Living in another country sure can be interesting. Is being foreigners in Japan our whole personality? I guess so. Stick around for silly stories (from us and you, the listeners) about work, dating, language learning, embarrassing moments, current events, and deep dives on Japan-related topics we’re curious to learn more about.
Real Hauntings in Japan | Conbini Cult Episode 117
Our second edition of Halloween 2026. We’ve curated some more real life hauntings to chill your bones and keep you awake at night. Sleep tight!
Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com (mailto:conbinicultpod@gmail.com)
Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms
Jingle by SATSUKI
Words mentioned/useful words:
神隠し kami kakushi - concealed by the gods, spirited away
References/sources:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Kyoto/comments/1hboojl/has_anyone_had_any_strange_experiences_in_fushimi/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/Kyoto/comments/1hboojl/has_anyone_had_any_strange_experiences_in_fushimi/)
https://www.reddit.com/r/ParanormalEncounters/comments/1uzo0as/weird_vacation_experience_in_japan/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/ParanormalEncounters/comments/1uzo0as/weird_vacation_experience_in_japan/)
https://www.reddit.com/r/Kyoto/comments/15ggkdb/teleporting_old_lady_in_pontocho_alley/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/Kyoto/comments/15ggkdb/teleporting_old_lady_in_pontocho_alley/)
https://www.reddit.com/r/Ghosts/comments/4mxmkh/japans_haunted_locations_ugh_tunnels/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/Ghosts/comments/4mxmkh/japans_haunted_locations_ugh_tunnels/)
https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/1esmv96/experiences_with_japanese_ghosts/?share_id=G1DdQQt_U-IT8niYqGBPK&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&utm_source=share&utm_term=1 (https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/1esmv96/experiences_with_japanese_ghosts/?share_id=G1DdQQt_U-IT8niYqGBPK&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&utm_source=share&utm_term=1)
Time stamps
00:00 creepy experience in Tokyo
05:45 spirited away at Fushimi Inari
21:11 unexpected visitor in Tokyo
26:12 teleporting ghost of Pontocho
31:15 haunted tunnels
39:02 something followed us from the shrine
43:23 experiences with Japanese ghosts
11 Oct 2026
The Dark Side of Sumo Wrestling | Conbini Cult Episode 116
Sumo is one of the most renowned sports in Japan, but every industry has a dark side too. From hazing incidents, ab*se, cover ups, gambling ties, and health risks like heart disease and CTE, let’s learn more about sumo’s dark underbelly.
Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com (mailto:conbinicultpod@gmail.com)
Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms
Jingle by SATSUKI
Words mentioned/useful words:
横綱 Yokozuna (grand champion)
関取 Sekitori (upper tier)
References/sources:
Japan’s police see no evil: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-nov-09-fg-autopsy9-story.html (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-nov-09-fg-autopsy9-story.html)
Sumo diet: https://sumowrestlingshow.jp/1576/ (https://sumowrestlingshow.jp/1576/)
CTE: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/feb/06/conservative-world-of-sumo-slow-to-take-action-on-concussion (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/feb/06/conservative-world-of-sumo-slow-to-take-action-on-concussion)
Sumo wrestler dies one month after suffering head injury in Japan: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/30/sumo-wrestler-dies-one-month-after-suffering-a-concussion-in-japan (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/30/sumo-wrestler-dies-one-month-after-suffering-a-concussion-in-japan)
SAT-691 Lifestyle, Comorbidities, and Longevity of Sumo Wrestlers
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12544268/#:~:text=Sumo%20wrestlers%20eat%20massive%20quantities%20of%20high%2Dprotein,average%20body%20mass%20index%20over%2047%20kg%2Fm%C2%B2 (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12544268/#:~:text=Sumo%20wrestlers%20eat%20massive%20quantities%20of%20high%2Dprotein,average%20body%20mass%20index%20over%2047%20kg%2Fm%C2%B2).
