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    Uncanny Japan

    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

    Advertise
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    Latest Episodes:
    Chindon-ya: Eccentric Street Musicians (Ep. 92) Jan 15, 2022
    Show notes

    Who are these eccentric street musicians dressed in bright kimono playing drums, bells, clarinet, and saxophone marching down your street? What do they want?

    Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

    Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

    Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

    Credits

    Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

    Calm Dreamy Piano by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8791-calm-dreamy-piano License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Good Luck Superstitions in Japan (Ep. 91) Dec 30, 2021
    Show notes

    It's been a rough couple of years, so today let's talk about some Japanese good luck superstitions.

    Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

    Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

    Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

    Credits

    Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

    Laia by Woeha Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8710-laia License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Mayoiga: The Mysterious House You Find When You’re Lost (Ep. 90) Dec 17, 2021
    Show notes

    A mayoiga is a house that magically appears when you're lost in the forest or mountains. If you venture in, what will you find? What should you do?

    Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

    Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

    Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

    Credits

    Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

    Sneakers by Brian Holtz Music Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8666-sneakers License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

    Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoog Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loop License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

    Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

    Little Trolls by Frank Schröter Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8104-little-trolls License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Sakuragaike: A Tortured Snake-Dragon Loses it Scales, Pt 2 (Ep. 89) Dec 02, 2021
    Show notes

    Today I'll tell you part 2 of the Sakuragaike Legend (and nanafushigi!) What was waiting at the bottom of the lake? Why was the snake-dragon suffering and how did his old follower help him? Where is Kouen Ajari The Snake-Dragon now?

    Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

    Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

    Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

    Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

    Credits

    Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

    Electro Storm by Mikael Hellman Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8463-electro-storm License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Sakuragaike: A Snake-Dragon Coiled and Waiting, Part 1 (Ep. 88) Nov 16, 2021
    Show notes

    The story goes that a large snake-dragon lives at the bottom of Sakuragaike Lake. It's waiting. But where did this snake-dragon come from, and who is it waiting for? I'll tell you about this still obscure myth -- and nanafushigi -- in this episode of Uncanny Japan.

    Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

    Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

    Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

    Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

    Credits

    Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

    Electro Storm by Mikael Hellman Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8463-electro-storm License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Halloween Episode: Kokkuri Spirit Boards and WTF?! (Ep. 87) Oct 28, 2021
    Show notes

    Kokkuri or Kokkuri-san is the name for the Japanese ouija or spirit board. It's also the name for the spirit who visits during the game. For Halloween, Richard and I decided to try our hand at this super creepy pastime and you'll never believe what happens. Headphones on and buckle up!

    Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

    Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

    Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

    Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

    Credits

    Intro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

    Loose Pipes (Loopable) by Dave Deville Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8255-loose-pipes-loopable- License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Executioner by Alexander Nakarada Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8436-executioner License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Monsters In Hotel by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5421-monsters-in-hotel- License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Cinematic Background Sad by MusicLFiles Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8181-cinematic-background-sad License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Happy Boy Theme by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3855-happy-boy-theme License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Happy Boy End Theme by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3854-happy-boy-end-theme License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license royalty free Music by Giorgio Di Campo for FreeSound Music http://freesoundmusic.eu https://www.facebook.com/freemusicforyoutube/ https://youtube.com/freesoundmusic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5vk0VRxsPs

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Scary Story Time: "Go-Away Monkey" (Ep. 86) Oct 18, 2021
    Show notes

    For the spooky month of October, I'm reading my short horror story, "Go-Away Monkey" from my collection The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales. It's set in an older Japan in a small village that has been ravaged by smallpox. If you remember Episode 4 (Monkeys and Monkey Lore), you'll understand the monkey show coming to town to drive away all the bad luck and disease. But does it work?

    Written a full five years before the pandemic, it feels quite prescient to me. What do you think?

    Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

    Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

    Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

    Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

    Credits

    Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    The Most Merciless Yokai: the Korori (Ep.85) Sep 29, 2021
    Show notes

    The obscure and terrifyingly deadly yokai, the korori, ravaged Edo Japan. On today's episode I'll tell you all about it, what it really was and how foreigners were the ones who brought it to Japan.

    Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

    Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

    Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

    Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

    Credits

    Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura Taiko Warrior by Marron Fields Production

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Misemono: Edo Era Freak Shows (Ep. 84) Sep 15, 2021
    Show notes

    A misemono is like a carnival, museum, zoo, and freak show all rolled into one. Here you could see exotic animals, buy cure-all medicines, and check out mermaid mummies among many, many other thrills.

    Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

    Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

    Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

    Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

    Credits

    Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

    Happy breeze by chilledmusic Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7988-happy-breeze License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


    Ningyo: The Ugly (and Delicious!) Japanese Mermaid (Ep. 83) Aug 30, 2021
    Show notes

    A Japanese mermaid is called a ningyo (人魚) or human fish. Today I'll tell you about their history, the good, the bad, and the delicious!

    Visit the Uncanny Japan website to read the show notes and transcript.

    Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Her other shows are Uncanny Robot Podcast and The Soothing Stories Podcast. Check out her books including The Carp-Faced Boy on Amazon. If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon.

    Please join our community forum! https://japanforum.uncanny.productions/

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/

    Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

    Credits

    Intro and outro music by Julyan Ray Matsuura

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


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