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Speculative fiction writer, long-term resident of Japan and Bram Stoker Award finalist Thersa Matsuura explores all that is weird from Japan—strange superstitions, folklore and folktales, cultural oddities, and interesting language quirks. These are little treasures she digs up while doing research for her writing.
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Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
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Enjoying the Luck of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin) (Ep. 68)
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In Japan the Shichifukujin or Seven Lucky Gods appear in a boat on the first day of the year to impart various kinds of luck on those they deem worthy. Transcript Below. You can also find me on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Instagram: https…
The year 2021 is the Year of the Ox according to the animal zodiac. But what does that mean? On today's show I'll talk a little about the character of people born in this year, what to expect in 2021, and why the ox -- who should have been the first animal in the zodiac lineup -- got beaten by a rat. I also have a super special announcement. You ca…
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Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
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Toshikoshi Soba: Breaking Off the Pain of 2020 with Noodles (Ep. 66)
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Toshikoshi soba is the Japanese tradition of eating soba noodles on New Year's Eve. It's a custom that has continued since the 1700s. There are quite a few reasons why, some have to do with long life, wealth, and breaking off all the hardships from the previous year. On this episode of Uncanny Japan I'll talk about the history, the different names …
The baku (獏) is a Japanese mythical creature that, when invited, slips into your room at night to gobble up your nightmares. Below is an example of the Takarabune (宝船) image with the old character for baku (獏) on the sail. Tuck this under your pillow on New Year's Eve for some extra lucky dreams. You can also find me on: Twitter: https://twitter.co…
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Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
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Story Time: "The Dream of Akinosuke" by Lafcadio Hearn (Ep. 64)
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"The Dream of Akinosuke" is Lafcadio Hearn's translation of a sweet Japanese (originally Chinese) folktale. In it you'll learn how insects can manipulate a person's soul. You can also find me on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Instagram: http…
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Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
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Shinrei Supotto: Freaky Haunted Areas in Japan (Ep. 63)
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Let's visit some local haunted areas or shinrei supotto in Japanese. The Suicide Forest, a very haunted tunnel, and a Severed Head Grave are all in today's show. You can also find me on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Instagram: https://www.i…
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Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
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Yuurei: Japanese Ghosts from Protective to Wrathful (Ep. 62)
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Yuurei are Japanese ghosts and they come in quite a few varieties, from the protecting shugorei to the vengeful and very dangerous onryou. Kahada Koheiji is an example of a male onryou. You can also find me on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura …
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Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
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Oiran: The Glamorous and Wretched Life of a High Courtesan (Ep. 61)
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An oiran is not a geisha. Although at first glance they may look alike, one is a more reserved entertainer who is still in existence today. The other is a high courtesan, long disappeared, who wore flamboyant brightly-colored kimono and walked on 20 centimeter high geta. You can also find me on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: h…
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Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
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Kanreki: Your Auspicious Years, Yakudoushi: Your Calamitous Ones (Ep. 60)
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You can also find me on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/ Amazon: https://amzn.to/3mgCVsd YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqAtoUS51HDi2d96_aLv95w Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com…
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Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
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Koumare Ishi: Inexplicable Rocks That Predict the Deaths of Monks (Ep. 59)
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Koumare 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. Below …
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Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
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Bon Odori: Dancing with the Dead (Ep. 58)
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Bon 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. You can also find me on: Twitter: https…
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Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
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Story Time - The Jellyfish Takes a Journey (plus eel and seppuku!) (Ep. 57)
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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. You can also find me on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https:/…
Why 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. You can also find me on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncann…
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. Listen to the very end! Music thanks to: Celestial Background by TwisteriumMusic Link: https://soundcloud.com/twisterium/celestial-ba…
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Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
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Yokai-Related Sayings (Becoming a Tengu) (Ep. 54)
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You can also find me on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqAtoUS51HDi2d96_aLv95w Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ Intro/Outro by Julyan Ray Mats…
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Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
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Creepy Children's Song (Kagome Kagome) (Ep. 53)
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In 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. You can als…
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Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
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Putting a Curse on Your Enemies (Ushi no Koku Mairi) (Ep. 52)
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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…
