Shows
Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageA Cursed Severed Head: Taira no Masakado Ever wonder who Japan's first samurai was? Or whether severed heads can actually fly? This episode has both answers in the incredible story of Taira no Masakado - a legendary 10th-century warrior who became one of Japan's Three Great Vengeful Spirits. Discover the supernatural tale of his severed head that refused to decay, the three months it spent on display in Kyoto's marketplace, and its legendary flight back to what would become Tokyo. Learn about the cursed head mound that still stands today, the mysterious deaths that plagued anyone who dared disturb it, and why frogs have...2025-07-0918 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageSaiō ga Uma: The Old Man's HorseThis episode delves into the ancient Japanese proverb, "Ningen Banji Saio ga Uma" (Everything in life is like Sai's horse). It introduces the 2,000-year-old Chinese parable of an old man whose seemingly good and bad fortunes are never what they first appear. From a runaway horse to a son's injury, the story reveals the shortsightedness of our immediate judgments. Let's explore the multiple layers of this timeless tale, discuss how it teaches humility, the acceptance of uncertainty, and the wisdom of seeing beyond initial misfortune or luck. Thersa shares personal anecdotes, including a recent hospital stay, to illustrate how...2025-06-2614 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageMyth Tales Vol. 2: The Wonderfully Unhinged SusanooThis second installment of Myth Tales dives into the wild, chaotic life of Susanoo — Japan's tempestuous god of storms and sea. From being birthed out of a sneeze to slaying a monstrous eight-headed dragon, Susanoo’s mythos is as thrilling as it is unhinged. If you like gods with a flair for drama and destruction (and a redemption arc to boot), you’ll love this episode. [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...2025-06-0924 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageTsuyu: The Dreaded Fifth Season in JapanDon't let anyone tell you Japan has four distinct seasons. You'll hear that a lot. But it's not true. Japan actually has five seasons. Everyone forgets... [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. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon....2025-05-2420 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageTōdaiki: The Truly Horrific Tale of the Candlestick DemonTwo tales of travel that went awry. The first is the gruesome story of "Tōdaik" ("The Candlestick Demon") and the second a sillier legend of "Minister Kibi's Adventures in China". [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. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you...2025-05-0720 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageStory Time: "Readings from the Dream Book" by Lafcadio Hearn (Ep. 1 70)Terrie reads Lafcadio Hearn's metaphysical story "Readings from a Dream-book," a collection of ethereal fragments that explore the nature of consciousness, mortality, and cosmic existence. [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. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. ...2025-04-2225 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageHarnessing the Power of the Dragon God: RyūjinJoin Thersa on a journey aboard a magical sea turtle down to the underwater palace of Ryūjin, the Japanese Dragon God. Explore the the Ryūgūjō Castle, meet its mythical inhabitants, and delve into the powerful lore surrounding this deity. Discover Ryūjin's abilities to control tides, grant wishes, and ward off evil, and learn practical ways you might connect with the spirit of the Dragon God, from ancient prayers to modern talismans. Click here for Adventure Travel inspiration from our friends at Explore Worldwide. Don’t Just Travel, Explore. [This description contains Amazon...2025-04-0821 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageMt. Fuji: A Fire Resistant Princess and a Sword Licking MysticExplore the fascinating legends surrounding Japan's most iconic mountain. Discover the extraordinary myth of Konohana Sakuya Hime, the stunningly beautiful goddess of Mt. Fuji who gave birth amid flames, and the bizarre tale of En no Gyōja, a mountain ascetic with supernatural powers who could hop between mountain peaks and lick swords. Beyond the folklore, learn practical information about climbing Fuji-san, why Hakone offers some of the best views, and cultural insights about Japan's most sacred peak. [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a...2025-03-2216 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageA Kanto Vs Kansai Culinary JourneyAd-free versions of episodes are available to Patrons. Thank you for your support and helping us pay for rent and recent hospital bills. We couldn't do this without you! --Rich, the sound guy. In this episode of Uncanny Japan, Thersa Matsuura explores the culinary rivalry between Kanto (Tokyo region) and Kansai (Osaka/Kyoto area). Discover the fascinating differences in flavors, preparation methods, and cultural attitudes that shape Japan's regional cuisines - from miso soup bases to tempura batters, unagi cutting techniques, and the contrasting takes on beloved dishes like okonomiyaki and tamagoyaki. Click here for...2025-03-0617 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageThe Golden Pavilion Has Weird GhostsJoin Terrie on a trip to Kyoto's iconic Golden Pavilion and uncover its lesser-known stories: its real name isn't Kinkaku-ji, it survived multiple lightning strikes, and visitors claim to capture photos of ghostly monks sunbathing on its golden roof. From samurai architecture to modern-day supernatural tales, this episode unravels the temple's fascinating history. [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 F...2025-02-2212 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageWalking in Old JapanTake a journey through the historical walking routes of old Edo Japan, focusing on the Gokaido (Five Edo Routes). Learn about the political significance of these routes and their role in maintaining peace during the Tokugawa shogunate's 250-year reign. [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. If you'd like to help support the po...2025-02-0616 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageFudomyō: The Unshakable One and Fire CeremoniesMeet Fudomyō, the fierce-looking but benevolent Buddhist deity who, despite his intimidating appearance with wild eyes and fangs, exists to help humanity. Learn about this Wisdom King's symbolic elements and the powerful Goma fire ceremony where his purifying flames burn away worldly desires and suffering. [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. If you...2025-01-1511 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageBodhidharma ZazenListen to the story of Bodhidharma, the blue-eyed monk who brought Zen to China, and his legendary feats - from crossing rivers on reeds to meditating until his legs fell off. Learn how his teachings evolved into modern Zen practices, and get practical guidance for starting your own meditation practice. Click here for Adventure Travel inspiration from our friends at Explore Worldwide. Don’t Just Travel, Explore. [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.] U...2025-01-0617 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageThe Salt God and the Magic of Salt (Ep. 162)Did you know there is a Shinto kami (god or spirit) of salt? [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. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/XdMZTzmyUb Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/th...2024-12-1712 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageTurbo Granny and Her Fast-Footed FriendsTurbo Granny is a Japanese urban legend about a fleet-footed old woman, but did you know she has friends? [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. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/XdMZTzmyUb2024-12-0315 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageSea Pigs and Dirt Dragons - Enticing LanguageSea Pigs and Dirt Dragons — Enticing Language and a Quiz! [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. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/XdMZTzmyUb Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: http...2024-11-1816 min
Mission Spooky132: "The Book of Japanese Folklore" w/ author Thersa MatsuuraJoin us for a lovely chat with Thersa Matsuura, author of The Book of Japanese Folklore. Known for her podcast Uncanny Japan and decades of exploring Japan's cultural myths and legends, Thersa shares insights into her favorite Yokai, her journey through Japanese folklore, and which Yokai she wouldn't like to meet in a dark alley! We also discuss Halloween's rising popularity in Japan, exploring how this Western tradition has been embraced and transformed with a unique Japanese flair.
