The Mysterious Japan

Episode 36: Oiwa's Revenge

This is Part 2 of the ghost story Oiwa, one of the three great ghost stories of Japan. In this fright filled conclusion, hear the fate of Oiwa and how her ghost takes revenge on each of the plotters.

Episode 35: Oiwa Part One

The Yotsuya Kaidan is one of the three great ghost stories of Japan. The story is often truncated in English without the full horror of Oiwa's story and and betrayal that turned her into a vengeful ghost. Listen to her sad and terrifying tale three hundred years in the making.

Episode 34: The Peony Lantern

Listen to this retelling of Otsuya and the Peony Lantern, considered to be one of the three greatest ghost stories in Japan. They say that death cannot stop love, but in Japan, ghosts can kill for love.

Episode 33: The Night of 100 Horror Stories

August is the time of ghosts and the dead rising in Japan. Today we explore the tradition of the night of 100 ghost stories in Japan and hear four horror tales based on this tradition from various geographies in Japan.

Episode 32: Japan's Lake Monsters

Japan has a history of lake monsters inhabiting its lakes. Like the Lock Ness Monster, some appear to be surviving plesiosaurs, while others may be something entirely different. In this episode, we take a look at the stories behind Issie, Mossie, Hama-chan, and other lake cryptids of Japan.

Episode 31: Ikiningyo, the Living Doll, Part 2

The shocking and terrifying conclusion to one of the infamous haunted doll stories in Japan, responsible for more deaths, injuries and terror than the Annabelle doll in America.

Episode 30: Ikiningyo Part 1

This episode tells the story of the Ikiningyo, or Living Doll. Generally considered the most horrific of documented doll possessions in modern Japanese history, this tale is part one of the experience of comedian Inagawa, whose horrific experiences with this doll span over two decades. Though perhaps the most well known haunted doll story in Japan, Inagawa's story has never been fully brought to an English speaking audience until now. Taken from his writings and interviews, and from the studio and audience witnesses, this tale rivals anything spawned by the most demented Hollywood scriptwriters.

Episode 29: Haunted Dolls of Japan

Every nation has tales of haunted or cursed dolls. Japan is no exception. This episode explores stories of an urban legend of Licca-chan dolls, Okiku the haunted doll, and Wara-Ningyo, the straw dolls used for curses.

Episode 28: Teke Teke and Kuchisake no Onna

Three urban legends in Japan strike fear into the hearts of middle and high schoolers. Hear these legends and their mysterious origins: Teke Teke, The Slit-Faced woman, and Kashima-san.

Episode 27: The Japanese Bigfoot Part 2--Hibagon

This episode examines stories of the Hibagon, the Japanese Bigfoot believed to reside in the mountains north of Hiroshima.