Show Notes for bonus episode 7 of our Podcast – The Tatoo Collector. Story Notes Fukushi Masaichi (福士政一) is an interesting man, born January 30th 1878, he lived until 1956 and had a single child by the name of Fukushi Katsunari. Now they are of interest to us as he[...]

Show Notes for bonus episode 6 of our Podcast – Proverbs. Story Notes There are many proverbs throughout Japan and so we wanted to introduce you to a few of them. 釈迦に説法 しゃかにせっぽう Translation: Teaching Buddhism to the Buddah. Trying to explain things to someone who knows more than you.   花より団子 Hana yori dango Dango[...]

Show Notes for episode 39 of our Podcast – First Antarctic Expedition. Story Notes To start off it is best to talk a little about the man behind the expedition. His name was Nobu Shirase, born originally in Akita Prefecture (so I nice little tie in with last weeks episode),[...]

Show Notes for episode 38 of our Podcast – Hachiko: The Dog Who Waited. Story Notes To tell the story of Hachiko it is no doubt also good to know a little about the man who raise him.  Now this man was known as Hidesaburō Ueno ((上野 英三郎) born January[...]

Show Notes for episode 37 of our Podcast – The Song the Black Fox God Sang. Story Notes The Woman Behind the Stories  The stories are through the work of Chiri Yukie, collecting tales she heard from her family. This book, the Ainu Shinyoushuu was the first of its kind[...]

Show Notes for episode 36 of our Podcast – A Brief History of Rice. Story Notes What is rice? How is it grown?  The rice plant is a grass. The product, also called rice, is a cereal grain, and the scientific name is Oryza sativa. It is usually grown in[...]

Show Notes for episode 35 of our Podcast – Light Returns. Story Notes All the kami of Heaven gather on the banks of the river Amenoyasunokawa (meaning Heavens Tranquil Stream) while they decided what should be done to get Amaterasu to leave the cave after she flees into it from[...]

Show Notes for episode 34 of our Podcast – Oni. Story Notes Translated over time as demon, ogre or devil. And we can find reference to them as far back as the 8th century. Perhaps former Shinto kami and there can be both male and female Oni, though female Oni[...]

Show Notes for bonus episode 5 of our Podcast – Peacock Power. Story Notes This is a tale on En no Ozunu, from Episode 22. This tale can be found in the nara ehon, now this is an over all term from what I can tell for woodblock printed book[...]

Show Notes for episode 33 of our Podcast – Mirrors. Story Notes The first mirror story takes us to a sculptor known as Hidari Jingorō (左 甚五郎). As well as being a sculptor, he was also comedian, actor, stroyteller and painter. Now interestingly enough he might not even have exisited[...]

Wiki Updates #17 Well guys here we have it. Wiki Updates #17 for you all. Alot of new people this time around, we endevoured to make a page for the Nashitsubo no Gonin which then led us to more and more poets who had connections to each other. We still[...]

Show Notes for bonus episode 4 of our Podcast – Hospital Check Up. Story Notes We gave Heather a call for a Hospital Check Up and while we were at it, we thought we would look at some medical history from Japan. These notes are the few things I found[...]

Wiki Updates #16 Wiki Updates #16 is here for you all. Honestly was hoping to have gotten a lot more done for this update, but sadly work constraints meant I could not quite get there. Mostly we added several new poets for you and some new supernatural creatures. So go[...]

Show Notes for episode 32 of our Podcast – Ninja Arsenal. There was no poem segment in todays episode due to the length of the Podcast. Story Notes Now I have debated a little on how to write down these show notes, as we know during the episode I gave[...]

Show Notes for episode 31 of our Podcast – Lady Tomoe. Story Notes Now today I wanted to talk about a woman called Tomoe Gozen, or simply Lady Tomoe from the Heian into the Kamakura Period. And I wanted to talk about her because it’s been a while since we[...]

Wiki Updates #15 Wiki Updates #15 is here. We worked on several new poets over these two weeks, as well as having major updated to many Shinto kami. As well as a few new places, and a single new Yokai to check out. Total pages 744. Wanted pages 494. Kami[...]

Show Notes for bonus episode 3 of our Podcast – Zenki and Goki. Story Notes Zenki and Goki (前鬼 & 後鬼) are two well known Oni with strong associations with the founder of the Shugendō Religion, En no Gyōja. Said to have dwelt in the mountains ranges close to Nara,[...]