Resources for Thersa Matsuura and Her Work:
Thersa Matsuura
The Book of Japanese Folklore
2024-11-171h 00Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageStory Time: "Go-Away Monkey"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", 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.] ...2024-11-0155 min
This Is Horror PodcastThersa Matsuura on The Carp-Faced Boy, Podcasting in Japan, and Space for CreativityIn this podcast, Thersa Matsuura talks about The Carp-Faced Boy, podcasting in Japan, carving out space for personal creativity, and much more. About Thersa Matsuura Thersa Matsuura is an author and podcaster who has been living in Japan for thirty plus years. She’s a graduate of the Clarion West (2015) workshop, a recipient of the … Continue reading2024-10-191h 32Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageLafcadio Hearn's Haunting Story, Botan Dōrō: The Peony LanternFollow 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 clicking on the Amazon link. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/Xd...2024-10-1523 minThis Is Horror PodcastThersa Matsuura on The Book of Japanese Folklore, the Uncanny Japan Podcast, and Living in JapanIn this conversation, Thersa Matsuura talks about The Book of Japanese Folklore, living in Japan, the Uncanny Japan Podcast, and much more. About Thersa Matsuura Thersa Matsuura is an author and podcaster who has been living in Japan for thirty plus years. She’s a graduate of the Clarion West (2015) workshop, a recipient of the … Continue reading2024-10-111h 06Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageJapan's Three Great Ghost StoriesJapan’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. Check out her books including The Book of Japanese Folklore by clicking on the Amazon link. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. 2024-10-0113 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageSupernatural Trees Part 1: Bloodthirsty and CursedJapanese 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 of Japanese Folklore by clicking on the Amazon link. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/XdMZTzmyUb2024-09-1616 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageA Skit and a Caterpillar Cult: Tokoyo no KamiAn 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. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/XdMZTzmyUb Patreon: ht...2024-09-0118 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageMoshi Moshi! You're About to Meet Some Demons!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 Japanese Folklore by clicking on the Amazon link. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. Discord: ht...2024-08-1516 min
Fabulous Folklore with IcyYokai and Japanese Folklore with Thersa MatsuuraThersa Matsuura, an American author living in Japan, explores lesser-known aspects of Japanese culture, folklore, superstitions, and myths. Fluent in Japanese, she uses her research to write stories and for her podcast Uncanny Japan. She's also the author of The Book of Japanese Folklore, which explores a range of spirits, monsters, and yokai for Japanese lore.
In this chat, we talk about some specific yokai, discuss where people might have encountered these figures in popular media, and talk about what to do if you think you've encountered a yokai!
