Today I'll read you Lafcadio Hearn's short story: The Mirror Maiden. [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no ad

The two-faced, eight-limbed giant named Ryomen Sukuna has been around since very early Japan, still is he a Buddhism-protecting hero or a cursed demon who tried to destroy Japan? [This description con

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

Abe no Seimei was the greatest onmyji in Japan. While he lived in Kyoto, he visited Shizuoka at some point and performed some magic, giving us another nanafushigi (seven mysterious things). [This de

A nanafushigi (seven mysterious things) and a local yokai, the Nami Koz or Wave Boy has a number of variations to his story, some involving real historical monks. [This description contains Amazon a

In Japan there are two types of Five Elements, the gogyo and the godai and you can find them all throughout Japanese culture-in tea ceremony, martial arts, acupuncture, herbalism, esoteric Buddhism, a

Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! Happy New Year! This is Thersa Matsuura and youre listening to Uncanny Japan, Season 8. We just moved from the year of the Rabbit to the Year of the Dragon and I want t

Joya no Kane is the Buddhism tradition of ringing out the old year and ringing in the new one. Where did it come from and what does it mean? [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you c

Shochikubai means "pine, bamboo, plum" and are considered the three winter friends. You'll find them in New Year decorations as well as another interesting and surprising place. I'll tell more on toda

Today Im going to do something a little different, again. Im going to give you some real ykai and paranormal news. Not current news, but stories that were actually published in newspapers during th