Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet
177 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 410 ratingsEach week on “Kowabana: ‘True’ Japanese scary stories from around the internet,” horror author and translator Tara A. Devlin presents a selection of Japanese horror, creepypastas and urban legends translated from the deepest, darkest parts of the web. Creepy ghosts and vengeful onryo, cursed technology and haunted shrines. Discover horror like only Japan knows how to deliver. Brand new and exclusive stories translated each week. Find out more at http://www.kowabana.net/
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Episodes
Oden Special: A hodgepodge of horror
August 03, 2018 15:00 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBEpisode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Like a good old-fashioned meal of oden, this week comes with a wide variety of short horror tales to scratch all those hard to reach itches and satisfy your hunger for the unnatural. Ghosts, curses, creepy traditions and more, there's a bit of everything. BGM thanks to Myuuji & Kevin MacLeod. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Haunted Japanese houses of horror
July 20, 2018 15:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MBEpisode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Japanese horror at its finest. Five tales of things that go bump in the night, the yurei hiding in the nooks and crannies of your safe space. Find out what's haunting these houses and never look at your home the same way again. BGM thanks to Myuuji & Kevin MacLeod. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Unbelievable and unexplainable sightings
July 06, 2018 15:00 - 27 minutes - 25.9 MBEpisode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Cryptids in basements, impossibly tall figures, floating severed heads and other things the eye just can't explain. Six tales of the unbelievable and unexplainable fresh from Japanese shores to your ears. This is Japanese horror. BGM thanks to Myuuji & Kevin MacLeod. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
The truth is out there... experiences in the supernatural
June 22, 2018 15:00 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBEpisode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Things that go bump in the night. Things that make no logical sense. What is real and what isn't? Discover five tales of the unexplainable from the land of the rising sun. But be careful. Sometimes there's no going back. BGM thanks to Myuuji & Kevin MacLeod. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Gakkou Kaidan, ghost stories from Japanese schools
June 08, 2018 15:00 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBEpisode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! You think you've got it bad? Try going to these Japanese schools of terror. Five terrifying tales of ghosts, haunted classrooms, things that go bump in the night and more scares than you can throw a piece of chalk at. Maybe homework isn't the real horror. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: ...
SPECIAL: Toshiden: Exploring Japanese Urban Legends - Kuchisake-onna
June 01, 2018 18:16 - 28 minutes - 27.8 MBEpisode Notes BONUS EPISODE Listen to the very first episode of Toshiden: Exploring Japanese Urban Legends. Go to Kowabana.net for how you can subscribe to this new podcast! "Am I pretty?" she asks before removing her mask, revealing her mouth cut from ear-to-ear. Kuchisake-onna is the Japanese urban legend of urban legends. Find out how she came to be and the truth behind her story right here. More information at Kowabana.net or get early access at Patreon. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & ...
Kankandara: The secret behind what lurks in the forest
May 25, 2018 15:00 - 57 minutes - 52.8 MBEpisode Notes Japanese horror is full of iconic ghosts and creatures of the night. But have you heard the story of Kankandara? The monster hidden deep in the forest with a curse so terrifying that all who come across her true form are doomed to an excruciating death. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Noroi, the inescapable Japanese curse
May 11, 2018 15:00 - 33 minutes - 31.5 MBEpisode Notes Sadako from The Ring. Kayako from Ju-on: The Grudge. Noroi, or curses, are a Japanese horror staple, and once one latches on to you, it's impossible to escape from. Discover five creepy tales of ghosts, grudges and inescapable Japanese curses. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Attack of the yurei
April 27, 2018 15:00 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MBEpisode Notes Yurei. Those misunderstood spirits everyone blames for everything wrong in the world. They just want you to join them... in the afterlife. Five creepy tales of Japanese ghosts and how they haunt the living world. Beware. They could be watching right now. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
The legend of the Kotoribako
April 14, 2018 05:03 - 59 minutes - 55.2 MBEpisode Notes Discover the truth behind of one of the most fearsome urban legends of all: the Kotoribako. What is the truth behind this mysterious box, and why do people keep dying around it? Some curses weren't meant to be broken, and some grudges were never meant to fade away. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
The true terror behind cursed dolls
March 30, 2018 15:00 - 27 minutes - 26 MBEpisode Notes Be careful of mistreating your dolls, they may remember what you did to them. A young woman discovers the terrifying secrets behind the family doll that scared her as a child, and a young man gets more than he bargained for in a home teaching job. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
A curse upon your family and all within it!
March 16, 2018 16:00 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBEpisode Notes A young medium receives a request for help; something supernatural is going on in this man's home, and it's not going away. The truth will shock them both. And there's more than meets the eye with this dark transfer student. What's his real secret? BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Life-changing childhood experiences
March 02, 2018 16:00 - 31 minutes - 29.4 MBEpisode Notes A young boy visits his grandparents' chicken farm for the summer holidays, but why do they check the incubator at midday and midnight every day without fail? Another young man muses on the strange boy he befriended as a child that changed his life. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Kisaragi Station and other trains of horror
February 23, 2018 16:00 - 34 minutes - 32.2 MBEpisode Notes A woman gets on the train but it doesn't take its normal route. She ends up in a place called Kisaragi Station, where no-one is around but she can hear drums in the distance. Find out what happens, plus other train hauntings that'll send you off the rails. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
The monsters in our villages
February 16, 2018 16:02 - 30 minutes - 28.5 MBEpisode Notes In this week's episode we're looking at the gods, monsters and yokai that haunt Japanese villages! Find out who Gomiko-san is, the mysterious woman who lurks in the mountains of Hokkaido. Who is Yorikata-sama, the monster slash deity that haunts a young man's village and dreams? And find out why a beautiful young woman is shunned by her entire village. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under...
