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Category: Japanese Ghosts & Spirits 

Japan’s Most Famous Ghost: My Retelling of Oiwa and the Yotsuya Kaidan (Ep. 179)

There are many versions of the tragic tale of Japan's most famous ghost, Oiwa-san. But in this episode, let me tell you my own retelling of her classic tale. Just a heads up—it is a ghost story with a little body horror mixed in.
Illustration of a ghostly figure with a lantern, set against a vibrant background.

Japan’s Three Great Ghost Stories (Ep. 157)

Japan’s 3 Great Ghost Stories, featuring vengeful female spirits, have captivated audiences for centuries through art from ukiyo-e prints to modern horror films.
Drawings of the three great female ghosts of japan, okiku, otsuyu, and oiwa

“The Other Side” A Creepy Japanese Ghost Story (Ep. 135)

"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.
Dimly lit brick tunnel with arched ceiling and a series of lights leading into the distance.

About The Uncanny Japan Podcast

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.

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