262-Japanese Folklore: Fatal Attraction

🐒 Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, knows a demon shakedown when he sees it.And what's happening in this town, where people need to pay upwards of $30k (in 2026 USD) a year to a Buddha they never see? That's a shakedown. Does his master, the Tang Monk, believe him? Of course he doesn ...  Show more

✏️Gaṅgâdhara's astrologer dad has some bad news for his boy: he's going to die.Well, first he'll spend a decade in prison, and then die. Then things will get better? It's the story of the Soothsayer's Son.😈 The Creature: Denpachi KitsuneAre you sure the best student in your scho ...  Show more

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

This episode is all about love...and the terrifying lengths some will go for it. Sapphire shares a famous ghost story from Thailand, explains the rules of the Love Me Game, saves a soul under a spell, and tells an old Japanese legend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca ...  Show more

Enjoy the story of a vengeful would-be lover who turns into a 40-foot snake, a sharp-witted woman with criticisms of her husband’s equipment, and a curmudgeonly Buddhist priest who learns to love poetry. In this episode, we’re talking about setsuwa—medieval Japanese anecdotes. Ma ...  Show more

Gods having sex, founding of the imperial dynasty, and some of the origins of WWII. Plus thoughts on the role of women in early Japanese history.Purchase your copy of The Kojiki through RJL's Bookshop page to support the podcast.Transcript, notes and sources at the podcast episod ...  Show more