Uncanny Japan

Tanabata is a Japanese festival based on the bizarre tale of two star-crossed lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi. In episode 55, I'll tell you their story, explain a little about the origins and how it's celebrated today.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Celestial Background by TwisteriumMusic Link: https://soundcloud.com/twisterium/celestial-background-besplatnaya-fonovaya-muzyka License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Waltz Of The Kindness by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6283-the-waltz-of-the-kindness License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Midsummer Sky by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4049-midsummer-sky License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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What if someone told you that you were turning into a tengu, one of those red-faced, long-nosed goblins? What would they mean? In this episode of Uncanny Japan, I talk about a handful of Japanese sayings that are based on youkai.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Summer Ambient Piano by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5504-summer-ambient-piano- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Medicine by WinnieTheMoog Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6256-medicine License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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In Japan "Kagome Kagome" is an old children's game and the song that goes along with it. It's interesting because the mysterious lyrics have several different interpretations and most of them are pretty grim.

So listen to episode 53 of Uncanny Japan where I talk about this creepy song and several of the theories behind those odd lyrics.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

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Ushi no Koku Mairi means visiting a shrine at the hour of the ox (between 1:00 and 3:00 am). It also means going there so you can put a curse on your enemy. Deriving from the legend of Hashi Hime (The Bridge Princess) and the Noh play Kanawa (The Iron Crown), this peculiar and frightening way of cursing those who have wronged you is definitely next level.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Kathrin by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/430-kathrin License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Marimba Thriller by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5335-marimba-thriller- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pixel Peeker Polka – faster by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4220-pixel-peeker-polka—faster License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Looking at the calendar, I see we're fast approaching Golden Week in Japan, and I wanted to share some of my favorite traditions from the most exciting holiday of all: Kodomo no Hi, or Children's Day.

In this episode, I explore three fascinating cultural discoveries that have captured my imagination. First, there's the ancient practice of iris baths, or shōbuyu - a beautiful tradition where families soak iris leaves in hot baths on May 5th. The idea is that the sword-shaped leaves and lovely fragrance will bring health, strength, and even samurai spirit to children. I'll share exactly how to create your own iris bath if you're curious.

Then I dive into the legendary tales of Kintarō, the Golden Boy - a chubby, naked kid with supernatural strength who was raised by a mountain witch and fathered by a red dragon. While I'm honestly not the biggest Kintarō fan (he's a bit too perfect for my taste), his origin stories are absolutely wild and worth exploring.

I also talk about the regional differences in Children's Day sweets - from kashiwa mochi wrapped in oak leaves to chimaki tied in bamboo. Plus, I discovered a fascinating tidbit about how the famous ukiyo-e artist Utamarō used innocent Kintarō scenes to cleverly work around government censorship in the late 1700s.

What I find most interesting about Kodomo no Hi is how it evolved from the old Boys' Day (Tango no Sekku) into today's Children's Day, and how these beautiful traditions connect families to centuries of cultural wisdom about raising healthy, strong children.

Come with me as I explore these hidden corners of Japanese culture - from practical bath rituals you can try at home to legendary folk heroes with mountain witch mothers. It's the kind of cultural treasure hunting I love to share with you here on Uncanny Japan.

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Credits

Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

About SpectreVision Radio

SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast network at the intersection between the arts and the uncanny, featuring a tapestry of shows exploring creativity, the esoteric, and the unknown. We're a community for creators and fans vibrating around common curiosities, shared interests and persistent passions.

spectrevisionradio.com
linktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial

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I want to celebrate my fiftieth episode by reading my yokai story, "Sand Walls, Paper Doors" from my book A Robe of Feathers and Other Stories. This is the one that got me my book deal, my agent, and my best friend. Also, yokai, lots of yokai.

Thank you for listening, sharing, and reaching out these past three and a half years. I'm looking forward to the next fifty episodes!

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4397-sovereign License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Bicycle by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3434-bicycle License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Luminous Rain by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4007-luminous-rain License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Heartbreaking by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3863-heartbreaking License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Thinking Music by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4522-thinking-music License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Umbrella Pants by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4559-umbrella-pants License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Clear Waters by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3516-clear-waters License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cryptic Sorrow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3568-cryptic-sorrow License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Immersed by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3900-immersed License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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An amabie is a Japanese yokai that is said to have predicted a plague and then encouraged people to share its image to protect them from that previously predicted plague. Or something like that.

The amabie has recently been re-remembered all over Japanese social media with people posting their own adorable depictions of that long-haired, beak-faced, three-footed creature and wishing the current plague (Covid-19) to go away.

But that's not the half of it. Imagine my surprise when I learned of rumors about a mysterious glowing object was appearing just off the coast near my house. A little research and some very good friends and I was able to track down the when and where and sneak over in the dead of night and see what I could see.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A kappa is a small, scrawny, aquatic yokai with a parrot-like beak, a tortoise-style shell on its back, and an indentation on the top of its head full of water. They're found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and even coastal areas. But what do they do?

While recently kappa have been rebranded to be very kawaii, that hasn't always been the case. Listen to find out how heinous these slimy critters can be.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever been sleeping and had a bout of kanashibari (sleep paralysis)? Then during that surreal--most likely frightening--experience, have you ever had what feels like a ghost child crawling on top of you? Or maybe late one night when you're all alone, you've heard an unseen child giggling. Perhaps you've heard tiny footsteps running across the floor, or found little footprints on your floor or handprints on the wall. If so, you've probably just experienced a zashiki warashi (a guest room child). But don't worry, they're not bad news. In fact, they're the bringer of good luck and fortune.

Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever woken up frozen, unable to move or speak? You're wide awake—or at least you think you are. You can hear everything around you, but you're completely paralyzed.

In Japan, this experience has a name: kanashibari. And the explanations? They involve a fierce Buddhist deity with a very specific tool, and a freaky-looking yōkai with a thing for pillows.

Come with me as I explore what happens when sleep paralysis meets Japanese folklore.

[Please Note: Some of the links are affiliate links (both Amazon and other). This means that at no cost to you, if you use and purchase through them I receive a small compensation. This is paid by the retailer. It also helps support me and my artistic endeavors. Thank you.]

Music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast network at the intersection between the arts and the uncanny, featuring a tapestry of shows exploring creativity, the esoteric, and the unknown. We're a community for creators and fans vibrating around common curiosities, shared interests and persistent passions.

spectrevisionradio.com

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