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Japanese Myths, Folktales, Folklore and Language

Episodes

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 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

Supernatural Cats: Nekomata (Ep. 97)

Today I'm going to talk about supernatural cats, specifically, the nekomata. The nekomata is a mysterious feline with two tails and a penchant for dancing. 
Nekomata by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. A traditional Japanese woodblock print depicting a cat with a towel draped over its head, sitting near a table with various objects. The background includes floral patterns and Japanese calligraphy.

The Killing Stone: Sessho Seki (Ep. 96)

It was all over the news: Japan's Infamous Killing Stone that was housing a chaotic, disaster inducing nine-tailed fox spirit, broke in half on March 5th. Is the fox spirit free? I'll tell you all about it on this episode.
Killing Stone Sessho Seki
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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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