Uncanny Japan logo

Category: Japanese Superstitions 

Doom and Bloom: Cherry Blossom Folk Beliefs (Ep. 121)

Bloom and Gloom or Cherry Blossom Folk Beliefs or Sakura: The Wonderful and the Worrisome Hello there, I’m Thersa Matsuura and you’re listening to Uncanny Japan. What do you know about sakura or cherry blossoms? Let me guess, something like, every year in Japan when spring rears its balmy, bird-chirping, flower-budding head, the trees fill […]
Close-up of pink cherry blossoms on a tree branch with a blurred background.

Shichifukujin: Your Personal Lucky God (Ep. 116)

Which of the Seven Lucky Gods is your patron deity and what does it mean?
The Laughing Buddha Hotei

Six Japanese New Year Rules: Ancient Oshōgatsu Taboos (Ep. 115)

Imagine living in an older Japan where life is really hard. No FamilyMart to grab dinner. No vending machines. The toilet's outside in the cold and dark. But you're allowed to enjoy January 1st, 2nd and 3rd in absolute and exquisite peace during oshōgatsu, the New Year's holidays. Oh wait though, there are a couple rules.
Ukiyoe image of two men fighting with Mount Fuji and rising sun in background

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
1 2 3 4 5

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.

© Copyright 2026 Uncanny Productions
Buy Me a Coffee at Ko-Fi