Heavenly Dogs and Brilliant Swordsmen (The Tengu) (Ep. 32)
There are two types of tengu: the karasu/crow tengu and the hanadaka/long-nosed tengu. They're both awesome martial artists and fearsome foes, among other things. In this episode, I'll introduce you t...
31 Mar 201913min
Story Time: Of a Mirror and a Bell (Lafcadio Hearn) (Ep. 31)
Story Time is a little bit different than the usual Uncanny Japan podcast. Instead of me telling you about some interesting, odd, or spooky tidbit, I'll be reading you a story. This is something I do ...
6 Mar 201918min
Human-Faced Fish (Ep. 30)
Next time you're staring down into a rowdy school of koi, keep an eye out for the one that has a human face. This is a jinmengyo and rumor has it if you see one a tsunami is on its way. Or maybe if y...
21 Feb 201914min
The Devils are Coming! (Setsubun) (Ep. 29)
The devils are coming! Or the ogres or demons, depending on how you translate the Japanese word oni (鬼). February 3rd is Setsubun in Japan and it's not just the day before spring according to the luna...
29 Jan 201915min
Ebisu, The Leech Boy Who Became a God (Ep. 28)
I'm starting 2019 off with the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichi Fukujin), or, well, more specifically ONE of the Seven Lucky Gods: Ebisu. He's the only one born and bred in Japan and, boy, does he have some s...
14 Jan 201913min
Ojizo Bound in Ropes Doused in Oil (Ep. 27)
The ojizo only wants to ease our suffering, and for that he gets tied up in ropes, doused in oil, and his head lopped off. Episode 27 of Uncanny Japan talks a little more about the ojizo statue, bring...
14 Des 201816min
Ojizo. The Little Guy Saving You and Yours From the Torments of Hell (Ep. 26)
An ojizo-sama is here to put aside his own enlightenment in order to save us all from the torments of hell. True story. He is especially partial to children, expectant mothers, firemen, travelers, pil...
21 Nov 201813min
Bancho Sarayashiki: Okiku and the Nine Plates (Ep. 25)
One, two, three... Okiku kneeling, counts the priceless plates that have been entrusted to her. Four, five, six... her samurai master, Tessan, stands, hands on hips, he watches her trembling hands. Se...
29 Okt 201811min
