Uncanny Japan

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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.com linktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.com linktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.com linktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Follow Uncanny Japan: Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits: 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Follow Uncanny Japan: Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits: 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎃 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! Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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... [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. SpectreVision Radio presents Uncanny Japan. Get the podcast on Apple | Google | RSS Support the show: Patreon | Buy me a coffee Connect: Instagram | X (Twitter) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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) [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Youtube Uncanny Japan - https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Thersa Matsuura - https://www.youtube.com/@ThersaMatsuura Social Media Discord - ⁠https://discord.com/invite/XdMZTzmyUb⁠ Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/uncannyjapan.bsky.social Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Merch Dashery - https://uncannyjapanmerch.dashery.com/ Threadless - https://uncannyjapan.threadless.com/ Support Us Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/thersamatsuura Buy me a Coffee - https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Music by Julyan Ray - https://instagram.com/julyan_ray Uncanny Japan Mascot Modeled by Futemimi - https://vervain-shop.booth.pm/ Uncanny Japan Logo by Travis Carter - ⁠https://www.travispixels.com/⁠ 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.com linktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.com linktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.com linktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.com linktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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? [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.com linktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.com linktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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? [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.] Follow Uncanny Japan Patreon Uncanny Japan Website Thersa Matsuura Website Books on Amazon YouTube Facebook Instagram Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution) Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Credits 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. spectrevisionradio.comlinktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two fascinating phrases in Japanese that have very creepy origins. What are you really doing when you answer the phone "moshi moshi" anyway? [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. 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 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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. 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 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The northernmost island of Japan, Hokkaido, also has its own brand of yōkai and mythical creatures. Here I talk about seven of them. [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. 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 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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. 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 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The joro spider, a colorful arachnid from Japan, is harmless but tied to folklore about shape-shifting brides who fatally ensnare lovers at waterfalls. [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. 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 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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. 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 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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? [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. 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 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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? [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. 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 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I'll read you Lafcadio Hearn's short story: The Mirror Maiden. [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. 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 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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? [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. 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 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Der Kristall - The Glade by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12250-der-kristall-the-glade License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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? [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. 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 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Rain by Okami (龗) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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). [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. 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. 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 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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. 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. 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 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [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. 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. 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 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan Credits Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices