey folklore with me.

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Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Koshin Shinko: The Three Worms in Your Body (Ep. 3)

Thu, 16 Feb 2017 15:00:00 -0000

Koshin Shinko is the belief that you are born with three worms (called sanshi) inside your body, and that these creatures' only purpose is to shorten your life so they can be free again.

In this podcast I not only tell you more about those nasty parasites and how you can hinder them, I also talk about those three monkeys (See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil) and how they are here to help you out. Oh, and immortality. I also talk about how you can gain immortality.

I found the dates for 2017: Feb. 2/April 3rd/June 2nd/August 1st/September 30th/November 29th.

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Credits

The intro/outro music is a piece by Christiaan Virant (“Yi Gui” from Ting Shuo). The whole album is just gorgeous as it everything else by FM3.

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Hatsu-yume: Your First Dream of the New Year (Ep. 2)

Fri, 20 Jan 2017 03:00:00 -0000

I want to talk about a Japanese saying called hatsuyume—hatsu means the first, and yume is dream. Your first dream in the new year will, as Japanese tradition says, predict how your year is going to turn out if you dream about one of three things.

The most common saying that everybody knows is ichi Fuji, ni taka, san nasubi. One, Mount Fuji. Two, hawk. Three, eggplant. But why an eggplant? It's a play on words. And there are also three more lucky symbols that aren't very well-known, even to Japanese people. Come with me as I explore this fascinating New Year tradition and the clever wordplay behind these lucky dream symbols.

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Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Musha-burui: Trembling Before a Formidable Task (Ep. 1)

Sun, 30 Oct 2016 13:00:00 -0000

I want to share something my mother-in-law taught me years ago - a Japanese concept that perfectly captures how we feel before life's biggest challenges. Musha-burui describes that trembling mixture of fear and excitement a samurai felt before battle.

That's exactly how I felt starting this podcast after 30 years in Japan, feeling like my English was slipping away but knowing I had to share these cultural discoveries. What happens when your body says "don't do this" but your spirit says "you must"?

This is the very first episode of Uncanny Japan, where I introduce both the concept of musha-burui and what this show is about - sharing the strange, fascinating cultural treasures I discover through my research as a writer of Japanese folklore and horror. I recorded this originally in 2017, then re-recorded it in 2020, and both versions are included here.

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Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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