- 18
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Cadence
- 2025
- First episode
About Folklore, Tales and Myths
Before there was written history, there were stories. Stories told around a campfire to explain the stars, tales whispered to children at bedtime, and sacred myths that shaped entire civilizations. Welcome to Folklore, Tales and Myths, the podcast that journeys into the heart of humanity's most enduring narratives.
- Publisher
- CTDev
- Category
- fiction
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 17 Sept 2025
- Latest episode
- 26 Nov 2025
Latest episodes
18 episodes in the feed.
26 Nov 2025
Japanese Folklore. The Tongue-Cut Sparrow: The spiritual symbolism of the Shita-kiri Suzume folktale.
The discovery that this "fairy tale" was treated as a legal reality in 1661, appearing on a government land dispute map in Gunma Prefecture, which suggests the story served as a codified warning about interacting with Marebito—visiting deities disguised as animals to test the human soul. In this episode, we explore Shita-kiri Suzume (The Tongue-Cut Sparrow), one of Japan's most enduring morality tales. We move beyond the sanitized children's version to uncover a narrative deeply rooted in Edo-period sociology and Buddhist ethics. We discuss the story's surprising connection to a specific location in Isobe Onsen, validated by a 17th-century shogunate map, and analyze the sparrow not just as a bird, but as a Marebito—a visiting spirit that judges human households. We also examine the brutal original endings involving the "Mean Old Woman" and the symbolic significance of the wicker baskets.
17 Nov 2025
The Story of O-Tei: A Vow Stronger Than Death
In this podcast, we explore "The Story of O-Tei," a well-known tale from Lafcadio Hearn's Kwaidan. The story is about a young woman who, on her deathbed, promises to be reborn and find her beloved again. This episode goes beyond the surface-level romance to look at the tale's mechanics. We will discuss how O-Tei's promise is transformed into a binding karmic contract through the specific, ritualistic act of her fiancé, Nagao, writing a physical vow and placing it within the household Buddhist shrine, the butsudan. This podcast also examines the story's historical context in the Edo and Meiji periods, its likely origins as an oral tale told by Hearn's wife, Koizumi Setsu, and the deeper cultural themes of shūnen (clinging obsession) and inga (karma). Finally, we'll touch on the tale's haunting conclusion and what it reveals about Japanese perceptions of love, death, and memory.
10 Nov 2025
Why the Norse Cosmos Was Fated for Destruction
The Norse universe wasn't built for peace. Its creation from a murdered giant (Ymir) means that chaos is an inherent, inescapable part of the world, making the final, violent doom of Ragnarok an inevitability from the very beginning. In this podcast, we explore the complete architecture of the Norse universe. This isn't just a map of the Nine Realms; it's an analysis of a cosmos that was, by its very design, destined for destruction. This episode begins with the creation myth, moving from the void of Ginnungagap to the clash of fire and ice. We'll discuss how the gods, led by Odin, didn't create the world from nothing, but violently shaped it from the corpse of the giant Ymir. The podcast explains how this foundational act embeds chaos into the very fabric of existence, setting up the central, inescapable conflict of the mythology. We then explore Yggdrasil, the great cosmic tree, as the axis that connects all of life. We'll look at its three roots, the Norns weaving fate at its base, and Odin's sacrifice for wisdom. The episode also provides a survey of the Nine Realms, analyzing them not just as places, but as symbolic spaces of order (innangard) versus the wild (utangard). Finally, this podcast discusses how this entire structure—built from violence and defined by constant struggle—provides the mythological basis for Ragnarok, the world's prophesied doom.
