Playing Hide and Seek by Yourself (Hitori Kakurenbo) (Ep. 16)
Hitori kakurenbo (一人隠れん坊 ) means playing hide and seek by yourself. It sounds silly, but it's actually a super creepy, Japanese urban myth that involves you all alone at night with nothing but a stuff...
18 Mar 201813min
Inviting a Friend to Die (Rokuyo) (Ep. 15)
The rokuyo (六曜) or six days is the Japanese calendar that you consult when preparing to engage in various affairs: wedding, funerals, trips, and business dealings to name a few. Some days are good for...
19 Feb 201815min
Sokushinbutsu: The Corpses of “Living” Buddhas (Ep. 14)
Listen to me talk about this wonderfully surreal thing I found: Living Buddhas (ikibotoke, 生き仏 or sokushinbutsu, 即身仏). The thing is, they're not really alive, at least not anymore. *cue scary music*.....
17 Jan 201813min
Teachers Running (Shiwasu) (Ep. 13)
Everyone's busy. It's the end of the year. Come listen to me talk about how we spend December in Japan while you listen to a mochi-pounding event in the background on binaural mics. There is cleaning,...
17 Des 201720min
Goroawase: Tricky Numbers (Ep. 12)
In Japan numbers can be tricky. Four is thought to invite death. Nine brings suffering and agony. But, hey! Eight is good! Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/ Pa...
16 Nov 201717min
The Devil’s Gate (Kimon) (Ep. 11)
You have one. I have one. We all have one: a Devil's Gate. It's the place where oni (Japanese devils) sneak into your home, steal all your good luck and fine health, and scuttle away. It's the place y...
18 Okt 201723min
Gaki: Hungry Ghosts (Ep. 10)
Careful. Living a life of luxury while being selfish and coveting your neighbors goodies just might lead you to another spin on this Wheel of Life. This means after you die you'll be reborn not as a h...
13 Sep 201719min
Obon Part Two: Sending Away Fires (Okuribi) (Ep. 9)
This month's podcast is Obon Part Two, the time when you have to send ol' grandma and grandpa back to the World of the Dead. There are various ways of doing this. I talk about two, the chill, mellow w...
15 Aug 201719min
