Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
Hosted by Thersa Matsuura · SpectreVision Radio
4.8from 614 ratings
- 212
- Episodes
- 30
- Transcribed
- 614
- Ratings
- Daily
- Cadence
- 2016
- First episode
- 58K
- YouTube views
About Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
Uncanny Japan is a podcast about all the more obscure corners of old Japan, from strange superstitions, cultural curiosities, to creepy creatures. Here you can discover all the lesser known gems that author Thersa Matsuura digs up while doing research for her writing. Every episode is uniquely soothing, brought to life by immersive sound design or relaxing binaural soundscapes (ocean waves, autumn crickets, rice field frogs) all recorded right here in Japan. Thersa Matsuura is a writer, folklorist, and graduate of the Clarion West workshop. Drawing on her over thirty-five years of living in Japan, she is the author of The Book of Japanese Folklore. Her horror short story collection (The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales) was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award. Her forthcoming works include the Yokai Oracle Deck (Fall, 2025) and Legends of Japanese Mythology (Eyes Wide Editions, 2026). SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast network at the intersection between the arts and the uncanny, featuring a tapestry of shows exploring the anomalous, the luminous, and the numinous. We’re a community for creators and fans vibrating around common curiosities, shared interests and persistent passions. spectrevisionradio.com linktr.ee/spectrevision
- Publisher
- SpectreVision Radio
- Category
- arts · history · society & culture
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 29 Oct 2016
- Latest episode
- 29 Sept 2026
Latest episodes
30 of 212 episodes have a transcript.
29 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Lost Wolves of Japan: Gods, Guardians, and Ghosts (Ep. 200) -from the archives
14 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
The Yōkai That Drops from the Trees *squish*: Tsurube Otoshi
31 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT
Folklore Story Time: The Sea Monster of the Oki Islands (Ep. 198)
Inside a recent episode
The Lost Wolves of Japan: Gods, Guardians, and Ghosts (Ep. 200) -from the archives
Published 29 Sept 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] They are widely scattered throughout the island as a rule, but few in any one neighborhood. So you can imagine that Ohokami were both worshipped and feared. Remember I said they were thought to be a kind of messenger of the mountain gods, the Yamakami or Yamanokami? But it was also believed that they were great protectors. It was the wolf who preyed upon boar, deer, and nasty monkeys, and the like, which were all the animals that invaded and devastated the villagers' crops. The wolves were perfectly sated on these animals, and really had no need to attack humans. Wolves were powerful protectors, and lucky too. […]
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See plansReach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- YouTube views
- 58,267
- Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 4.8 / 5
- 383 ratings
- Spotify
- 4.7 / 5
- 231 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 75 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
- Quality
- 60
- Social presence
- 91
- YouTube
- 85
- Engagement
- 97
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Questions about Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language
Who hosts Uncanny Japan - Japanese Folklore, Folktales, Myths and Language?
Thersa Matsuura host the show. Published by SpectreVision Radio.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes daily, based on its RSS feed.
Where can I read transcripts?
30 of 212 episodes have a transcript on Pod Engine. Full transcripts are available with a Pod Engine plan.
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