Latest Yokai Podcast Episodes
Falling Trees: Tengu or Furusoma (Creepy Dead Guy)?(Ep. 147)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - May 01, 2024 01:09 - 12 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsIf 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...
Story Time: The Mirror Maiden by Lafcadio Hearn (Ep. 146)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - April 17, 2024 00:00 - 16 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsToday 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 includin...
Ryomen Sukuna: Awesome Saint or Japan-Destroying Demon? (Ep. 145)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - March 30, 2024 00:00 - 22 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsThe 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 comm...
Teru Teru Bōzu: Cute, Magical, Unsettling Origins (Ep. 144)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - March 15, 2024 00:00 - 17 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsYou'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.] Unc...
Abe no Seimei & His Mysterious Place Near Me (Ep. 143)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - February 29, 2024 07:14 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsAbe 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 r...
Nami-Kozō: The Creepy Little Wave Boy (Ep. 142)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - February 16, 2024 00:00 - 18 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsA 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 a...
The All-powerful Five Elements and You (Ep. 141)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - January 31, 2024 00:00 - 19 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsIn 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 li...
A Rollicking and Powerful Year of the Dragon 2024 (Ep. 140)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - January 16, 2024 00:00 - 13 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsAkemashite omedetou gozaimasu! Happy New Year! This is Thersa Matsuura and you’re listening to Uncanny Japan, Season 8. We just moved from the year of the Rabbit to the Year of the Dragon and I want to tell you all about it. [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a...
Joya no Kane: Purify Yourself With This Episode (Ep. 139)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - December 28, 2023 00:00 - 15 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsJoya no Kane is the Buddhism tradition of ringing out the old year and ringing in the new one. Where did it come from and what does it mean? [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.] ...
Shochikubai: Pine, Bamboo, Plum and Samurai Shade (Ep. 138)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - December 15, 2023 00:00 - 15 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsShochikubai means "pine, bamboo, plum" and are considered the three winter friends. You'll find them in New Year decorations as well as another interesting and surprising place. I'll tell more on today's show. [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make ...
A Delightful Dive into Meiji Era Yokai News (Ep. 137)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - December 01, 2023 00:00 - 16 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsToday I’m going to do something a little different, again. I’m going to give you some real yōkai and paranormal news. Not current news, but stories that were actually published in newspapers during the late 1800s — and not in tabloids either, but in regular ol’ papers. And they are absolutely de...
The Dreaded Northern Pillow (kitamakura) and Fan Death (Ep. 136)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - November 15, 2023 00:00 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsIs sleeping with your head facing north a practice that'll bring you bad luck and invite death or is it good luck, welcoming a restful night's sleep and money? [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no addit...
"The Other Side" A Creepy Japanese Ghost Story (Ep. 135)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - October 31, 2023 01:08 - 27 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratings"The Other Side" is a ghost story I wrote using some of the more common Japanese scary tropes. Put on some headphones and turn out the lights and let me tell you a story. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check ...
Creepy Haunted Tunnels in Japan (Ep. 134)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - October 17, 2023 00:00 - 19 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsMy guess is that Japan has more haunted tunnels than anywhere in the world. In this episode I talk about three of the creepiest and most well-known. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books includin...
Okiku: The Haunted Doll (Ep. 133)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - September 30, 2023 00:00 - 17 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsThe Okiku-chan doll is believed to contain the spirit of the little girl who once owned her. This is seen by her constantly, slow growing hair. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including Th...
Myth Tales Vol. 1: Origin that Ends with Dragons (Ep. 132)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - September 15, 2023 00:00 - 18 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsMyth Tales is an immersive retelling of Japan's creation myth. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a b...
Summer Festival Part 2: Games and Dancing (Ep. 131)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - August 31, 2023 00:00 - 16 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsPart 2 of Summer Festival in Japan is about unique games and dancing. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and h...
Summer Festival: Outfits and the Eats (Ep. 130)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - August 17, 2023 00:16 - 19 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsCome experience a small summer festival (Natsu Matsuri) with me. This is Part One: Outfits and Eats! Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to...
"Concerning Tea"... a reading (Ep. 129)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - July 31, 2023 00:00 - 19 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsLearn about the history of tea and the tea ceremony in Japan, its origins in Buddhist rituals, and its later development into an art form. Listen to stories about the famous tea masters Rikyu and the legendary monk Daruma. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Ro...
Raijū: The Thunder Beast (Ep. 128)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - July 16, 2023 00:00 - 14 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsThe raijū or thunder beast is smallish, very weird-looking creature that darts around during thunderstorms and wreaks havoc on the community. Here's what you need to know about it. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podc...
Story Time: Yuki Onna (by Lafcadio Hearn) (Ep. 127)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - June 30, 2023 00:00 - 16 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsI read Lafcadio Hearn's classic tale, "Yuki Onna" or "The Snow Woman." Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and...
Dōsojin: Cuddly and Carnal Road Side Statues (Ep. 126)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - June 15, 2023 00:00 - 18 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsDōsojin are "road ancestor deities" from ancient times. They're different than ojizo or rakan statues. So what are they? What do they do? And which prefecture has the wildest festival to celebrate them? Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The...
Kitsune no Koban: Fox Money (Ep. 125)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - May 30, 2023 00:00 - 8 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsLearn about Thersa Matsuura tells us about the fox’s coins, a children’s game based on finding seeds that look like gold coins. 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 ...
Story Time: Rokurokubi by Lafcadio Hearn (Ep. 124)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - May 15, 2023 00:00 - 28 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsIn this episode I read Lafcadio Hearn's "Rokurokubi," the quintessential story about this creepy Japanese beastie. 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...
189 Beast of Brassknocker Hill
Featured Creatures - May 12, 2023 11:12 - 10 minutes ★★★★ - 16 ratingsShotgun Vigil
188 Jacko and A-Mi-Kuk
Featured Creatures - May 09, 2023 10:54 - 14 minutes ★★★★ - 16 ratingsOmnicuck and a mystery animal
187 Shug Monkey and Black Shuck
Featured Creatures - May 05, 2023 10:28 - 23 minutes ★★★★ - 16 ratings2 odd UK monsters
Black-Toothed Yōkai (Ep. 123)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - April 30, 2023 13:08 - 20 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsA couple black-toothed yōkai and where to find them. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime st...
186 Goatman
Featured Creatures - April 21, 2023 23:47 - 1 hour ★★★★ - 16 ratingsits our 5th year of podcasting so we talk about some real stuff then we talk about the G.O.A.T. man. a Section of episode was removed for reasons.
Ohaguro: The Ultimate Beauty Hack of Ancient Japan (Ep. 122)
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language - April 16, 2023 00:00 - 18 minutes ★★★★★ - 153 ratingsDiscover the history of ohaguro, a traditional practice in Japan where people blacken their teeth. Dating back to the Yayoi era, Ohaguro was first practiced only by the aristocracy but eventually spread to other classes and ages. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Un...
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