Thersa website: https://thersamatsuura.com/
2024-08-0838 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageThe Tragic (or not?) Tale of Anchin and KiyohimeThe 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 The Book of Japanese Folklore by clicking on the Amazon link. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Pat...2024-07-3117 min
Grab Your Day With A Edge-Of-Your-Seat Full Audiobook.The Carp-Face Boy and Other Tales by Thersa MatsuuraPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/804309to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Carp-Face Boy and Other Tales
Author: Thersa Matsuura
Narrator: Thersa Matsuura
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 5 hours 57 minutes
Release date: July 22, 2024
Genres: Short Stories
Publisher's Summary:
Beautiful, haunting, and grotesque, The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales offers stories reminiscent of traditional Japanese folktales alongside contemporary horror fiction. Matsuura’s unique voice, in its poignancy and lightheartedness, is unforgettable. From the Introduction by Bram Stoker Award Winner Author Gene O'Neill: 'I have Thersa Matsuura’s name underlined on the side of my fridge. I will watch for her byline. As I’m...2024-07-225h 57
Download Best Full Audiobooks in Mystery, Thriller & Horror, HorrorThe Carp-Face Boy and Other Tales by Thersa MatsuuraPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/804309 to listen full audiobooks. Title: The Carp-Face Boy and Other Tales Author: Thersa Matsuura Narrator: Thersa Matsuura Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 5 hours 57 minutes Release date: July 22, 2024 Genres: Horror Publisher's Summary: Beautiful, haunting, and grotesque, The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales offers stories reminiscent of traditional Japanese folktales alongside contemporary horror fiction. Matsuura’s unique voice, in its poignancy and lightheartedness, is unforgettable. From the Introduction by Bram Stoker Award Winner Author Gene O'Neill: 'I have Thersa Matsuura’s name underlined on the side of my fridge. I will watch for her byline. As I’m...2024-07-2205 minDownload Best Full Audiobooks in Mystery, Thriller & Horror, HorrorThe Carp-Face Boy and Other Tales by Thersa MatsuuraPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/804309to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Carp-Face Boy and Other Tales
Author: Thersa Matsuura
Narrator: Thersa Matsuura
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 5 hours 57 minutes
Release date: July 22, 2024
Genres: Horror
Publisher's Summary:
Beautiful, haunting, and grotesque, The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales offers stories reminiscent of traditional Japanese folktales alongside contemporary horror fiction. Matsuura’s unique voice, in its poignancy and lightheartedness, is unforgettable. From the Introduction by Bram Stoker Award Winner Author Gene O'Neill: 'I have Thersa Matsuura’s name underlined on the side of my fridge. I will watch for her byline. As I’m sure...2024-07-225h 57
Immerse Yourself in Captivating Narratives With Full AudiobookCarp-Face Boy and Other Tales Audiobook by Thersa MatsuuraListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 804309
Title: Carp-Face Boy and Other Tales
Author: Thersa Matsuura
Narrator: Thersa Matsuura
Format: Unabridged
Length: 05:57:20
Language: English
Release date: 07-22-24
Publisher: Authors Republic
Genres: Fiction & Literature, Mystery, Thriller & Horror, Short Stories
Summary:
Beautiful, haunting, and grotesque, The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales offers stories reminiscent of traditional Japanese folktales alongside contemporary horror fiction. Matsuuras unique voice, in its poignancy and lightheartedness, is unforgettable. From the Introduction by Bram Stoker Award Winner Author Gene O'Neill: 'I have Thersa Matsuuras name underlined on the side of my fridge. I...2024-07-225h 57Download New Full Audiobooks in Literature, Short StoriesThe Carp-Face Boy and Other Tales by Thersa MatsuuraPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/804309to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Carp-Face Boy and Other Tales
Author: Thersa Matsuura
Narrator: Thersa Matsuura
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 5 hours 57 minutes
Release date: July 22, 2024
Genres: Short Stories
Publisher's Summary:
Beautiful, haunting, and grotesque, The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales offers stories reminiscent of traditional Japanese folktales alongside contemporary horror fiction. Matsuura’s unique voice, in its poignancy and lightheartedness, is unforgettable. From the Introduction by Bram Stoker Award Winner Author Gene O'Neill: 'I have Thersa Matsuura’s name underlined on the side of my fridge. I will watch for her byline. As I’m...2024-07-225h 57Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageHokkaido Yōkai and Mythical CreaturesThe 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 Folklore by clicking on the Amazon link. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. Dis...2024-07-1714 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageOhashi: Godly Tools or Death Bringers?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 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. If you'd like to he...2024-06-2719 min
Some Other SphereEpisode 119 - Thersa Matsuura - Japanese FolkloreMy guest for this episode is author and podcaster Thersa Matsuura, who joined me to talk about her new publication, The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth.
After a childhood living all over the U.S. - as far north as Fairbanks, Alaska and as far south as Jacksonville, Florida, Thersa moved to Japan to study. She would eventually settle there and has now lived over half her life in a fishing town in the country.
Her fluency in Japanese allows her to do research into...2024-06-261h 04Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageThe Dangerous Truth about the Jorō SpiderThe joro spider, a colorful arachnid from Japan, is harmless but tied to folklore about shape-shifting brides who fatally ensnare lovers at waterfalls. [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. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. Discord: ht...2024-06-1516 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageBeto Beto-san Vs Teke Teke: Things That Stalk You at NightListeners who are sensitive to these topics should be aware that the episode contains potentially disturbing content: TRIGGER WARNINGS: Blood & gore depiction, Body horror, Childhood Trauma, Death from exposure, Death from falling, Death of a child, Death and dying, Decapitation, Fear and anxiety, Graphic content, Injury and mutilation, Loss of limb, Mayonnaise as a pizza topping, Mental distress, Physical injuries, Supernatural and horror elements, Suicide, Violence, War If you're ever walking alone on an empty street or path at night and you hear something distinctly not human following you, could it be the Beto Beto-san...2024-06-0219 min
New Books in East Asian StudiesThersa Matsuura, "The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth" (Adams Media, 2024)Discover everything you’ve ever wondered about the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore including how they have found their way into every corner of our pop culture from the creator of the podcast Uncanny Japan.Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth (Adams Media, 2024): a fascinating journey through Japan’s folklore through profiles of the legendary creatures and beings who continue to live on in pop culture today.From the sly kitsune to the orgrish oni and mischievous shape-shifting tanuki, learn all abo...2024-06-0130 min
New Books in Japanese StudiesThersa Matsuura, "The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth" (Adams Media, 2024)Discover everything you’ve ever wondered about the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore including how they have found their way into every corner of our pop culture from the creator of the podcast Uncanny Japan.Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth (Adams Media, 2024): a fascinating journey through Japan’s folklore through profiles of the legendary creatures and beings who continue to live on in pop culture today.From the sly kitsune to the orgrish oni and mischievous shape-shifting tanuki, learn all abo...2024-06-0130 min
New Books in Literary StudiesThersa Matsuura, "The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth" (Adams Media, 2024)Discover everything you’ve ever wondered about the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore including how they have found their way into every corner of our pop culture from the creator of the podcast Uncanny Japan.Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth (Adams Media, 2024): a fascinating journey through Japan’s folklore through profiles of the legendary creatures and beings who continue to live on in pop culture today.From the sly kitsune to the orgrish oni and mischievous shape-shifting tanuki, learn all abo...2024-06-0130 min
New Books in FolkloreThersa Matsuura, "The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth" (Adams Media, 2024)Discover everything you’ve ever wondered about the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore including how they have found their way into every corner of our pop culture from the creator of the podcast Uncanny Japan.Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth (Adams Media, 2024): a fascinating journey through Japan’s folklore through profiles of the legendary creatures and beings who continue to live on in pop culture today.From the sly kitsune to the orgrish oni and mischievous shape-shifting tanuki, learn all abo...2024-06-0130 min
Haunted History ChroniclesHaunting Tales: Japanese Spirits and Yokai with Thersa MatsuuraJoin author and host Thersa Matsuura on a fascinating journey into the world of Japanese spirits, monsters, and yokai. This episode delves into how these supernatural beings are deeply embedded in Japanese culture, art, and storytelling. Discover the eerie yet captivating tales that have inspired countless sculptures, paintings, and modern media. Thersa will also explore intriguing similarities and differences between Japanese and Western supernatural traditions. Tune in for an enlightening discussion that bridges cultural divides and brings ancient myths to life. Perfect for enthusiasts of folklore, art, and the mysterious realms of the supernatural.
