Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language

Nov 17 2024 163 ep. 18 mins 9.4k
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language Podcast artwork

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.

  Society & Culture  History
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Sea Pigs and Dirt Dragons - Enticing Language (Ep. 160)

Nov 17 2024 16 mins  
Sea Pigs and Dirt Dragons — Enticing Language and a Quiz! From Thersa Matsuura's Bram Stoker Award-nominated short story collection "The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales", now available as an audiobook everywhere. [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.] Uncanny Japan is

Story Time: "Go-Away Monkey" (Ep. 159)

Oct 31 2024 55 mins  
Okappa, a young woman living in a town ravaged by disease, encounters a traveling performer, Hanshiro, and his monkey, Fukumimi. WARNING: This story starts out explicit without using explicit language. It's not for children who are old enough to read between the lines. From Thersa Matsuura's Bram Stoker Award-nominated short story collection "The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales",

Lafcadio Hearn's Haunting Story, Botan Dōrō: The Peony Lantern (Ep. 158)

Oct 14 2024 23 mins  
Follow the tragic tale of Hagiwara, a young samurai from Edo in this retelling of Lafcadio Hearn's "The Peony Lantern". [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.] Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Check out her books including The Book of Japanese Folklore by clickin

Japan's Three Great Ghost Stories (Ep. 157)

Sep 30 2024 13 mins  
Japan’s Three Great Ghost Stories, featuring vengeful female spirits, have captivated audiences for centuries through various art forms, including ukiyo-e prints and modern horror films. [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.] Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. C

Supernatural Trees Part 1: Bloodthirsty and Cursed (Ep. 156)

Sep 15 2024 16 mins  
Japanese folklore features various tree spirits, like Kodama protectors and Jubokko bloodsuckers, with camellias shifting from auspicious to ominous. [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.] Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Check out her books including The Book o

A Skit and a Caterpillar Cult: Tokoyo no Kami (Ep. 155)

Aug 31 2024 18 mins  
An old timey audio drama skit/book promo and the strange caterpillar cult called Tokoyo no Kami. [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.] Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Check out her books including The Book of Japanese Folklore by clicking on the Amazon link. I

Moshi Moshi! You're About to Meet Some Demons! (Ep. 154)

Aug 14 2024 16 mins  
Two fascinating phrases in Japanese that have very creepy origins. What are you really doing when you answer the phone "moshi moshi" anyway? [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.] Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Check out her books including The Book of Japanes

The Tragic (or not?) Tale of Anchin and Kiyohime (Ep. 153)

Jul 30 2024 17 mins  
The Tale of Anchin and Kiyohime is an epic story of love, betrayal, and transformation into a serpent dragon, but there are several versions of this classic. [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.] Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Check out her books including T

Hokkaido Yōkai and Mythical Creatures (Ep. 152)

Jul 16 2024 14 mins  
The northernmost island of Japan, Hokkaido, also has its own brand of yōkai and mythical creatures. Here I talk about seven of them. [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.] Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Check out her books including The Book of Japanese Folkl

Chopsticks: Godly Tools or Death Bringers? ( Ep. 151)

Jun 26 2024 19 mins  
Discover the intricacies of Japanese chopstick etiquette and lore. Learn about godly chopsticks, taboos that can bring death, and the concept of 'wa' (harmony) in Japanese culture. Avoid social faux pas and deepen your understanding of this seemingly simple yet complex utensil. [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may rece