Show Notes for episode 30 of our Podcast – The Bean Throwing Festival. Story Notes There is a saying in Japan they states: On the Eve of the beginning of the Spring Season, to place heads of sardine and holly is to ward of the devil known as Kaguhana, a[...]

Show Notes for episode 29 of our Podcast – Mother of Japanese Whiskey. Story Notes Jessie Roberta Cowan was born in December 14, 1896 in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Her father was a doctor in the village. She grew up the oldest of four children, two younger sisters and a[...]

Wiki Updates #14 Wiki Updates #14 is here for you all. Several new creatures for you, with lots of updates for you all. We also changed the appearance of the entire website, so we hope you are finding it all a little easier to get around now. Total pages 730.[...]

Show Notes for episode 28 of our Podcast – Shark Man. Story Notes So today is yet again another link to one of the places we seem to be growing a fondness for. And that is the area around Lake Biwa outside of Kyoto. Honestly, at this point I think[...]

Show Notes for episode 27 of our Podcast – Legends of Himeji. Story Notes So today I wanted talk a little about some of the history of Himeji Castle. Castle in Japanese being pronounced Jō. As some of you many recall I visited Nagasaki during November last year when my[...]

Wiki Updates #13 Wiki Updates #13 is here for you. And for the most part we have been looking again at a few more Yokai and Supernatural Creatures to flesh out the website a little. We have also added an Interactive Map to the homepage to show case the locations[...]

Show Notes for bonus episode 2 of our Podcast – Yuki ya konko. Hopefully there will be more songs for you all in the future, until then we hope you enjoy this one. Be sure to check out the rest of the website while you’re here. Song Notes 雪やこんこ　霰やこんこ降っては　降ってはずんずん　つもる山も野原も　綿帽子かぶり枯木残らず　花が咲く yuki[...]

Show Notes for episode 26 of our Podcast – Okiku and the Nine Plates. Story Notes Today I wanted to tell a story, this one in particular being a ghost story – The story of Okiku and the Nine Plates. Now this is one of Japanese better known Ghosts stories[...]

Show Notes for episode 25 of our Podcast – Temples of Ueno Park. Story Notes There are many temples in Ueno Park, and honestly the episode we did on them didn’t even really scratch the surface. And we will definitely be returning to not only talk more about the temples,[...]

Wiki Updates #12 Wiki Updates #12 is here. A lot of pages relating to past podcast episodes for you to refer too. We are hoping as we go forward to be adding pages that don’t solely relate to podcast episodes, to allow us to broden the scope of this site.[...]

Show Notes for episode 24 of our Podcast – Christmas in Japan. Story Notes Christmas in Japan is a different atmosphere that the one you might be used to. For both Thomas and myself, we are used to Christmas being the most important holiday of the year. Many people have[...]

Show Notes for episode 23 of our Podcast – The Worms that Speak to Ten-tei. Story Notes Todays episode was a three in one combo for you all. Not three separate topics, but three different topics all which I discovered linked into one another. So lets start with a Yōkai[...]

Show Notes for bonus episode 1 of our Podcast – Shippeitaro. Story Notes The story of Shippeitaro is an interesting folktale from Japan around the theme of human sacrifice. Mukashi mukashi, long long ago there was a warrior who weary from travelling took shelter one night in a lonely and[...]

Show Notes for episode 22 of our Podcast – En the Pilgrim. Story Notes En no Ozunu is an interesting man. Born in a time really before the Ninja, if anyone would have asked him if he considered himself to be one he would have just looked at you in[...]

Wiki Updates #11 Our 11th update is here. Current Totals Pages: 689 Current Total Wanted Pages: 430 Alot of updated information in Wiki Updates #11 for certain Shinto kami as we have been researching them for episode 21 of the podcast. We finally finished adding all the ‘wanted pages’ for[...]

Show Notes for episode 21 of our Podcast – Darkness Falls. Story Notes Her brother Susano-o, having been condemned to go reside in Yomi, wished to speak to his sister one last time and so ascends to Heaven. He brother informs her that he comes with no ill intent and[...]

Show Notes for episode 20 of our Podcast – Sole Japanese aboard the Titanic. Story Notes So today I wanted to talk about Masabumi Hosono. He was born October 15th 1870 and lived until March 14th 1939. Now we know he lived his life being a civil servant but what[...]