10 Nov 2025
The conceptual evolution of the "demon," from the neutral Greek daimon to the malevolent entity of Christian theology
In this podcast, we explore the history of the "demon." It's a word we all know, but its meaning has changed dramatically. This episode traces that journey. We start in ancient Greece, where the daimon wasn't evil, but a neutral intermediary spirit, or for philosophers like Socrates, an inner guiding voice. So how did it become the purely evil entity we think of today? This episode explains the critical transformation during the Second Temple period, showing how a specific Greek translation, the influence of Zoroastrian dualism, and the apocalyptic myths of 1 Enoch (the Watchers and Nephilim) combined to create the "demon" found in the New Testament. We'll then discuss how Christian theologians like Augustine and Aquinas codified this idea of a fallen angel, which led to rituals of expulsion (exorcism) and the legal framework for the witch-hunts (Malleus Maleficarum). Finally, the podcast explores how modern occultism (like the Goetia) and psychology (Carl Jung's "Shadow") have re-interpreted the concept, effectively retrieving the original Socratic idea of the daimon as an internal force to be integrated, not expelled.
8 Nov 2025
Tsuru no Ongaeshi: A Japanese Folktale of Love, Sacrifice, and Greed
The tale is not just about a magical reward, but a tragic warning. It explores how human greed (or curiosity) corrupts a supernatural gift, forcing the crane wife to literally unmake herself (plucking her own feathers) to satisfy a debt that escalates from kindness to materialism, resulting in an irreversible loss. This podcast episode explores the famous Japanese folktale of Tsuru no Ongaeshi, often known as "The Grateful Crane" or "The Crane Wife." The story begins with a poor man who saves a wounded crane. Soon after, a mysterious woman arrives at his home, and they marry. She begins to weave a beautiful, magical cloth, but makes him promise never to look at her while she works. This episode discusses the narrative of the tale and its variations. We explore the powerful symbolism of the crane in Japanese culture as a figure of fidelity and longevity. The podcast also examines the story's core conflict: the collision between pure, sacrificial love and the corrupting influence of human greed or curiosity, which ultimately leads to the tragic climax. We will also touch upon the tale's modern legacy, including its adaptation in the play Yūzuru and its influence on other media.
3 Nov 2025
Japanese Folklore: Can Grief Turn a Man Into a Demon?
The idea that the purest love and most profound grief can corrupt a holy man into a monster, and that the same obsessive energy, when redirected, can become the path to salvation. In this episode of the podcast, we explore one of the most haunting tales from 18th-century Japan, "The Blue Hood," from the famous collection Ugetsu Monogatari. The podcast begins by setting the scene in the Edo period, a time of peace where supernatural stories, or kaidan, flourished. We then delve into the narrative of a respected Buddhist abbot whose all-consuming love for a young acolyte turns into a horrifying obsession after the boy's death. This episode recounts how his inconsolable grief leads him to commit a taboo act, transforming him into a flesh-eating demon that terrorizes a local village. The discussion in the podcast follows the arrival of a traveling Zen master, Kaian, who confronts the demon not with violence, but with profound wisdom. We examine his unique method of salvation: providing the demon-priest with a Zen kōan (a paradoxical riddle) and a symbolic blue hood to channel the creature's obsessive energy away from destruction and toward enlightenment. The episode concludes by tracing the legacy of this powerful story, exploring how its themes of psychological transformation and karmic consequence have influenced modern Japanese media, including the manga series xxxHolic and the video game Nioh 2.
24 Oct 2025
The legend of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his loyal warrior monk, Benkei.
The paradox that Yoshitsune's military genius and immense popularity, which won a war for his clan, were the very qualities that led his own brother to betray and destroy him. This podcast episode delves into one of Japan's most foundational legends: the story of the brilliant general Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his fiercely loyal warrior monk, Benkei. The episode explores their iconic first meeting on Kyoto's Gojō Bridge, their pivotal roles in the Genpei War, and the innovative military tactics that made Yoshitsune a national hero. However, the podcast focuses on the central tragedy of the tale—how Yoshitsune's very success and popularity became a threat to his politically ambitious brother, Yoritomo, leading to a devastating betrayal. We will cover their years as fugitives and their legendary final stand, which culminated in Benkei's famous 'Standing Death.' This episode examines the themes of loyalty, honor, and betrayal that cemented their status as archetypal figures in Japanese culture.
14 Oct 2025
The legend of the Ganjō-ji temple mermaid mummy and the story of the nun and the page.
