Listeners 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, Mayonn ... Show More
Feb 16
Why the Year of the Fire Horse is Dreaded in Japan and Cursed Kimonos (Ep. 185)
2026 is the year of the fire horse—a year that happens only once every 60 years. Across East Asia, it symbolizes transformation, intensity, and bold action. But in Japan? It's feared. Birth rates actually plummet during fire horse years because of a superstition that dates back t ... Show More
16m 25s
Dec 9
Osechi: Japanese New Year Food Traditions (Ep. 184)
What if the meal sitting in those beautiful lacquered boxes held messages from the gods? In Japan, osechi-ryōri isn't just New Year's food—it's a sacred offering. Each dish carries specific wishes: black beans for health, herring roe for prosperity, lotus root for clear vision in ... Show More
26m 23s
Nov 2025
Japanese Moon Lore: Selfless Rabbits, Murdered Goddesses, and Tsukimi (Ep. 183)
Don't point at the moon—you might wake up without your ears.
In Japan, the moon rabbit isn't just making mochi. Its image was placed there by the gods to honor an act of pure sacrifice, a Buddhist tale that traveled from India through China and transformed along the way.
In thi ... Show More
30m 46s
Oct 2022
An Emotional Ghost Story – Ep. 45
Stories in this episode: - An Emotional Ghost Story, by DOOM - I Experienced a Car Crash this Morning that Didn't Actually Happen, by alexsandthat - He Watches Me Sleep, by Impossible_Chance104 - Who or What Did I Speak to in my Garden, by missprincesspig - Seeing Shadow People a ... Show More
51m 45s