My Special Guest...2024-05-3152 min
Tales From The Enchanted ForestTales of Japanese Yōkai with Thersa MatsuuraToday's episode is all about Japanese Yōkai and Thersa Matsuura's new book "The Encyclopedia of Japanese Folklore." We chat about moving to a completely different country, crows, everyday folklore and the process behind compiling a book on folklore! You can find out more about Thersa's Uncanny Japan Podcast and books!
The gorgeous illustrations were done by Michelle Wang!
Enjoying the Podcast? We want to hear from you! Leave us a review on Podchaser or follow us on Goodpods and tell us what story you want us to cover next!
Show notes can be...2024-05-2954 min
UnspookableYokai and Japanese Folklore with Thersa MatsuuraWhat do you know of the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore? And how have these figures found their way into every corner of our popular culture? Unspookable producer Nate DuFort sits down this week with Thersa Matsuura to find out more while discussing her latest, The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth. That and more on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian with Nate DuFortCreated, Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFortMusic Direction and Composition: Jesse Case2024-05-2129 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageBug News: Body Parasites or Ghosts (Mushi no Shirase)?Have you ever had a premonition or a foreboding feeling that turned out to be true? Was it a parasitic insect living in your belly or a ghost trying to tell you something? [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. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story re...2024-05-1514 min
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese LanguageWhy Japanese Folklore MATTERS! | Japan Station 126On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about Japanese folklore with Thersa Matsuura of the Uncanny Japan podcast. 👉Topics Discussed About Japanese folklore About yokai About Japanese superstitions About why people should learn Japanese folklore And more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japanky...2024-05-0136 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageFalling Trees: Tengu or Furusoma (Creepy Dead Guy)?If a you hear a tree fall in the woods, but can't find any sign of that fallen tree, is it the work of a tengu, a creepy dead guy ghost, or something else? [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. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime st...2024-05-0112 min
Listen to Latest Full Audiobooks in Non-Fiction, Social ScienceThe Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth: The Stories of the Mischievous Kappa, Trickster Kitsune, Horrendous Oni, and More by Thersa MatsuuraPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/721813to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth: The Stories of the Mischievous Kappa, Trickster Kitsune, Horrendous Oni, and More
Author: Thersa Matsuura
Narrator: Thersa Matsuura
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 6 hours 52 minutes
Release date: April 30, 2024
Genres: Social Science
Publisher's Summary:
Discover everything you’ve ever wondered about the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore including how they have found their way into every corner of our pop culture from the creator of the podcast Uncanny Japan. Welcome to The Bo...2024-04-306h 52
Listen to Latest Full Audiobooks in Non-Fiction, Social ScienceThe Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth: The Stories of the Mischievous Kappa, TPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/721813 to listen full audiobooks. Title: The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth: The Stories of the Mischievous Kappa, Trickster Kitsune, Horrendous Oni, and More Author: Thersa Matsuura Narrator: Thersa Matsuura Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 6 hours 52 minutes Release date: April 30, 2024 Genres: Social Science Publisher's Summary: Discover everything you’ve ever wondered about the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore including how they have found their way into every corner of our pop culture from the creator of the podcast Uncanny Japan. Welcome to Th...2024-04-3003 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageStory Time: The Mirror Maiden by Lafcadio HearnToday I'll read you Lafcadio Hearn's short story: The Mirror Maiden. [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. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/XdMZTzmyUb Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Web...2024-04-1716 min
Monster Dear MonsterInterview - Thersa Matsuura [Uncanny Japan]Dave and Cameron are joined by special guest Thersa Matsuura to discuss her upcoming book.
