What 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, Mons ... Show More
Sep 2024
Fabio Rambelli, "Spirits and Animism in Contemporary Japan" (Bloomsbury Academic, 2019)
In Japan, a country popularly perceived as highly secularized and technologically advanced, ontological assumptions about spirits (tama or tamashii) seem to be quite deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric. From ancestor cults to anime, spirits, ghosts, and other invisible dimens ... Show More
57m 24s
Oct 2024
Yurei - Japanese Ghosts & Hauntings
Explore the chilling world of Yurei, the vengeful ghosts of Japanese folklore. In this episode, we delve into the origins, stories, and legends surrounding Yurei spirits, from their connection to death and unresolved grudges to their portrayal in popular Japanese horror. Discover ... Show More
28m 17s
Mar 2024
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 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 ... Show More
17m 12s
Apr 2020
Create an IMPERFECT Japanese Peace Garden!
Zara and Leo arrive in Nara Park, a peaceful deer sanctuary in Japan! They want to make a traditional Japanese peace garden, but things aren’t going exactly to plan... Find out how to celebrate imperfections, and learn more about kintsugi, the ancient Japanese art of IMPERFECTION ... Show More
14m 4s
Dec 2019
Terrifying Tales of Japan
Japan is no stranger to rich folklore on various mythical beasts and urban legends, and not all of these stories are pleasant. Some tell of horrifying creatures. Others, about tyrannical demons. Join us today as we investigate the terrors in Japan. First, we'll take a voyage acro ... Show More
37m 38s
Jan 2025
Le monstre de Yatama - Inspiré des contes et légendes du Japon.
Le conte japonais Le Monstre Yatama raconte l’histoire d’un monstre à huit têtes qui terrorisait un village. Un jeune homme rusé, Taro, l’enivre avec du saké sacré et, profitant de son ivresse, le vainc avec un katana divin. Dans la dernière tête du monstre, il découvre une épée ... Show More
4m 11s