Show Notes for episode 19 of our Podcast – Japanese Curry. Story Notes The origins of Japanese curry come from British curry. When the British navy came to Japan, they brought along their curry as well. Curry uses easy to store ingredients like onions, potatoes, and carrots and it’s a[...]

Wiki Updates #10 Wiki Updates #10 is here. And if I am honest there isn’t much new for you since we last posted. We have added alot of redirect pages to make it easier for people to find certain pages. This is especially true as we have started to look[...]

Show Notes for episode 18 of our Podcast – The Bell of Miidera.   We know of several stories surrounding the Bell of Miidera. Story Notes Kanesama One relates how women were forbidden to touch the bell as it was feared that it would cause the bell to go dull.[...]

Show Notes for episode 17B of our Podcast – Hitobashira.   Story Notes Human Sacrifice known as Hitobashira, literally translates as ‘Human Pillar,’ and is a purported form of Human Sacrifice carried out in Ancient Japan. However, we have no physical proof that such a thing ever occoured. In times[...]

Wiki Updates #9 Wiki Updates #9 is here. This week we discovered a few new Folktales for you and have begun to look into different occupations in Japan. It is something we are increasingly getting more ‘wanted pages’ for and so we want to start dealing it with it now[...]

Show Notes for episode 17A of our Podcast – Human Sacrifice.   Story Notes Archaeologically speaking, the act of human sacrifice has never been documented in Japan. So I want to look into the old tales told of this practise. The Bow In times long past there was the belief[...]

Wiki Updates #8 Wiki Updates #8 is here. Quite a few new kami this week, and we have nearly finished working through the Yokai in the next compendium of supernatural creatures we are reaidng through. Kami Literature People Places Supernatural Creatures That’s all for since our last update. Talk to[...]

Show Notes for episode 16 of our Podcast – The Devil’s Gate.   Story Notes We have portrayals of the Yokai known as the Oni, which Heather mentioned in the previous episode about Momotaro. You can find his depiction in his Yokai compendium called the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki. He[...]

Wiki Updates #7 Finally, Wiki Updates #7 is here. It’s been a long while since we last had a site update for you. And we’re going to be bringing them to you now every Wednesday to let you know of all the new and updated pages on our website. So[...]

Show Notes for 15 of our Podcast – Son of a Peach. Also known as the Peach Boy.   Story Notes Mukashi, mukashi, there lived an old couple. This couple was very happy, but they never had a child. They spent their days on their farm doing chores.  Now, the[...]

Show Notes for EP14B of our Podcast – Hei! Say my Name. Tales of Fuji. Story Notes Lake Motosu Now, after researching this lake I have been unable to find any stories linked to it. So if I am missing something, and if you’re listening an no I story I[...]

Show Notes for EP14A of our Podcast – Hei! Say my Name. The man on the 1000円 Story Notes Hideyo Noguchi was was born on November 9th, 1876 so we’re almost reaching modern Japan. The Edo Period had ended 8 years ago by this point. And for those in the[...]

Show Notes for EP13 of our Podcast – Palace Sparrows. Story Notes I wanted to talk today about Fujiwara no Sanekata, a member of the Fujiwara Clan he was an accomplished poet in his time. And we can find 68 of his poems in imperial waka anthologies. During his life[...]

Show Notes for EP12 of our Podcast – When Day became Night. Story Notes Izanagi having left Yomi and needing to cleanse himself bathed in the Tachibana River. From this many new Gods sprang forth, however, the Gods we will talk about today are Amaterasu and Tsukiyomi. The Sun Goddess[...]

Show Notes for EP11 of our Podcast – Superstitions. Story Notes There are many Superstitions in Japan. Numbers The numbers 4 and 9 in Japan have associations within bad luck. The number 4 四 can be associated with death as this can be pronounced shi. The same pronunciation for death.[...]

Show Notes for EP10 of our Podcast – A Ghost Story in Tokyo. (Show notes today by Heather). Story Notes: I’m outside today for our ghost story, in the dark in Tokyo. I hope you can hear the sound of the cicadas.  Ghost stories are usually told in summer in[...]