Uncanny Japan Podcast
The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth (pre-order for release on April 30th)
Music by Jake Lionheart
Contact:
www.monsterdear.monster
@senplus.bsky.social
@drfaustisdead.bsky.social
@theuglymachine.bsky.social
@swarbie.bsky.socialSpecial Guest: Thersa Matsuura.2024-04-1652 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageRyomen Sukuna: Awesome Saint or Japan-Destroying Demon?The two-faced, eight-limbed giant named Ryomen Sukuna has been around since very early Japan, still is he a Buddhism-protecting hero or a cursed demon who tried to destroy Japan? [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. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, pl...2024-03-3022 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageTeru Teru Bōzu: Cute, Magical, Unsettling OriginsYou'll often see ghostly-looking dolls strung up in windows in Japan on rainy days. What do they mean and why are they a little creepy? [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. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. ...2024-03-1517 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageAbe no Seimei & His Mysterious Place Near MeAbe no Seimei was the greatest onmyōji in Japan. While he lived in Kyoto, he visited Shizuoka at some point and performed some magic, giving us another nanafushigi (seven mysterious things). [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 Carp-Faced Boy by clicking on the Amazon link. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you mont...2024-02-2920 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageNami-Kozō: The Creepy Little Wave BoyA nanafushigi (seven mysterious things) and a local yokai, the Nami Kozō or Wave Boy has a number of variations to his story, some involving real historical monks. [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 Carp-Faced Boy by clicking on the Amazon link. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. 2024-02-1618 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageThe All-powerful Five Elements and YouIn Japan there are two types of Five Elements, the gogyo and the godai and you can find them all throughout Japanese culture-in tea ceremony, martial arts, acupuncture, herbalism, esoteric Buddhism, and even in cemeteries. [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 Carp-Faced Boy by clicking on the Amazon link. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bed...2024-01-3119 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageA Rollicking and Powerful Year of the Dragon 2024 Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! Happy New Year! This is Thersa Matsuura and you’re listening to Uncanny Japan, Season 8. We just moved from the year of the Rabbit to the Year of the Dragon and I want to tell you all about it. [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 Carp-Faced Boy by clicking on the Amazon link. If you'd like...2024-01-1613 min
Deep Dive from The Japan Times[Rebroadcast] Japan’s got ghostsThis week on Deep Dive, Shaun McKenna and Dave Cortez discuss a few horror movies before “Uncanny Japan” podcast host Thersa Matsuura tells a classic Japanese ghost story.
Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.
On this episode:
Shaun McKenna: Articles | X | Instagram
Dave Cortez: Articles | X
Thersa Matsuura: Website | X | Instagram | YouTube
Read/Listen more:
The ghosts that have been haunting cinema-goers in Japan for over a century (Mark Schilling, The Japan Times)
10 days of J-horror: From funny frights to shock and gore (Mark Schilling, The Japan Times)
Scary Japanese...2023-10-1241 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageKitsune no Koban: Fox MoneyLearn about Thersa Matsuura tells us about the fox’s coins, a children’s game based on finding seeds that look like gold coins. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/2023-05-3008 min
Listen, Learn, and Be Captivated by Free AudiobookWife Who Didn't Eat Audiobook by Thersa MatsuuraListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 645197
Title: Wife Who Didn't Eat
Author: Thersa Matsuura
Narrator: Thersa Matsuura
Format: Unabridged
Length: 00:54:07
Language: English
Release date: 11-03-22
Publisher: Authors Republic
Genres: History, Fiction & Literature, Asia, Essays & Anthologies, Fairy Tales & Folklore
Summary:
A farmer in old Japan prays to the gods for a wife, someone who is kind, beautiful, and hardworking. What would be even better is if she didnt eat at all, saving him both money and food. Imagine his surprise when just such a woman shows up at his house one night.
But all...2022-11-0354 min
Embrace: This Next-Level Full Audiobook For Curious Minds.The Wife Who Didn't Eat by Thersa MatsuuraPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/645197to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Wife Who Didn't Eat
Author: Thersa Matsuura
Narrator: Thersa Matsuura
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 0 hours 54 minutes
Release date: November 3, 2022
Genres: Essays & Anthologies
Publisher's Summary:
A farmer in old Japan prays to the gods for a wife, someone who is kind, beautiful, and hardworking. What would be even better is if she didn’t eat at all, saving him both money and food. Imagine his surprise when just such a woman shows up at his house one night. But all is not perfect. The gods have quite the sense of...2022-11-0354 minIgnite This Critically-Acclaimed Full Audiobook And Feel The Difference.The Wife Who Didn't Eat by Thersa MatsuuraPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/645197to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Wife Who Didn't Eat
Author: Thersa Matsuura
Narrator: Thersa Matsuura
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 0 hours 54 minutes
Release date: November 3, 2022
Genres: Asia
Publisher's Summary:
A farmer in old Japan prays to the gods for a wife, someone who is kind, beautiful, and hardworking. What would be even better is if she didn’t eat at all, saving him both money and food. Imagine his surprise when just such a woman shows up at his house one night. But all is not perfect. The gods have quite the sense of hu...2022-11-0354 minDownload Best Full-Length Audiobooks in Literature, Fairy Tales & FolkloreThe Wife Who Didn't Eat by Thersa MatsuuraPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/645197to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Wife Who Didn't Eat