The popular idea of a "ghostly nun" at Ganjō-ji is a modern myth; the true, ancient legend is a tragic story of a mermaid who fell in love with a human nun, only to be killed and mummified by jealous villagers, becoming a cursed relic. In this episode of our podcast, we investigate a story that begins as a simple ghost tale but unfolds into a complex and tragic piece of Japanese folklore. We explore the legend of Ganjō-ji temple, moving past the modern myth of a vengeful nun's spirit to uncover the authentic story of a mermaid mummy enshrined within its walls. This podcast delves into the core narrative of a beautiful nun and a mysterious young page who is revealed to be a ningyo, or Japanese mermaid. We discuss how the villagers' jealousy and fear of the unknown led to the creature's violent death and its transformation into a cursed relic that tormented its owners for years. The episode also examines the unique role of the ningyo in Japanese mythology, contrasting it with the Western mermaid, and looks at the scientific analysis of similar artifacts from the Edo period.
12 Oct 2025
Japanese Mythology: Yamato Takeru, Tragic Hero or Imperial Symbol?
The stark contrast between the two earliest accounts of his life: the Kojiki, which portrays him as a tragic hero exiled by a fearful father, and the Nihon Shoki, which depicts him as a perfectly loyal warrior-prince, revealing how myth was shaped for political purposes in ancient Japan. In this episode of our podcast, we explore the foundational Japanese legend of Prince Yamato Takeru, a warrior whose epic story is a cornerstone of the nation's mythology. This podcast will guide you through the core narrative of his life, from a brutal act in his youth that led to his exile, to his cunning conquests in the west and east using the sacred sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. We will discuss the profound sacrifice of his consort, Ototachibana-hime, and the moment of hubris that led to his tragic downfall. The central focus of this episode is the fascinating difference between the two primary sources for his tale. We analyze why the Kojiki presents him as a deeply human, tragic figure, while the Nihon Shoki, written just eight years later, recasts him as an idealized symbol of imperial loyalty. The podcast also examines the deep symbolism of key elements like the divine sword and the hero's final transformation into a white bird, and traces his enduring legacy in modern Japan through shrines, festivals, and popular culture, including appearances in film, anime, and video games.
12 Oct 2025
The story of the Kasane-ga-fuchi curse, its historical context, and modern legacy.
The tale of Kasane exists in two powerful forms: one as a generational curse haunting a single bloodline, and another, older version where a ghost's vengeance is not against one murderer, but against an entire village that was complicit in her death through their prejudice and silence. In this episode, we explore one of Japan's most haunting tales: the curse of Kasane-ga-fuchi. This podcast delves into the two distinct narratives that share this name. The first is a famous generational tragedy of a samurai's sin, where a murdered moneylender's curse is passed down through his killer's bloodline, dooming his descendants to madness and violence. The second is an older, folkloric version where the ghost of a murdered woman seeks revenge not just on her killer, but on the entire village that stood by and did nothing, exposing a deep-seated social cruelty. This podcast examines the historical context of the Edo period that shaped these stories, from the social anxieties between the samurai and merchant classes to the rise of the ghost story as popular entertainment. We will also discuss the pivotal role of master storyteller San'yūtei Enchō, who modernized the tale for a new era. Finally, the episode looks at the story's enduring legacy, including its many film adaptations and its brilliant reinvention in the modern psychological manga, Kasane.
8 Oct 2025
The legend of Emperor Sutoku's transformation into a vengeful spirit.
How a rejected prayer, a holy scripture written in blood, became a 700-year curse that toppled an empire. In this episode of our podcast, we explore one of Japan's most powerful and enduring legends: the story of Emperor Sutoku. We begin by examining the political betrayals that led to his defeat in the Hōgen Rebellion and his subsequent exile. The podcast then details his attempt at spiritual reconciliation by painstakingly creating holy sutras written in his own blood, and the court's fateful decision to reject this offering. This rejection is the turning point that transforms a pious emperor into a vengeful spirit, or onryō, who unleashes a curse to bring down the imperial family. This episode discusses how subsequent historical events, including natural disasters and the rise of the samurai class, were seen as the direct fulfillment of his prophecy. We also look into the cultural concepts of karmic retribution (inga) and the appeasement of angry spirits (goryō shinkō), which culminated in Sutoku's eventual deification. Finally, the podcast touches on his modern legacy and why even 20th-century leaders took steps to appease his spirit.
