Uncanny Japan Podcast By SpectreVision Radio cover art

Uncanny Japan

Uncanny Japan

By: SpectreVision Radio
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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/spectrevision⁠Copyright ©2025 Uncanny Productions Art Literary History & Criticism Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • The Ghost-Playing Actor Who Became a REAL Vengeful Ghost: Kohada Koheiji (Ep. 191)

    The Ghost-Playing Actor Who Became a REAL Vengeful Ghost: Kohada Koheiji (Ep. 191)
    Jun 1 2026
    Not all Japanese revenge ghosts are wronged women. Meet Kohada Koheiji: a failed Edo-period actor who became famous for playing ghosts, only to be murdered, drowned, and returned as the very thing he once performed. In this episode, we explore the tangled history of the “real” Koheiji, Santō Kyōden’s gruesome tale, Nanboku’s kabuki adaptation, strange actor superstitions, severed fingers, rotten revenge, and one very silly sushi pun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    31 mins
  • All That Flows: Benzaiten, White Snakes, and Human-Headed Serpents

    All That Flows: Benzaiten, White Snakes, and Human-Headed Serpents
    May 18 2026
    In this episode of Uncanny Japan, we follow Benzaiten — also known as Benten — from her origins as Saraswati to her place among Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods. Along the way: Enoshima’s five-headed dragon, white snakes as divine messengers, snake-skin wallets, house snakes, and Ugajin, the wonderfully strange human-headed snake deity linked to rice, water, fertility, fortune, and wealth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    23 mins
  • Everyone Has a Throat Buddha / What is it and Why? -- Nodohotoke & Story Time: "The Buddha Bone" (Ep. 189)

    Everyone Has a Throat Buddha / What is it and Why? -- Nodohotoke & Story Time: "The Buddha Bone" (Ep. 189)
    May 4 2026
    Have you ever heard of the nodo-hotoke, or “throat Buddha”? In everyday Japanese, it usually refers to the Adam’s apple. But after death, especially in the context of cremation, the nodo-hotoke becomes something else entirely, the actual seat of your soul. In this episode of Uncanny Japan, I talk about the fascinating and beautiful funeral custom of gathering bones after cremation, using long chopsticks to place them into the urn from feet to head, with the nodo-hotoke placed last. I’ll also touch on the taboo against passing food from chopsticks to chopsticks, the role of the crematorium attendant, and the belief that this Buddha-shaped bone can be connected to the soul, the life lived, or rebirth into the Pure Land. After that, I read my dark story “The Buddha Bone,” originally published in Weird Horror Issue 7 by Undertow Publications. I also explain a couple of story-context words: hifuki-take, a bamboo tube used to blow into and stoke a fire, and hyottoko, the puckered-mouth comic figure associated with fire-blowing imagery. Content warning: this episode discusses death, cremation, funerary ritual, and contains a dark fictional story on those themes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
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All stars
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Okay, the first couple of minutes I thought the voice was a little creepy because I thought the narrator sounded like a snake lady. Then, after listening for 15 minutes I was super intrigued. The Japanese words that are taught in English in this podcast is such valuable information, the folklore in general is amazing and explained beautifully. I’m happy to finally find something that is both entertaining and informative. Seriously, I went through 4 bad books that were incredibly boring on Japanese folklore. I was very hesitant because I don’t listen to podcasts and thought I’d give it a try, sooo glad I did. Thank youuu!!!! 🙏🏻

Unexpectedly Good

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Absolutely loving this podcast, been a huge blessing on my days having found it, definitely recommend.

Passion, skill, thoughtful, done with love

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I love storys, everything Japan, and fun weird creatures, this podcast has everything. I love this podcast so much! I lean tones of interesting facts and Japanese words every time I listen. Iv almost listened to every episodes and can’t wait every time a new one comes out! I highly recommend this podcast if you like Japanese history, mythology, or just fun/creepy story’s this podcast is for you!

Absolutely Amazing! Yo Kai storys!

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I put it all in the title: the stories are great and well structured her voice is soothing

Well told stories, calm but engaging voice, great audio

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I’m addicted to this podcast and has become a huge part of my night going back and listening to all the older episodes.

Delightful

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