Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language

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/

Eine durchschnittliche Folge dieses Podcasts dauert 16m. Bisher sind 147 Folge(n) erschienen. Dies ist ein zweiwöchentlich erscheinender Podcast.

Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 1 day 20 hours 1 minute

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episode 85: The Most Merciless Yokai: the Korori


The obscure and terrifyingly deadly yokai, the korori, ravaged Edo Japan. On today's episode I'll tell you all about it, what it really was and how foreigners were the ones who brought it to Japan. Visit the to read . is author . Her other shows are...


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 September 30, 2021  13m
 
 

episode 84: Misemono: Edo Era Freak Shows


A misemono is like a carnival, museum, zoo, and freak show all rolled into one. Here you could see exotic animals, buy cure-all medicines, and check out mermaid mummies among many, many other thrills. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read . is...


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 September 15, 2021  17m
 
 

episode 83: Ningyo: The Ugly (and Delicious!) Japanese Mermaid


A Japanese mermaid is called a ningyo (人魚) or human fish. Today I'll tell you about their history, the good, the bad, and the delicious! Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read . is author . Her other shows are and . Check out her books...


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 August 31, 2021  17m
 
 

episode 82: Obon Story Time: "At Yaidzu" by Lafcadio Hearn


It's Obon and today I want to read to you an essay by Lafcadio Hearn. He wrote it about the town he would stay at during summers, the town I've lived in for 25 plus years. Here he talks not just about the lantern floating ceremony, but also the ocean...


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 August 15, 2021  30m
 
 

episode 81: Hitobashira: The Tragic Stories of Human Pillars


How do you build a bridge that stands up to storms and floods? Well, you have to appease the nature gods, of course. But how do you do that? Human sacrifice seemed to have worked in the past. Today I'll talk about hitobashira or human pillars. An...


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 July 30, 2021  18m
 
 

episode 80: The Adorably Creepy Tofu Kozo


The Tofu Kozo is a seemingly innocent little yokai who appears on rainy days offering a plate of tofu to unsuspecting people. What could possibly go wrong? Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read . is author . Her other shows are and . Check out her...


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 July 15, 2021  9m
 
 

episode 79: Mushi Okuri: Sending Off the Bugs


Let's say you have a plague of insects, like millions of cicada awakening after a years-long slumber. Or worse, bugs that would rather devour your crops. And let's say this is happening 200 years ago so you don't have your pesticides or DDT to wipe...


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 June 30, 2021  11m
 
 

episode 78: Utsuro-Bune: The Hollow (Space?) Ship


We're being visited by UAPs, Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon. Or you might be more familiar with their older name: UFOs. There is a lot of interesting news coming out these days. You've probably seen it. Well, guess what, they've been coming for quite...


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 June 16, 2021  10m
 
 

episode 77: Story Time – "Kaguya Hime: The Bamboo Cutter and the Moon Princess"


Today I'll read to you, "The Bamboo Cutter and the Moon Princess" called Kaguya Hime in Japanese. It's an old tale that some believe talks about otherworldly visitors. Was the Moon Princess an extraterrestrial being? Visit the Uncanny Japan website to...


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 June 1, 2021  41m
 
 

episode 76: Fuujin & Raijin: The Gods of Thunder and Wind


Who are Fujin and Raijin (the Japanese Wind God and Thunder God), where did they come from, and what do they do? Today I'll tell you about their origins in India and a Japanese Goddesses' decaying body. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read . is...


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 May 16, 2021  12m