The Structure of Sumo
https://www.sumotalk.com/structure.htm#:~:text=Professional%20sumo%20consists%20of%20approximately%20550%20rikishi,top%20two%20divisions%2D%2DMakuuchi%20and%20Juryo%2D%2Dare%20called%20%22sekitori.%22 (https://www.sumotalk.com/structure.htm#:~:text=Professional%20sumo%20consists%20of%20approximately%20550%20rikishi,top%20two%20divisions%2D%2DMakuuchi%20and%20Juryo%2D%2Dare%20called%20%22sekitori.%22)
Jail for Sumo bashing mastermind
https://www.abc.net.au/am/archive/articles/2009/05/30/s2585256.htm (https://www.abc.net.au/am/archive/articles/2009/05/30/s2585256.htm)
Brutal beating death exposes sumo's dark side
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23553832 (https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23553832)
Sumo grand champion Harumafuji felled by assault allegations
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/nov/29/sumo-grand-champion-harumafuji-felled-by-assault-allegations (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/nov/29/sumo-grand-champion-harumafuji-felled-by-assault-allegations)
Sumo wrestler Takanoiwa retiring after allegedly assaulting fellow wrestler
https://www.espn.com/olympics/wrestling/story/_/id/25474514/sumo-wrestler-takanoiwa-retiring-allegedly-assaulting-fellow-wrestler (https://www.espn.com/olympics/wrestling/story/_/id/25474514/sumo-wrestler-takanoiwa-retiring-allegedly-assaulting-fellow-wrestler)
SUMO BOUT FIXING: HISTORY, INCENTIVES AND THE 2010-2011 MATCH-RIGGING SCANDAL
https://factsanddetails.com/japan/cat21/sub138/item1779.html (https://factsanddetails.com/japan/cat21/sub138/item1779.html)
Sumo wrestling hit by match-fixing scandal
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/02/japan-sumo-wrestling-match-fixing (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/02/japan-sumo-wrestling-match-fixing)
Stable masters gave front-row seats to mob
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2010/05/27/national/stable-masters-gave-front-row-seats-to-mob/ (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2010/05/27/national/stable-masters-gave-front-row-seats-to-mob/)
JSA must live up to its words
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2010/09/14/editorials/jsa-must-live-up-to-its-words/ (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2010/09/14/editorials/jsa-must-live-up-to-its-words/)
Michinoku-Beya Violence Scandal Update
https://tachiai.org/2023/06/24/michinoku-beya-violence-scandal-update/ (https://tachiai.org/2023/06/24/michinoku-beya-violence-scandal-update/)
Ban on women: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/12/japan-pm-sumo-wrestling-ban-women (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/12/japan-pm-sumo-wrestling-ban-women)
https://sumowrestlingshow.jp/1979/ (https://sumowrestlingshow.jp/1979/)
Time stamps
00:00 2007 hazing death + intro
06:20 health risks
16:18 hierarchy & ranking
22:38 bullying, hazing, abuse
29:20 match fixing, yakuza, gambling
33:10 why are women banned
4 Oct 2026
Forbidden Games & Spooky Tales from Japan | Conbini Cult Episode 115
Would you live in an apartment with discounted rent if something tragic had happened there prior? Would you be willing to ride an elevator alone to another world? Or risk your own safety to deliver a cursed talisman to your enemies? Let’s learn about stigmatized properties in Japan (a very real thing), along with some forbidden games and ghost stories. Happy October!
Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com (mailto:conbinicultpod@gmail.com)
Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms
Jingle by SATSUKI
Words mentioned/useful words:
事故物件 jiko bukken - stigmatized property
References/sources:
Jiko bukken: https://suumo.jp/baikyaku/guide/entry/jikobukken (https://suumo.jp/baikyaku/guide/entry/jikobukken)
https://www.osoujiyasan.jp/jikobukken/column/jikobukken-sale-price (https://www.osoujiyasan.jp/jikobukken/column/jikobukken-sale-price)
https://www.reddit.com/r/ParanormalEncounters/comments/1vb82qm/my_little_sister_just_moved_to_rural_japan_and/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/ParanormalEncounters/comments/1vb82qm/my_little_sister_just_moved_to_rural_japan_and/)
Elevator game: https://ihorror.com/elevator-game-rules-how-to-play/ (https://ihorror.com/elevator-game-rules-how-to-play/)
Someone who played it: https://www.reddit.com/r/scarystories/comments/ik4qf9/i_played_the_elevator_game/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/scarystories/comments/ik4qf9/i_played_the_elevator_game/)
https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/kotoribako/ (https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/kotoribako/)
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/10h7wqz/anyone_here_lived_in_jiko_bukken_or/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/10h7wqz/anyone_here_lived_in_jiko_bukken_or/)
https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/comments/142jf8w/anyone_have_any_ghost_stories/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/comments/142jf8w/anyone_have_any_ghost_stories/)
https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/comments/1j37zgn/have_you_ever_experienced_something_paranormal_in/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/comments/1j37zgn/have_you_ever_experienced_something_paranormal_in/)
Time stamps
00:00 stigmatized property
08:59 the elevator game
19:29 kotoribako
25:22 I’ve never been so happy to leave a town
29:26 living in a stigmatized property
32:17 creepy apartment
34:50 ghost is pissing me off
37:52 little sister haunted in rural Japan
42:34 Tokyo execution ground
45:25 don’t forget your greetings
51:20 time slip in the rice field
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
4.6 / 5
34 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 57 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
83
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
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