Author: Thersa Matsuura
Narrator: Thersa Matsuura
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 0 hours 54 minutes
Release date: November 3, 2022
Genres: Fairy Tales & Folklore
Publisher's Summary:
A farmer in old Japan prays to the gods for a wife, someone who is kind, beautiful, and hardworking. What would be even better is if she didn’t eat at all, saving him both money and food. Imagine his surprise when just such a woman shows up at his house one night. But all is not perfect. The gods have quite the se...2022-11-0354 minExplore New Full Audiobooks in History, AsiaThe Wife Who Didn't Eat by Thersa MatsuuraPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/645197to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Wife Who Didn't Eat
Author: Thersa Matsuura
Narrator: Thersa Matsuura
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 0 hours 54 minutes
Release date: November 3, 2022
Genres: Asia
Publisher's Summary:
A farmer in old Japan prays to the gods for a wife, someone who is kind, beautiful, and hardworking. What would be even better is if she didn’t eat at all, saving him both money and food. Imagine his surprise when just such a woman shows up at his house one night. But all is not perfect. The gods have quite the sense of hu...2022-11-0354 min
Explore New Full Audiobooks in History, AsiaThe Wife Who Didn't Eat by Thersa MatsuuraPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/645197 to listen full audiobooks. Title: The Wife Who Didn't Eat Author: Thersa Matsuura Narrator: Thersa Matsuura Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 0 hours 54 minutes Release date: November 3, 2022 Genres: Asia Publisher's Summary: A farmer in old Japan prays to the gods for a wife, someone who is kind, beautiful, and hardworking. What would be even better is if she didn’t eat at all, saving him both money and food. Imagine his surprise when just such a woman shows up at his house one night. But all is not perfect. The gods have quite the sense of...2022-11-0303 min
Uncanny Robot: AI Meets Old Time Radio DramaTanuki Buttons: A Bonus Episode from Uncanny JapanHave you ever seen those dogs on Instagram that communicate by pressing buttons that play recorded words? In April 2021, Terrie tamed a wild tanuki, brought it home, and taught it to communicate with buttons. Then things took a turn for the worse. Our end trailer is from Hell Gate City. It's a rollicking sci-fi comedy podcast with a macabre underbelly and satirical takes about dystopian current events. Listen here: http://hellgatecity.com Uncanny Robot is Bram Stoker Finalist and Clarion West 2015 graduate Thersa Matsuura and audio editor/sound designer Rich Pav. Our other shows are...2022-09-1727 min
Podcast Rodeo Show: Reviews and First Impressions of Your PodcastUncanny RobotDescriptionPodcast Rodeo Show: Reviews and First Impressions of Your Podcast Listen to a fine collection of surreal and hilarious AI-generated short stories read by Bram Stoker Award Finalist and Clarion West 2015 Graduate Thersa Matsuura and sound designer Rich Pav. Check it out https://uncannyrobotpodcast.com/What I Liked About This EpisodeThe introduction let me know what was coming.The audio quality was good (especially for only being their 2nd podcast).I loved that they were going to provide some "behind the scenes" and they are...2022-03-0112 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageRated G Tanuki Buttons: This Unbelievable Story Will Blow Your Mind!Here is it already April first and the cherry blossoms are blooming and spring is in the air. I think today is a good day to tell you a story I've been wanting to share for awhile now. Remember last episode when I talked about the tanuki? Well, keep all that in mind when you listen to today's episode. Things are going to get weird. This version is safe for 8 year olds and grandmothers. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her...2021-04-0526 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageTanuki Buttons: This Unbelievable Story Will Blow Your Mind!Here is it already April first and the cherry blossoms are blooming and spring is in the air. I think today is a good day to tell you a story I've been wanting to share for awhile now. Remember last episode when I talked about the tanuki? Well, keep all that in mind when you listen to today's episode. Things are going to get weird. Warning: This episode violates the Third Commandment, contains references to male anatomy and has uncensored words that could infect your soul, curve your spine, and keep the country from winning the war...2021-04-0126 min
Deep Dive from The Japan TimesJapan's got ghosts w/ Thersa MatsuuraAs Halloween approaches, author, Bram Stoker Award nominee and host of the podcast "Uncanny Japan," Thersa Matsuura joins us to share her fascination with the Japanese supernatural, and reads us her version of one of Japan's most famous ghost stories, "Okiku and the Nine Plates."
Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Democrats Abroad Japan, a volunteer organization that helps Americans overseas register to vote. If you're a U.S. voter living abroad and haven't received your absentee ballot, or are afraid the one you've sent won't arrive in time, you're still in luck. An emergency backup ballot...2020-10-2833 min
Made in Japan-- Conversations with Meljo CatalanEp. 34– Thersa Matsuura, host of Uncanny Japan PodcastOn the third installment of my chats with other Japan-based podcasters, I step into Japanese myths and fables that are explained by Thersa, a fiction writer and long time Japan resident, who created Uncanny Japan Podcast. While doing research for her own publications, she has stumbled upon many cultural oddities and folklore that displays the rich, voluminous tales within Japanese culture that continuously retains some influence in contemporary society. This podcast is a must for any Japanophile with an appetite for legends, myths and superstitions.