8 Oct 2025
The myth of Hoori and Hoderi (Luck of the Sea and Luck of the Mountains)
The myth of Hoori and Hoderi is not just a fairytale about sibling rivalry but a sophisticated political allegory created to provide divine justification for the Yamato imperial court's historical subjugation of the Hayato people. This episode delves into one of Japan's foundational myths: the story of Hoori and Hoderi, the divine brothers known as the Luck of the Mountains and the Luck of the Sea. The narrative begins with a simple exchange of magical tools that leads to a lost fishhook, a journey to the undersea palace of a Dragon King, and a marriage to a sea goddess. However, this podcast explores the deeper political meaning behind the tale. We will discuss how this story, first recorded in the 8th-century chronicles Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, functions as a political charter to legitimize the rule of the Yamato imperial family. In this episode, we analyze the characters of Hoori as an ancestor of the imperial line and his defeated brother Hoderi as the mythological ancestor of the subjugated Hayato people. The discussion also covers the rich symbolism of key objects like the magical tide-jewels and the irreplaceable fishhook, as well as the myth's lasting legacy in modern Japan through Shinto shrines and local festivals.
6 Oct 2025
The Tale of the Straw Millionaire (Warashibe Chōja)
The story's evolution from a Buddhist parable, where wealth is a reward for piety and selfless compassion, into the secular "trading quest" trope found in modern video games. In this podcast, we explore the Japanese folktale of the Straw Millionaire, or Warashibe Chōja. The episode begins with a telling of the core narrative: the story of a poor but devout man who, following a divine message from the Bodhisattva Kannon, trades a single piece of straw through a series of compassionate exchanges that ultimately lead him to immense wealth. This episode delves into the tale's historical origins, tracing it back to 12th-century Buddhist setsuwa collections like the Konjaku Monogatarishū. We will discuss the story's original purpose as a parable illustrating key Buddhist principles such as karma (inga), divine grace, and the importance of selfless action. Finally, the podcast examines the tale's modern legacy, analyzing how its compelling narrative structure was secularized and adapted to become the blueprint for the "trading quest" trope common in video games.
6 Oct 2025
The horror tale of the Hashihime of Uji (The Bridge Princess)
The idea that the Hashihime was not a passive victim who became a ghost, but a living woman who willfully transformed herself into a demon through a horrifying ritual to enact her own revenge. In this episode of our podcast, we explore the terrifying Japanese legend of the Hashihime, the Bridge Princess of Uji. Unlike typical ghost stories about wronged spirits, this is a tale of terrifying agency. We'll discuss how the story begins not with a death, but with a choice: a scorned noblewoman, consumed by jealousy, performs an arduous ritual to willfully forge herself into a living demon. This podcast delves into the narrative's evolution, tracing the Hashihime's journey from a benign guardian goddess to a pining lover in classical poetry, and finally to the monstrous figure of rage recorded in the epic Tale of the Heike. We will also examine the story's rich cultural context in the Heian period and its surprising modern legacy, where the demon born of a broken relationship is now worshipped as a goddess of divorce.
