Story Time: The Mirror Maiden by Lafcadio Hearn (Ep. 146)
Today I'll read you Lafcadio Hearn's short story: The Mirror Maiden. [This description...
16:21
Ryomen Sukuna: Awesome Saint or Japan-Destroying Demon? (Ep. 145)
The two-faced, eight-limbed giant named Ryomen Sukuna has been around since very early Japan,...
22:44
Teru Teru Bōzu: Cute, Magical, Unsettling Origins (Ep. 144)
You'll often see ghostly-looking dolls strung up in windows in Japan on rainy days. What do they...
17:11
Abe no Seimei & His Mysterious Place Near Me (Ep. 143)
Abe no Seimei was the greatest onmyōji in Japan. While he lived in Kyoto, he visited Shizuoka at...
20:29
Nami-Kozō: The Creepy Little Wave Boy (Ep. 142)
A nanafushigi (seven mysterious things) and a local yokai, the Nami Kozō or Wave Boy has a number...
18:42
The All-powerful Five Elements and You (Ep. 141)
In Japan there are two types of Five Elements, the gogyo and the godai and you can find them all...
19:58
A Rollicking and Powerful Year of the Dragon 2024 (Ep. 140)
Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! Happy New Year! This is Thersa Matsuura and you’re listening to...
13:05
Joya no Kane: Purify Yourself With This Episode (Ep. 139)
Joya no Kane is the Buddhism tradition of ringing out the old year and ringing in the new one....
15:29
Shochikubai: Pine, Bamboo, Plum and Samurai Shade (Ep. 138)
Shochikubai means "pine, bamboo, plum" and are considered the three winter friends. You'll find...
15:25
A Delightful Dive into Meiji Era Yokai News (Ep. 137)
Today I’m going to do something a little different, again. I’m going to give you some real yōkai...
16:09
The Dreaded Northern Pillow (kitamakura) and Fan Death (Ep. 136)
Is sleeping with your head facing north a practice that'll bring you bad luck and invite death or...
20:30
"The Other Side" A Creepy Japanese Ghost Story (Ep. 135)
"The Other Side" is a ghost story I wrote using some of the more common Japanese scary tropes....
27:46
Creepy Haunted Tunnels in Japan (Ep. 134)
My guess is that Japan has more haunted tunnels than anywhere in the world. In this episode I...
19:40
Okiku: The Haunted Doll (Ep. 133)
The Okiku-chan doll is believed to contain the spirit of the little girl who once owned her. This...
17:07
Myth Tales Vol. 1: Origin that Ends with Dragons (Ep. 132)
Myth Tales is an immersive retelling of Japan's creation myth. Uncanny Japan is author Thersa...
18:51
Summer Festival Part 2: Games and Dancing (Ep. 131)
Part 2 of Summer Festival in Japan is about unique games and dancing. Uncanny Japan is author...
16:14
Summer Festival: Outfits and the Eats (Ep. 130)
Come experience a small summer festival (Natsu Matsuri) with me. This is Part One: Outfits and...
19:47
"Concerning Tea"... a reading (Ep. 129)
Learn about the history of tea and the tea ceremony in Japan, its origins in Buddhist rituals,...
19:29
Raijū: The Thunder Beast (Ep. 128)
The raijū or thunder beast is smallish, very weird-looking creature that darts around during...
14:52
Story Time: Yuki Onna (by Lafcadio Hearn) (Ep. 127)
I read Lafcadio Hearn's classic tale, "Yuki Onna" or "The Snow Woman." Uncanny Japan is author...
16:52
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