https://www.uncannyjapan.com
You can order Inaka: Portraits of Life in Rural Japan through...2020-10-1439 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageKoumare Ishi: Inexplicable Rocks That Predict the Deaths of MonksKoumare Ishi is one of the nanafushigi or seven mysterious occurrences from my area. The belief is that a rock is born from the side of the mountain, and when it falls the head abbot of the nearby temple, Daitoku, dies. It's been going on for hundreds of years, and even today there is a perfectly round stone poking halfway from the mountain. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out...2020-09-0115 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageBon Odori: Dancing with the DeadBon Odori or Bon Dancing is a summer tradition held all over Japan. It's a chance for families to get together and have an enjoyable time dancing to the rhythmical music. Seeing as how the Obon season is also when ancestors visit from beyond the grave, they, too, can take part in the festivities if they wish. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy...2020-08-1720 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageThe Jellyfish Takes a Journey (plus eel and seppuku!)Ever wonder why a jellyfish looks the way they do? Well, the Japanese folktale "The Jellyfish Takes a Journey" (Kurage no Honenashi) tells you how that came about. Then after that folktale, I'll give you a little trivia about the connection between eel and seppuku. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have...2020-07-2917 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageFood Superstitions and SayingsWhy shouldn't you eat crab and watermelon together? What will happen if you don't eat all the rice in your bowl? Today I'll answer these and a whole lot more. Japanese food superstitions and sayings are quite interesting and sometimes funny. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read...2020-07-1722 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageStar-Crossed Lovers (Tanabata)Tanabata is a Japanese festival based on the bizarre tale of two star-crossed lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi. In episode 55, I'll tell you their story, explain a little about the origins and how it's celebrated today. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.2020-06-3016 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageYokai-Related Sayings: Becoming a TenguWhat if someone told you that you were turning into a tengu, one of those red-faced, long-nosed goblins? What would they mean? In this episode of Uncanny Japan, I talk about a handful of Japanese sayings that are based on youkai. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read...2020-06-1815 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageCreepy Children's Song - Kagome KagomeIn Japan "Kagome Kagome" is an old children's game and the song that goes along with it. It's interesting because the mysterious lyrics have several different interpretations and most of them are pretty grim. So listen to episode 53 of Uncanny Japan where I talk about this creepy song and several of the theories behind those odd lyrics. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The...2020-05-2916 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguagePutting a Curse on Your Enemies (Ushi no Koku Mairi)Ushi no Koku Mairi means visiting a shrine at the hour of the ox (between 1:00 and 3:00 am). It also means going there so you can put a curse on your enemy. Deriving from the legend of Hashi Hime (The Bridge Princess) and the Noh play Kanawa (The Iron Crown), this peculiar and frightening way of cursing those who have wronged you is definitely next level. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast...2020-05-1616 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageChildren's Day Iris Baths and Golden Boys (Shobuyu and Kintaro)On May 5th people all across Japan celebrate Children's Day or Kodomo no Hi. It might not be a normal year, but if you look out your veranda you can possibly see some carp streamer (koi nobori). One of the ways to celebrate is with an iris bath or shoubu-yu. It's purported to make you strong like a samurai. Another way to celebrate is for boys to set out a fancy doll. Kintaro is often found in houses all over Japan. He's also big and strong like a samurai. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the...2020-04-3017 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageStory Time: Sand Walls, Paper DoorsI want to celebrate my fiftieth episode by reading my yokai story, "Sand Walls, Paper Doors" from my book A Robe of Feathers and Other Stories. This is the one that got me my book deal, my agent, and my best friend. Also, yokai, lots of yokai. Thank you for listening, sharing, and reaching out these past three and a half years. I'm looking forward to the next fifty episodes! Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny...2020-04-1632 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageClose Encounter with an AmabieAn amabie is a Japanese yokai that is said to have predicted a plague and then encouraged people to share its image to protect them from that previously predicted plague. Or something like that. The amabie has recently been re-remembered all over Japanese social media with people posting their own adorable depictions of that long-haired, beak-faced, three-footed creature and wishing the current plague (Covid-19) to go away. But that's not the half of it. Imagine my surprise when I learned of rumors about a mysterious glowing object was appearing just off the coast near my...2020-04-0113 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageThe Kappa's FartA kappa is a small, scrawny, aquatic yokai with a parrot-like beak, a tortoise-style shell on its back, and an indentation on the top of its head full of water. They're found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and even coastal areas. But what do they do? While recently kappa have been rebranded to be very kawaii, that hasn't always been the case. Listen to find out how heinous these slimy critters can be. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows...2020-03-1514 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageThe Guest Room Child (Zashiki Warashi)Have you ever been sleeping and had a bout of kanashibari (sleep paralysis)? Then during that surreal--most likely frightening--experience, have you ever had what feels like a ghost child crawling on top of you? Or maybe late one night when you're all alone, you've heard an unseen child giggling. Perhaps you've heard tiny footsteps running across the floor, or found little footprints on your floor or handprints on the wall. If so, you've probably just experienced a zashiki warashi (a guest room child). But don't worry, they're not bad news. In fact, they're the bringer of good luck and...2020-02-2715 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageKanashibari and the Pillow Flipper (Makura Gaeshi)The makura gaeshi, or pillow flipper, was thought to cause kanashibari, otherwise known as sleep paralysis. It happens when you believe you've woken up in bed, but you're actually somewhere between wakefulness and sleep. You’re aware of the room around you, but there's a subtle change in the air. You try to move, but you're frozen. You try to call out, but you can't make a sound. It's a terrifying experience. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Ro...2020-02-1111 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageAuspicious Cuisine (Osechi Ryori)Want to increase your chances of a new year filled with health, prosperity, and an abundance of children and grandchildren? All you need to do is eat some delicious osechi ryori. Osechi is Japan's New Year's cuisine that includes such delicacies as herring wrapped in kelp and tied with gourd strings (nori maki), dried and candied anchovies (tazukuri), and golden sweet potato and chestnut mash (kurikinton). Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories...2020-01-2316 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageHaunted Artifacts (Tsukumogami)In Japan when an inanimate object reaches its 100th birthday and perhaps it was mistreated, or lost, or thrown away, it gains a soul and might possibly start playing tricks on people. This is called tsukumogami, or haunted artifacts. In this episode I talk about the tsukumogami and some traditional ones you could run across on a dark spooky night. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including...2019-12-2413 min
Stories Fables Ghostly TalesJapanese Folk Stories with Thersa Matsuura Host of Uncanny Japan Podcast🍣SPECIAL EPISODE 🍙 Thersa Matsuura the host of Uncanny Japan Podcast!
✍What's on today✍
Welcome listeners a new Japanese folktale episode, and it’s a special one. I do these stories from time to time, to get a glimpse into not only a different period of time when these stories where told, but a completely different culture, providing a unique storytelling experience. Talking rabbits, giant ogres, murderous raccoons and children being born out of peaches, ah yes, Japanese folktales are awesome. And on top of these awesome tales I’ve bring you lovelies a special surprise, I bring you the host of the Uncanny...2019-11-2936 min
Stories Fables Ghostly TalesJapanese Folk Stories with Thersa Matsuura Host of Uncanny Japan Podcast🍣SPECIAL EPISODE 🍙 Thersa Matsuura the host of Uncanny Japan Podcast!
