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 Dec 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
A Bedtime Story: Kachi-Kachi Mountain (PG Version) (Ep. 24)
Episode 24 of Uncanny Japan is a story, a Bedtime Story. Here I read to you my retelling and reimagining of a classic Japanese folktale Kachi Kachi Yama (Kachi Kachi Mountain). There are quite a few v...
11 Okt 201829min
Kuchisake-onna: The Slit-Mouthed Woman (Ep. 23)
I've had quite a few requests via email, DMs, and reviews for a show on Japanese urban legends. This episode is in answer to those requests. Here are two urban myths that have always intrigued me: The...
20 Sep 201815min
Great Screaming and Uninterrupted Pain More Buddhist Hells (Ep. 22)
Here are the last four Buddhist Hot Hells for your enjoyment. There is extreme heat, much screaming, and a flaming rooster. Also, I was able to catch a local summer festival on the binaural mics. That...
3 Sep 201812min
Screaming and Crushing in Four Buddhist Hells (Ep. 21)
The first of two podcasts this month, Episode 21: Screaming and Crushing in Four Buddhist Hells, is just about that, four of the eight Buddhist Hot Hells. Come listen to what happens when you kill a m...
14 Aug 201814min
Ship Goddesses, Boat Ghosts, and Sea Monks (Funadama, Funa Yurei, Umi Bozu) (Ep. 20)
The third Monday of July is Umi no Hi (海の日), Marine Day, so this month on Uncanny Japan I decided to talk about three otherworldly ocean creatures: Ship Goddesses, Boat Ghosts, and Sea Monks. Funa dam...
19 Juli 201812min
