Hikikomori

Oct 14 2024 101 ep. 58 mins 42

Hikikomori Podcast artwork

Sit back and enjoy a weird and shocking story from Japan, both from recent and far history, as researched and told by Vincent.

History Society & Culture

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#101 - The Eugenic Protection Law

Oct 14 2024 68 mins

In 1948 the Japanese Government, still under firm control by the Allied occupation forces, wrote into law the Eugenic Protection Law. While this law was similar to the myriad of pro-eugenic laws across the world, Japan's eugenics law is notable for having been only repealed in the 90s. Today's guest is Kieran Bennett! You can follow him via his Twitter profile, or check out his por

#100 - The Rabbit Island Poison Gas Factory

Sep 06 2024 53 mins

We made it! The completely arbitrary milestone of 100 that's solely meaningful to humans because of our bias towards base 10! To celebrate, here's a nice story about an island covered in the cutest rabbits you've ever seen, also a poison gas factory. Today's guest is Hannah Lane! You can find her via her Instagram page, and she is also the co-host of our horror movie review podcast

#99 - Mamoru Samuragochi (Part 2)

Jul 23 2024 85 mins

We continue the most famous and baffling fraud case of modern Japan with the tale of Mamoru Samuragochi. This week we examine exactly how the supposed deaf composer was able to get away with presenting another person's compositions as his own for 18 years. Today's guest is Hannah Lane! You can find her via her Instagram page, and she is also the co-host of our horror movie review p

#98 - Mamoru Samuragochi (Part 1)

Jul 15 2024 50 mins

Born as a second-generation Hibakusha, that is to say a child of Hiroshima A-bomb survivors, Mamoru Samuragochi faced hardship, prejudice and increasing illness throughout his life. Despite these enormous setbacks, he became one of the most respected and successful musical composers in Japan, despite becoming almost entirely deaf. He was also a liar. Today's guest is Hannah Lane! Y

#97 - The Jehova's Witnesses

May 21 2024 65 mins

Today, the JWs have as many as 250,000 adherents in Japan, despite having an extremely rocky start in the country in the early 1930s. In recent years, the JWs have experienced controversy in the media and courts once again, this time for serious allegations of abuse of its own members and children. Today's guest is Hannah Lane! You can find her via her Instagram page, and she is a

#96 - The Contaminated Blood Scandal

Apr 29 2024 55 mins

When the AIDs epidemic began tearing its way through gay communities throughout the world, there was almost no effort made by governments to address the escalating health crisis whatsoever. Even when heat-treated blood became available, pharmaceutical companies were strangely reluctant to offer these newer, safer products, particularly in South America and Asia, but no country was

#95 - Saya Hiyama, Weather Caster

Apr 09 2024 58 mins

Weather News Live is a 24-hour a day stream dedicated to reporting the weather... sort of. It has gained huge popularity on the internet over the last few years with live shows hosted by "Casters", young women who have attracted huge fanbases. By far the most popular has been Saya Hiyama who, in mid-2023, found herself at the centre of a controversy normally only reserved for those

#94 - The Piranha Family (Part 3)

Mar 24 2024 64 mins

We end our series on Miyoko Sumida by looking at possibly her most disturbing family invasion with the Oe household, as well as how this eventually led to her accidental arrest and the fall of the Sumida gang. We also find out how the Yakuza hides bodies (allegedly). Today's guest is Hannah Lane! You can find her via her Instagram page, and she is also the co-host of our horror mov

#93 - The Piranha Family (Part 2)

Feb 22 2024 51 mins

We continue covering the disturbing crimes of Miyoko Sumida and her family, as she infiltrates and rips apart two more families. Today we look at how she added her loyal enforcer, Masanori Ri, and her presumed heir, Tanimoto Rui, to her organisation. Today's guest is Hannah Lane! You can find her via her Instagram page, and she is also the co-host of our horror movie review podcast

#92 - The Piranha Family (Part 1)

Feb 12 2024 55 mins

Miyoko Sumida was a psychopath with a disturbing ability to manipulate others for her own ends. She was also seemingly obsessed with keeping other people by making them members of her family though marriage and adoption. In a horrifying 25-year career of criminal gang activity and serial murder, Sumida became more cult leader than yakuza. Today's guest is Hannah Lane! You can find