What's haunting Japanese schools?
February 09, 2018 16:57 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBEpisode Notes This week's episode is a school hauntings special! Find out about the creepy ghosts, games and places that are terrifying Japanese schoolkids today. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Sugisawa and other cursed villages
February 02, 2018 16:00 - 34 minutes - 32 MBEpisode Notes This week's episode is a cursed village special! Find out what really happened in Sugisawa, perhaps the most famous cursed village of all. A young man relays the tale of a local legend called "Kotori Kozou" and the fate that befell his small village, while another man talks about the history behind his village's founding. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attributio...
Cursed video tapes & the horrors they hide!
January 26, 2018 16:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBEpisode Notes This week's episode is a cursed video tape special! A young man wants to find out what really happens to his body when he undergoes sleep paralysis, so he sets up a camera to film himself. But will he like what he sees the next day? A group of friends go to the woods to film a fake ghost video, but little do they know of the true horror that awaits them. Press play, if you dare. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound...
The inaka spectacular & countryside creepies
January 19, 2018 16:00 - 32 minutes - 30.7 MBEpisode Notes This week's episode focuses on the 'inaka,' the countryside of Japan. A young boy playing in the mountains with his cousins stumbles across a strange abandoned building. What history does it hide? A young man learns the truth about the strange ritual his family carries out whenever someone dies, and a group of friends get more than they bargained for when they stay in an empty house for the holidays. Uncover the terrors that lurk deep in the countryside of Japan! BGM thanks t...
Kokkuri-san, kakurenbo and other creepy childhood games
January 12, 2018 16:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBEpisode Notes This week's episode focuses on creepy Japanese childhood games. Kaidan, the practice of telling scary stories, one by one, until 'something' appears at the end. Kokkuri-san, the Japanese ouija board game that should not be messed around with. Kakurenbo, the hide and seek game where you may not like what you find. Find out about these games and more in this week's special episode! BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound...
Kunekune, exorcists and creepy little ghost boys
January 05, 2018 16:00 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBEpisode Notes This week's episode features three tales of supernatural delight. The first is Kunekune, a creepy urban legend that haunts the empty rice fields of Japan. What would you do if you saw a creature you weren't supposed to see? The next features a young man recruited by a gang of exorcists, but what do they want from him? Lastly, a young lonely boy makes an imaginary friend, but is he really imaginary? BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects ...
New Year's ghosts and goblins
December 29, 2017 18:00 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBEpisode Notes A New Year's special! Find out how Japanese people bring in the New Year and the ghosts and goblins that plague them as they do. Scary superstitions, sake-drinking yokai, haunted shrines, tunnels and hotel rooms, oh my! BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
If you're going to kill yourself, why don't you sleep with me first?
December 22, 2017 18:00 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBEpisode Notes A special double-length episode for the holiday season! A woman is about to jump from the roof of her building when a man approaches. He's rude, and says things no-one in their right mind would say to a suicidal woman. Who, or what, is he? BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
True but mostly fictional horror in the Japanese workplace
December 15, 2017 18:00 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MBEpisode Notes Ever wanted to work in Japan? Probably avoid these jobs. Or any jobs. A young office worker goes missing after investigating a mysterious room. A ghost photo refuses to be edited. Who's haunting the convenience store, and who's in the empty karaoke room? Find out as this week we explore various strange happenings in the Japanese workplace. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound Licensed under Creative Commons: By Att...
Terrifying gods, scary demons and horrific yokai
December 08, 2017 18:00 - 26 minutes - 24.8 MBEpisode Notes This week's episode is a Japanese mythology special! Featuring five scary stories of horror ranging from people's experiences with vengeful gods, nasty demons and both friendly and vindictive yokai, aka Japanese monsters. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Sound effects thanks to Free Sound Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Magagami-sama, haunted tunnels and bridges, oh my!
December 01, 2017 18:00 - 30 minutes - 31.7 MBEpisode Notes This week's episode features three chilling tales of horror. First is Magagami-sama, a mysterious presence that lives deep in the mountains. The second features a hairdresser with a love of ghost stories who visits a nearby haunted tunnel, and lastly, a young man and his friend visit a haunted bridge, but they accidentally bring something back with them. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License ...
Hasshaku-sama, dark country roads and abandoned buildings
November 24, 2017 18:00 - 28 minutes - 30.6 MBEpisode Notes This episode features three chilling tales of horror. First is Hasshaku-sama, aka the Eight Foot Woman you can't escape from. Second features a mysterious figure on a dark country road, and lastly a haunted old hospital has some unexpected guests. BGM thanks to Myuuji Intro & Outro BGM thanks to Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/