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Category: Japanese Superstitions 

Karasu: Japanese Crows, Myths and Superstitions (Ep. 113)

The myth and superstition around Japanese crows/karasu is long and fascinating, and sometimes quite weird.
Ink painting of a crow on a branch with calligraphy

Final Listeners’ True Spooky Tales – Weeping, Drowning, and Big Wall Blocking (Ep. 103)

For the last Listeners' True Creepy Tales we're going outside again. Weeping women, grabbing hands, and great big walls that block your path.
Many ghostly hands coming up out of ocean

Listeners’ Absolutely True Japanese Ghost Stories Part 2 (Ep. 101)

More listeners' true Japanese ghost stories as well as one of my most terrifying experiences. This is part two of a three part series.
Japanese ghost in room with child ai

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 Human-Faced Tumor: Jinmensou (Ep. 95)

On today's episode I'm going to tell you about an affliction that involved a strange growth on some part of your body that had the face of a human and did horrible things.
Jinmensou human-faced tumor

Good Luck Superstitions in Japan (Ep. 91)

It's been a rough couple of years, so today let's talk about some Japanese good luck superstitions.
Snake skin

Halloween Episode: Kokkuri Spirit Boards and WTF?! (Ep. 87)

Kokkuri or Kokkuri-san is the name for the Japanese ouija or spirit board. It's also the name for the spirit who visits during the game.
Kokkuri-san
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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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