Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
225 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsSpeculative fiction writer, long-term resident of Japan and Bram Stoker Award finalist Thersa Matsuura explores all that is weird from old Japan—strange superstitions, folktales, cultural oddities, and interesting language quirks. These are little treasures she digs up while doing research for her writing.
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Episodes
Obon Part Two: Sending Away Fires (Okuribi) (Ep. 9)
August 15, 2017 00:00 - 16 minutes - 15.7 MBThis 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. Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.j...
Obon Part Two-Sending Away Fires (Okuribi) (Ep. 9)
August 15, 2017 00:00 - 16 minutes - 15.7 MBThis 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. Notes: 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. Thank you for listening. Uncanny Japan is me, Thersa Matsuura (author)....
Episode 9: Obon Part Two-Sending Away Fires (Okuribi)
August 15, 2017 00:00 - 16 minutes - 15.7 MBThis 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. Notes: 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. Thank you for listening. Uncanny Japan is me, Thersa Matsuura (author)....
Obon Part One: On Cucumber Horses They Ride (Ep. 8)
July 16, 2017 20:00 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBIn 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://jap...
Obon Part One-On Cucumber Horses They Ride (Ep. 8)
July 16, 2017 20:00 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBIn 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 vegetable livestock. Notes: The intro/outro music of Uncanny ...
Episode 8: Obon Part One-On Cucumber Horses They Ride
July 16, 2017 20:00 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBIn 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 vegetable livestock. Notes: The intro/outro music of Uncanny ...
Senninbari: The Thousand-Stitch Belt (Ep. 7)
June 19, 2017 01:00 - 12 minutes - 12 MBThe 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. Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook...
The Thousand-Stitch Belt (Senninbari) (Ep. 7)
June 19, 2017 01:00 - 12 minutes - 12 MBThe 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. 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.
Episode 7: The Thousand-Stitch Belt (Senninbari)
June 19, 2017 01:00 - 12 minutes - 12 MBThe 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. 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.
Japanese Superstitions 1 (Ep. 6)
May 15, 2017 20:30 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBIn May's Uncanny Japan you get three Japanese superstitions and why: 1)Please don't cut your nails at night. 2)Please don't whistle at night. 3) Please do kill spiders at night...or don't, actually you might not want to. There's a good argument why you should let those night spiders live. 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.
Japanese Superstitions Part One (Ep. 6)
May 15, 2017 20:30 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBIn May's Uncanny Japan you get three Japanese superstitions and why: 1)Please don't cut your nails at night. 2)Please don't whistle at night. 3) Please do kill spiders at night...or don't, actually you might not want to. There's a good argument why you should let those night spiders live. Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@...
Episode 6: Japanese Superstitions 1
May 15, 2017 20:30 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBIn May's Uncanny Japan you get three Japanese superstitions and why: 1)Please don't cut your nails at night. 2)Please don't whistle at night. 3) Please do kill spiders at night...or don't, actually you might not want to. There's a good argument why you should let those night spiders live. 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.
Japanese Superstitions Part I (Ep. 6)
May 15, 2017 20:30 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBIn May's Uncanny Japan you get three Japanese superstitions and why: 1)Please don't cut your nails at night. 2)Please don't whistle at night. 3) Please do kill spiders at night...or don't, actually you might not want to. There's a good argument why you should let those night spiders live. 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.
Episode 5: Kishibojin-The Mother of All Devils ー 鬼子母神
April 14, 2017 01:30 - 12 minutes - 12.1 MBApril's podcast is about Kishibojin, an ogress with a penchant for feeding human babies to her own children, but who was able to see the error of her ways and not only repent but reinvent herself as a goddess. That's what I call chutzpah!
Kishibojin-The Mother of All Devils ー 鬼子母神 (Ep. 5)
April 14, 2017 01:30 - 12 minutes - 12.1 MBApril's podcast is about Kishibojin, an ogress with a penchant for feeding human babies to her own children, but who was able to see the error of her ways and not only repent but reinvent herself as a goddess. That's what I call chutzpah!
