Lafcadio Hearn's "Readings from a Dream Book": Mystical Meditations on Consciousness (Ep. 170)
Sometimes we all need a little break from reality, and that's exactly what I'm offering in this deeply contemplative episode. Against the backdrop of soothing Pacific Ocean waves recorded on the Japan...
22 Apr 202527min
Ryūjin: Harnessing the Power of Japan's Undersea Dragon God (Ep. 169)
Let's journey down to the bottom of the ocean to an underwater dragon palace called the Ryugu, or sometimes Ryugu-jo, owned and lorded over by Ryujin, the dragon god. And while we're there, let's lear...
8 Apr 202524min
Mt. Fuji: A Fire Resistant Princess and a Sword Licking Mystic (Ep. 168)
Mount Fuji isn't just Japan's tallest peak - it's home to some of the most extraordinary legends in Japanese folklore. In this episode, I tell you about two remarkable figures who shaped its mystical ...
22 Mar 202518min
Kanto vs Kansai: How Japanese Regional Food Differs (Ep. 167)
In this episode I talk about one of my favorite topics, one of the things that makes Japan special to me. It still gets me excited after all these years, and that is food. I absolutely love that whe...
6 Mar 202518min
The Golden Pavilion Has Weird Ghosts (Ep. 166)
What happens when you think you know everything about Japan's most famous temple? I discovered I knew almost nothing at all about Kinkaku-ji. Its real name isn't even what most people call it – there'...
22 Feb 202514min
Walking in Old Japan: The Historical Gokaidō Routes (Ep. 165)
In today's episode, I'll be taking you on a stroll along the walking routes of Old Edo. There were five main ones, called go-kaidō - the five Edo routes, or the five historical roads of Japan. All fiv...
6 Feb 202518min
Fudō Myō: The Unshakable Buddhist Deity and Sacred Fire Ceremonies (Ep. 164)
In this episode, I'll be telling you about someone I've had a crush on for the past couple years, Fudō Myō, and also about a very cool fire ceremony that will burn away all your worldly desires, ignor...
15 Jan 202513min
Bodhidharma and Daruma Dolls: Zen Buddhism Origins (Ep. 163)
In today's episode, I'll be taking you on a journey that involves supernatural balance, a touch of kung fu fighting, cringeworthy acts of concentration, a lucky toy that heals disease and helps you ac...
6 Jan 202519min