Show Notes for episode 9 of our Podcast – Izumo Province (Mythological Creation). Story Notes The story for today comes from the Izumo fudoki, written about the Japanese Province of Izumo. (Modern Day Shimane Prefecture) This fudoki (which were created as way to record the histories and information pertaining to[...]

Show Notes for EP8B – Order 9066 and 1000 Cranes. (Show notes today by Heather). Story Notes: Sometimes there is a call to action. That even if you know what you are doing may not have a huge effect, but sometimes you need to do anything you can. For this[...]

Show Notes for EP8A – Righteous Among Nations Story Notes: Chiune Sugihara was born 1 January, 1900  in Gifu prefecture. The second son of Yoshima and Yatsu, he had 5 brothers and one sister.  His family lived in a borrowed temple, close to Kyosen-ji.  He moved to many elementary schools[...]

Show Notes for EP7 of our Podcast – Target: Nobunaga. Story Notes Sugitani Zenjubo (杉谷善住坊) was born to one of the 53 families of the Koga Clan, acting as Ninja and Sniper for them until his death in 1573. He was best known for his use of the matchlock rifle (hinawa-ju). Initially the Koga[...]

Show Notes for EP6 of our Podcast – Lord of Rice. Story Notes Fujiwara Hidesato, also known as Tawara Toda, wished for adventure and so one day set out. Reaching Seta-no-Karashi Bridge on Lake Biwa he finds a serpent-dragon sleeping across it. Undeterred he walks over the Dragon, afterwards, the Dragon changes into a[...]

Show Notes for EP5 of our Podcast – Tanabata – Weaver of Heaven. Story and Song Notes The festival of Tanabata can trace it origins to the Empress Koken when it was adopted by Japan from the Heian Period. The festival has lasted to this day. The story of the[...]

Show Notes for EP4 – Samurai Weatherman. We have some extra notes here for you about Sekiso from our database about him. Story Notes: Tsunokuma Sekiso (角隈 石宗) was a Gunbaisha (Military Strategist) and Vassal during the Azuchi-Momoyama Period for the Warlord Otomo Sorin. He died during the Battle of Mimikawa in 1578. Records from his life state[...]

Wiki Updates #6 This week in our Wiki Updates #6 we have several new and updated pages. As well as the Poet Fujiwara no Yoshitaka. Islands Literature People Places Kami Yokai That’s it for now guys. Talk to you soon.[...]

Show Notes for EP3 – Death of a Goddess. Story Notes: Izanami and Izanagi having made the island of Japan, turn to making Spirits. Eventually Izanami gives birth to the Fire God – Kagutsuchi. Who, burning her as she gives birth to him, causes her to die. Izanagi, angry the[...]

Show Notes for EP2 – Iron Rat. Story Notes: Raigo was a Buddhist monk living at the Temple of Mii-dera in Kyoto. He was approached by the Emperor Shirakawa with a proposition. If he was to pray for the safe birth of his son, he would expand his temple. Raigo[...]

Wiki Updates #5 This week in our Wiki Updates #5 we have a few new Yokai, the poet Ono no Komachi as well as a few new places. People Places Kami Yokai That’s it for now guys. Talk to you soon.[...]

Show Notes for EP1 – Heavenly Spear. Story Notes: Izanami and Izanagi, tasked with the creation of the lands below are given the gift of the Jewelled Spear of Heaven. They thrust down this Heavenly Spear into the sea below from their vantage point on the Floating Bridge of Heaven[...]

Wiki Updates #4 This week in our Wiki Updates #4 we have several updates and a few new Shinto kami from further reading the Nihongi, and we’ve also started exploring a new book of monsters and ghouls, the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki. We also have found an online version of[...]

Wiki Updates #3 Time for our Wiki Updates #3. This week we don’t have too many new pages for you, sorry about that. It’s been exam week at my school and invigilating and marking takes a lot of time. We have however, finally finished all the Yōkai within the Gazu[...]

Wiki Updates #2 Hi guys, this is our second Update for you (Wiki Updates #2) as we gear up for episode 1 of our Podcast this coming Friday. Several updates to the Shinto Spirit and Japanese Literature this week. Hope you are all well and that you find something of[...]

Wiki Updates #1 Hi guys, this is out Wiki Updates #1 and we just reached 500 articles over on our wiki! So in celebration we have decided to take the dive and start making our Podcast and aim to bring the first one out for you Friday May 17th with[...]