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Category: Japanese History 

Dōsojin: Cuddly and Carnal Road Side Statues (Ep. 126)

Dōsojin 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?
Stone carving depicting Dosojin, two robed figures embracing, set outdoors with foliage and a tree in the background.

Kitsune no Koban: Fox Money (Ep. 125)

Learn about fox coins, a children’s game based on finding seeds that look like gold coins.
A person holding a cluster of dried seeds or nuts attached to twigs.

Black-Toothed Yōkai (Ep. 123)

There are several yōkai with black teeth, the Ohagruo Bettari, the Ao Onna, and the Uwan. Is it their practice of ohaguro that makes them scary or something else?
Uwan, a grotesque, humanoid creature with distorted facial features, bulging eyes, and a twisted mouth, clawed hand raised. Japanese characters appear beside it.

Ohaguro: The Ultimate Beauty Hack of Ancient Japan (Ep. 122)

Discover the origin and practice of ohaguro, the traditional Japanese teeth blackening, dating back to over 1,700 years ago during the Yayoi era.
Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print of a woman with blackened teeth, an elaborate hairstyle and kimono, gazing intently.

The Legend of Shippeitaro (Ep. 119)

Shippei Taro is both a folktale and a nanafushigi (strange occurance). I'll tell you all about this local legend as well as read you my translation of the famous story.
Two small cat figurines on a white stone surrounded by fallen leaves.

Ōkami: Japanese Wolf Part 2 Legends and Lore (Ep. 110)

In part 2 of the ōkami, the Japanese wolf, I talk more about the legends and lore behind the beautiful beast.
Statue of Japanese Wolf from Daikouji Temple on Haruno Mountain

Ōkami: Japanese Wolf Part 1 (Ep. 109)

Kitsune are everywhere, games, manga, anime, artwork, guarding shrines, possessing people. But what do you know about Japanese wolves? Maybe not so much?
A lone wolf standing on a rock in a misty forest, with tall trees and a mountain peak faintly visible in the background.

Listeners’ Absolutely True Ghost Stories: Haunted Houses (Ep. 100)

To commemorate our 100th episode, we're sharing listeners' true ghost stories they've experienced while visiting or living in Japan.
Ai generated Haunted Japanese Room

The Cat Grave, The Rat Grave: Nekozuka, Nezumizuka (Ep. 99)

Today I'll talk about a local legend: Nekozuka and Nezumizuka, the Cat's Grave and the Rat's Grave.
Nekozuka The Cat Grave
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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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