Tag: Podcast

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]