Kishibojin: The Mother of All Devils ー 鬼子母神 (Ep. 5)
April 14, 2017 01:30 - 12 minutes - 12.2 MBApril's podcast is about Kishibojin, an ogress with a penchant for feeding human babies to her own children, but who was able to see the error of her ways and not only repent but reinvent herself as a goddess. That's what I call chutzpah! Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJap...
Episode 4: Monkeys and Monkey Lore!
March 17, 2017 21:30 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBMarch's Uncanny Japan podcast is all about monkeys and monkey lore -- wordplay, superstition, and good luck charms. You can listen to that below. Also, if you're interested in me retelling/reimagining obscure Japanese folktales, take a look at my Patreon page. This month's Bedtime Story ($5 and up reward) is "The Monkeys' Ojizo Statue" ("Saru no Ojizo"). Finally, below I give you a lucky saru. It's a hanga-engraving I carved of a cheeky monkey flashing the peace sign while the character ...
Monkeys and Monkey Lore! (Ep. 4)
March 17, 2017 21:30 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBMarch's Uncanny Japan podcast is all about monkeys and monkey lore -- wordplay, superstition, and good luck charms. You can listen to that below. Also, if you're interested in me retelling/reimagining obscure Japanese folktales, take a look at my Patreon page. This month's Bedtime Story ($5 and up reward) is "The Monkeys' Ojizo Statue" ("Saru no Ojizo"). Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: ht...
Episode 3: Koshin Shinko: The Three Worms in Your Body
February 16, 2017 15:00 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBKoshin 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 ...
Koshin Shinko: The Three Worms in Your Body (Ep. 3)
February 16, 2017 15:00 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MBKoshin 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 ...
Episode 2: Hatsu-yume: Your First Dream of the New Year
January 20, 2017 03:00 - 12 minutes - 14.1 MBHatsu-yume is the first dream you have in the New Year. In Japan there is a saying: ichi fuji, ni taka, san nasubi. Which means the luckiest dream you can have is of Mt. Fuji, the second luckiest thing to see in a dream is a hawk, and the third is an eggplant. In this podcast I tell you why an eggplant is considered prosperous and also talk about the little known fourth, fifth, and sixth lucky things to dream about to guarantee a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. You can also find...
Hatsu-yume: Your First Dream of the New Year (Ep. 2)
January 20, 2017 03:00 - 12 minutes - 14.1 MBHatsu-yume is the first dream you have in the New Year. In Japan there is a saying: ichi fuji, ni taka, san nasubi. Which means the luckiest dream you can have is of Mt. Fuji, the second luckiest thing to see in a dream is a hawk, and the third is an eggplant. In this podcast I tell you why an eggplant is considered prosperous and also talk about the little known fourth, fifth, and sixth lucky things to dream about to guarantee a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. Please join our c...
Musha-burui: Trembling Before a Formidable Task (Ep. 1)
October 30, 2016 13:00 - 18 minutes - 17 MBMusha-burui is that trembling with excitement, anticipation, and fear one has before engaging in a formidable task. It comes from the idea of a samurai going headlong into battle. Musha 武者 means samurai or warrior. Burui 震い comes from the verb furu 震う, to shake or tremble. This is what I’m feeling recording my first podcast: musha-burui. Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncanny...
Episode 1: Musha-burui: Trembling Before a Formidable Task
October 30, 2016 13:00 - 18 minutes - 17 MB(Transcript below) Musha-burui is that trembling with excitement, anticipation, and fear one has before engaging in a formidable task. It comes from the idea of a samurai going headlong into battle. Musha 武者 means samurai or warrior. Burui 震い comes from the verb furu 震う, to shake or tremble. This is what I’m feeling recording my first podcast: musha-burui. You can also find me on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Patreon: h...
Introducing Uncanny Japan
October 29, 2016 03:00 - 45 seconds - 1.06 MBSpeculative fiction writer, long-term resident of Japan and Bram Stoker Award finalist Thersa Matsuura explores all that is weird from old Japan—strange superstitions, folktales, cultural oddities, and interesting language quirks. These are little treasures she digs up while doing research for her writing. 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 ...