✍What's on today✍
Welcome listeners a new Japanese folktale episode, and it’s a special one. I do these stories from time to time, to get a glimpse into not only a different period of time when these stories where told, but a completely different culture, providing a unique storytelling experience. Talking rabbits, giant ogres, murderous raccoons and children being born out of peaches, ah yes, Japanese folktales are awesome. And on top of these awesome tales I’ve bring you lovelies a special surprise, I bring you the host of the Uncanny...2019-11-2936 min
Stories Fables Ghostly Tales Podcast508: Japanese Folk Stories with Thersa Matsuura Host of Uncanny Japan Podcast🍣SPECIAL EPISODE 🍙 Thersa Matsuura the host of Uncanny Japan Podcast!
✍What's on today✍
Welcome listeners a new Japanese folktale episode, and it’s a special one. I do these stories from time to time, to get a glimpse into not only a different period of time when these stories where told, but a completely different culture, providing a unique storytelling experience. Talking rabbits, giant ogres, murderous raccoons and children being born out of peaches, ah yes, Japanese folktales are awesome. And on top of these awesome tales I’ve bring you lovelies a special surprise, I bring you the host of the Un...2019-11-2936 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageThe Great Horned Master (Tsuno Daishi)When walking around Japan you might see a small rectangular piece of paper pasted near a front door or on a gate. On this paper is an image that can only be described as a demon or devil. While off-putting at first, this creepy little fellow isn't actually a bad guy; he's there to protect the family and household. In this episode I'm going to tell you why. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The...2019-11-1412 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageStory Time: Yotsuya Kaidan (The Ghost of Oiwa)It's almost Halloween, so for this episode of Uncanny Japan I'm going to tell you a spooky tale called Yotsuya Kaidan, the story of Oiwa and her sad and vengeful ghost. The last ghost story I told here was in episode 25, Okiku and the Nine Plates (Bancho Sarayashiki). Well, Yotsuya Kaidan's main character, Oiwa, is another one of the biggies, who I'm guessing is even more well known than Okiku. There are so many versions of this story, so here I'm going to tell you mine. I'm going to try and stick to the originals as much as possible...2019-10-2621 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageJapanese Superstitions II: Spider Lilies and Ghostly TreesWhy is the beautiful Spider lily also called a corpse flower? Why didn't samurai keep camellias in their gardens? Why do Japanese ghosts like to hang out under weeping willows? On this episode I'll take on a few more Japanese superstitions, but this time plant and flower-related stories. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help...2019-10-1013 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageDaruma - He Cut Off His What?!His eyelids. He cut off his eyelids. But that is not all that the Daruma (Bodhidharma) is famous for. He's the man who brought Chan to China and Zen to Japan. Some say he taught the Shaolin monks how to fight while other tales talk about how he invented green tea, or well, his eyelids did. Join me and a thousand singing night insects while I tell you about the great sage, Daruma. Also, you know how if you wait until the end of the credits in some movies you're rewarded with a little something...2019-09-1212 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageBehind the Curtain: Advice for people coming to JapanEpisode 39 of Uncanny Japan is different, it's special. Today I forgo my usual format and invite my friend, fellow long time expat, and Sound Dude, Rich Pav, to join me in answering some listener questions about advice when coming to Japan. Here we talk about just a few things we've gleaned from our living-in-Japan experience. A longer version is available for my $5 and up Patrons. Since this is an experiment, tell us what you think. Would this kind of show every so often be of interest to listeners? And if so, what topics would you like us...2019-08-2218 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageStory Time: Cicada by Lafcadio HearnIn Episode 38, you can listen to Lafcadio Hearn's whimsical take on the cicada (semi) while enjoying some real time cicada singing in the background. Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/2019-08-0820 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageOni Kara Denwa: The Ogre App to Discipline Your ChildEver since I saw a mother discipline her child by threatening to call an oni/ogre, I've been wanting to do talk about this. Then I found out it really is a thing, an app called Oni Kara Denwa (A Call From an Oni, or as it's translated in Japanese: Ghost Call) to be more precise. In Episode 37, I talk about what I've heard playfully called the oni appuli. It has over 10 million downloads and purports to help you raise your child. I've got a lot of thoughts and feelings about this one, but I try as m...2019-07-2117 minUncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageThe Rock That Cries at Night (Yonaki Ishi)A rock that gets weepy when the sun goes down, a pregnant woman slain alone in the mountains, a newborn baby visited by a ghostly priest who feds him candy to stay alive. These are all parts of this month's podcast: The Rock The Cries at Night (Yonaki Ishi). In this episode, I visit a local spot (one of the Enshu Nanafushigi / Seven Mysterious Things of Enshu). Come listen to me tell the tale while I sit by some rain, thunder, and an ambitious frog. It's a wonderful old legend, but can you find the...2019-06-2712 min
Just Japan PodcastJust Japan Podcast 188: Uncanny JapanIn JJP 188, Kevin O'Shea chats with acclaimed horror (and all things Japan-creepy) writer Thersa Matsuura about her writing as well as her podcast, Uncanny Japan. Thersa researches and writes about the darker side of Japan. She was nominated by the Horror Writer's Association for a 2017 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection for her book, "The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales." She created the Uncanny Japan podcast to share her dark tales of Japan with people around the world. Home of the podcast: http://justjapanstuff.com Facebook: http://facebook.com...2018-06-121h 01Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and LanguageIntroducing Uncanny JapanSpeculative 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. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. Please join our co...2016-10-2900 min