2 Oct 2025
The Real-Life Horror Behind the Ghost of Yotsuya
The story of Oiwa's ghost is a famous tale of domestic horror, but it's also a dark reflection of the real-life terror and deadly rivalries within the Shogun's Harem, where thousands of women competed for the favor of a single man. In this episode of our podcast, we explore Japan's most famous ghost story, the Yotsuya Kaidan, and the legend of its vengeful spirit, Oiwa. This podcast will first introduce the archetype of the onryō, or wronged woman, a powerful figure in Japanese folklore who returns from death to seek justice. We will then narrate the tragic story of Oiwa—a loyal wife betrayed, disfigured by poison, and murdered by her ambitious husband, only to return as a terrifying specter. The episode examines the historical context of the tale, which originated in Edo-period Japan and was based on real-life events, giving the supernatural horror a chilling connection to reality. This podcast also delves into the story's deeper themes, such as Buddhist concepts of karma and the way supernatural power was the only form of agency available to powerless women. Finally, the discussion will trace Oiwa's lasting legacy, from the "curse" that follows its stage productions to her influence on modern J-horror icons like Sadako from The Ring. We will also explore how the story's themes of jealousy and poison mirror the real-world intrigues of the shogun's harem, the Ōoku.
2 Oct 2025
The Purity and Power of Tawara Tōda's Arrow (My Lord Bag of Rice)
The idea that a monster impervious to normal weapons was defeated not by a magical sword, but by the hero's own saliva, revealing a deep connection between spiritual purity and martial victory in Japanese belief. In this episode of our podcast, we explore the classic Japanese legend of Tawara Tōda, also known as "My Lord Bag of Rice." This podcast delves into the story of the brave warrior Fujiwara no Hidesato, who encounters a mysterious dragon on a bridge over Lake Biwa. We'll discuss his quest to defeat the monstrous giant centipede, the Ōmukade, that terrorizes the Dragon King's underwater palace. A key focus of this episode is the analysis of the battle's climax, where the hero uses an unconventional weapon—an arrow coated in his own saliva—and what this reveals about the themes of purity and divine favor in Japanese folklore. Furthermore, this podcast examines the historical roots of the tale, connecting the mythical hero to the real 10th-century commander he was based on. We will also explore the deep symbolism of the story's setting and characters, from the sacredness of Lake Biwa to the cultural roles of dragons and centipedes. Finally, the episode touches on the enduring legacy of Tawara Tōda in modern media, including references in video games and anime.
1 Oct 2025
The tale of the Hanged Woman of the Pass: Japanese Folklore and the Underworld's Deadly Debt
In this episode of our podcast, we explore the chilling Japanese tale of the Hanged Woman of the Pass. We'll discuss how this story is not a single legend, but a fascinating combination of two distinct traditions: a specific performance piece from the oral art of Rakugo storytelling called Yūrei no Tsuji (The Ghost's Crossroads), and the broader folkloric belief in the Itsuki, or "strangling ghost." This podcast will delve into the narrative of a traveler who encounters the spirit of a wronged woman at a lonely mountain pass. We'll also examine the supernatural motivation behind her haunting, which is rooted in a folk-Buddhist concept of the underworld where a soul who died by hanging must find a replacement to be freed. The episode further analyzes the story's historical context in Edo-period Japan, its powerful themes of social injustice and karmic consequences, and the enduring legacy of its central figure—the vengeful female ghost, or onryō—in modern horror.
17 Sept 2025
The Legend of Momotaro, the Peach Boy
In this episode of our podcast, we explore one of Japan's most famous and beloved folktales: the story of Momotarō, the Peach Boy. We begin by recounting the master narrative known to children across Japan—the tale of a boy born from a giant peach who befriends a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant to vanquish a band of ogres on a distant island. This podcast then delves into the story's rich history, examining significant variations, including an older version where an elderly couple is rejuvenated by the magical peach. We will discuss the tale's deep geographical roots in Okayama Prefecture, tracing its origins to an even older legend of a prince and an ogre, which may represent a historical conflict. The episode also analyzes the story's core themes and symbolism, from the significance of the peach to the scholarly interpretations of folklorist Kunio Yanagita. Finally, this podcast explores Momotarō's modern legacy, from its use as a tool of wartime propaganda to its enduring presence in contemporary pop culture, including popular manga, anime, and video games. Tags:Japanese Folklore, Momotaro, Peach Boy, Japanese Mythology, Kunio Yanagita, Okayama, Oni
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