This episode is rated mature.Horror and uncanny stories are fundamental elements of Japanese storytelling.We’ll start with a note about genre in general and “horror” in particular.We’ll continue with a discussion of horror in traditional Japanese storytelling, especially the kaid ...Show more
Japanese Women Writers
This episode is rated mature.For decades, writing by women was treated as its own separate genre in Japan, joryu bungaku. In today's episode, we’ll start with an explanation of why joryu bungaku became its own separate genre. We’ll move on to the story of women’s writing between ...Show more
From Greek-Irish writer Lafcadio Hearn comes the Japanese story of a blind priest with a talent for music. When a mysterious samurai asks him to perform for a high-ranking noble, the priest is eager to accept… and unwittingly falls into a supernatural trap. Learn more about your ...Show more
Two stories from Japan about the stories we tell one another. On the first, it's a not-so-famous musician who gets a massive new audience for the legend he has been telling. For the second, it's a man who needs to do his duty...which means doing something terrible to someone he l ...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