Speculative 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.
https://www.uncannyjapan.com/
episode 33: Story Time: Hoichi The Earless by Lafcadio Hearn (Mimi-nashi Hoichi)
After coming to live in Japan (1890), Lafcadio Hearn listened intently to the folk stories and ghostly tales that were related to him. He then wrote them down in English, adding his own unique style and began publishing books of his gathered observances and retellings. Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan, Exotics and Retrospectives, and Kwaidan to name a few.
Today on Uncanny Japan, I read you "Mimi-nashi Hoichi", arguably Mr. Hearn's most well-known story. A story that has been made into a movie, appears on stage, shows up in manga, music, and is told on stages even today. As a matter of fact, I have tickets to go see a performance of Mimi-Nashi Hoichi in May.
Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.
Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.
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.com/uncannyjapan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/
Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan
CreditsIntro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura