This week, we revisit a classic Supernatural Japan episode. Host, Kevin O’Shea, chats with Japan-based writer Phillip Jackson. He talks about his new book, Paranormal Japan, as well as Tengu and Other Stories. Phillip shares some tales from his latest book, including ones about the Gifu Poltergeist and the haunted Sendagaya Tunnel in Tokyo. Kevin and Phillip also discuss other Japanese folklore and some of their favorite spooky podcasts, including The Uncanny Podcast, The Battersea Poltergeist, The Witch Farm, Morbid Podcast, and The Nighttime Podcast.

Check out Phillip’s website for books and tours:

Hidden Paths Kyoto:

https://www.hiddenpathskyoto.com/

Website: supernaturaljapan.com

Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map

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Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast)

Connect with Supernatural Japan:

Instagram: @supernaturaljapan

Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan

BlueSky: @MadForMaple

X: @MadForMaple

YouTube: @BusanKevin

Email: [email protected]

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Host Kevin O’Shea takes a look at an animal that appears in Japanese mythology. Crows are fascinating creatures that exhibit high levels of intelligence. They appear in legends around the world and Japan is no exception. Crows or Karasu カラス may get a bad wrap from some, but for others, they are creatures to be revered.

Website: supernaturaljapan.com

Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map

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Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast)

Connect with Supernatural Japan:

Instagram: @supernaturaljapan

Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan

BlueSky: @MadForMaple

X: @MadForMaple

YouTube: @BusanKevin

Email: [email protected]

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In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore one of the most unsettling yokai in Japanese folklore—the noppera-bō (のっぺらぼう), the infamous faceless spirit said to appear as an ordinary person before revealing a smooth, featureless void where a human face should be. Delving into Edo-period ghost stories, cultural symbolism, and psychological horror, we uncover how these faceless beings reflect deep fears of identity loss, misrecognition, and the uncanny in everyday life. From the legendary Akasaka “Mujina” encounter to modern interpretations in Japanese urban legend and horror culture, this episode reveals why the noppera-bō continues to haunt imaginations as a symbol of quiet, existential terror that hides in plain sight.

Website: supernaturaljapan.com

Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map

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Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast)

Connect with Supernatural Japan:

Instagram: @supernaturaljapan

Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan

BlueSky: @MadForMaple

X: @MadForMaple

YouTube: @BusanKevin

Email: [email protected]

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In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we investigate the chilling 1975 Kofu Incident in Yamanashi Prefecture, where two schoolboys reported seeing strange orange lights descend into a quiet vineyard—only to later claim a close encounter with a landed craft and a humanoid figure. Often compared to global “close encounter” cases, the Kofu Incident has become one of Japan’s most debated UFO mysteries, supported by alleged landing-site traces, multiple witness accounts, and decades of ongoing speculation from UFO researchers. We break down what the boys saw, what investigators found in the vineyard, and why skeptics still question every detail of the story. Was it a misidentified aircraft, childhood misperception, or something far stranger breaking through the winter sky over rural Japan?

Website: supernaturaljapan.com

Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map

Check out the Graveyard Tales episode “Mt. Fuji” where they discuss The Kofu Incident: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mt-fuji/id1294529191?i=1000765372585

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Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast)

Connect with Supernatural Japan:

Instagram: @supernaturaljapan

Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan

BlueSky: @MadForMaple

X: @MadForMaple

YouTube: @BusanKevin

Email: [email protected]

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In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the mysterious world of Yūrei, Japan’s legendary ghosts and restless spirits. Discover the origins of Yūrei in Japanese folklore, the traits that set them apart from Western ghosts, and the cultural beliefs that have shaped their stories for centuries. From vengeful spirits seeking justice to tragic souls unable to move on, we examine some of Japan’s most famous Yūrei tales and their lasting influence on horror films, ghost stories, and popular culture. Join us as we uncover the haunting legends behind Japan’s most iconic supernatural beings.

Website: supernaturaljapan.com

Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map

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Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast)

Connect with Supernatural Japan:

Instagram: @supernaturaljapan

Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan

BlueSky: @MadForMaple

X: @MadForMaple

YouTube: @BusanKevin

Email: [email protected]

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In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the legend of the Azuki Arai, a mysterious Japanese yōkai said to haunt rivers and mountain streams, endlessly washing red azuki beans in the darkness. Feared for the eerie sounds it makes at night, this strange spirit has appeared in folklore across Japan for centuries. Discover the origins, regional stories, and cultural meaning behind one of Japan’s most unusual supernatural creatures

Website: supernaturaljapan.com

Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map

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Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast)

Connect with Supernatural Japan:

Instagram: @supernaturaljapan

Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan

BlueSky: @MadForMaple

X: @MadForMaple

YouTube: @BusanKevin

Email: [email protected]

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In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the mysterious world of Zashiki Warashi, Japan's legendary child spirits said to bring good fortune, prosperity, and protection to the homes they inhabit. Discover the origins of these beloved yokai in Japanese folklore, hear chilling and heartwarming stories of families who claimed to encounter them, and learn why sightings of Zashiki Warashi are often linked to luck, wealth, and sudden misfortune when they disappear. From traditional inns famous for their resident spirits to centuries-old legends passed down through northern Japan, join us as we uncover the fascinating history and supernatural mysteries surrounding one of Japan's most enchanting ghostly beings.

Website: supernaturaljapan.com

Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map

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Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast)

Connect with Supernatural Japan:

Instagram: @supernaturaljapan

Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan

BlueSky: @MadForMaple

X: @MadForMaple

YouTube: @BusanKevin

Email: [email protected]

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Discover the chilling legend of the Okiku Doll in this episode of Supernatural Japan. Explore the mysterious Japanese doll whose hair is said to grow on its own, the origins of this eerie tale, and the folklore that surrounds it. From historical context to spine-tingling stories, we uncover why the Okiku Doll continues to captivate and haunt Japan.

Website: supernaturaljapan.com

Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map

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Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast)

Connect with Supernatural Japan:

Instagram: @supernaturaljapan

Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan

BlueSky: @MadForMaple

X: @MadForMaple

YouTube: @BusanKevin

Email: [email protected]

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Deep in Japan's Tohoku region, a small number of Buddhist monks undertook one of history's most extreme spiritual journeys—self-mummification. In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the mysterious world of the Sokushinbutsu, the self-mummified priests who endured years of harsh ascetic practices in pursuit of enlightenment beyond death. Discover the history, beliefs, and haunting legacy of these remarkable monks, the temples where their preserved bodies remain today, and the supernatural stories that surround them. Were they holy men who transcended mortality, or do their silent remains still watch over the living? Join us as we uncover one of Japan's most fascinating and eerie spiritual traditions.

Website: supernaturaljapan.com

Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map

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Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast)

Connect with Supernatural Japan:

Instagram: @supernaturaljapan

Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan

BlueSky: @MadForMaple

X: @MadForMaple

YouTube: @BusanKevin

Email: [email protected]

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Summary: Inspired by his travels across Japan, Ryan Sprague explores the country's fascinating history of UFOs, mysterious aerial phenomena, and supernatural legends. From ancient texts and sacred traditions to stories passed down through generations, Japan's rich folklore is filled with accounts of strange objects in the sky and unexplained encounters. At the heart of this episode is the famous Utsuro Bune legend, in which fishermen discover a bizarre vessel adrift at sea carrying a mysterious humanoid unlike anyone they had ever seen. Often considered Japan's earliest UFO story, it is just one of many intriguing cases Ryan examines as he uncovers the enduring mysteries, folklore, and possible UFO encounters woven throughout Japan's history.

Somewhere in the Skies is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

To learn more, visit: www.somewhereintheskies.com

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