The paradox that Yoshitsune's military genius and immense popularity, which won a war for his clan, were the very qualities that led his own brother to betray and destroy him.

This podcast episode delves into one of Japan's most foundational legends: the story of the brilliant general Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his fiercely loyal warrior monk, Benkei. The episode explores their iconic first meeting on Kyoto's Gojō Bridge, their pivotal roles in the Genpei War, and the innovative military tactics that made Yoshitsune a national hero. However, the podcast focuses on the central tragedy of the tale—how Yoshitsune's very success and popularity became a threat to his politically ambitious brother, Yoritomo, leading to a devastating betrayal. We will cover their years as fugitives and their legendary final stand, which culminated in Benkei's famous 'Standing Death.' This episode examines the themes of loyalty, honor, and betrayal that cemented their status as archetypal figures in Japanese culture.

The popular idea of a "ghostly nun" at Ganjō-ji is a modern myth; the true, ancient legend is a tragic story of a mermaid who fell in love with a human nun, only to be killed and mummified by jealous villagers, becoming a cursed relic.

In this episode of our podcast, we investigate a story that begins as a simple ghost tale but unfolds into a complex and tragic piece of Japanese folklore. We explore the legend of Ganjō-ji temple, moving past the modern myth of a vengeful nun's spirit to uncover the authentic story of a mermaid mummy enshrined within its walls. This podcast delves into the core narrative of a beautiful nun and a mysterious young page who is revealed to be a ningyo, or Japanese mermaid. We discuss how the villagers' jealousy and fear of the unknown led to the creature's violent death and its transformation into a cursed relic that tormented its owners for years. The episode also examines the unique role of the ningyo in Japanese mythology, contrasting it with the Western mermaid, and looks at the scientific analysis of similar artifacts from the Edo period.

The stark contrast between the two earliest accounts of his life: the Kojiki, which portrays him as a tragic hero exiled by a fearful father, and the Nihon Shoki, which depicts him as a perfectly loyal warrior-prince, revealing how myth was shaped for political purposes in ancient Japan.

In this episode of our podcast, we explore the foundational Japanese legend of Prince Yamato Takeru, a warrior whose epic story is a cornerstone of the nation's mythology. This podcast will guide you through the core narrative of his life, from a brutal act in his youth that led to his exile, to his cunning conquests in the west and east using the sacred sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. We will discuss the profound sacrifice of his consort, Ototachibana-hime, and the moment of hubris that led to his tragic downfall. The central focus of this episode is the fascinating difference between the two primary sources for his tale. We analyze why the Kojiki presents him as a deeply human, tragic figure, while the Nihon Shoki, written just eight years later, recasts him as an idealized symbol of imperial loyalty. The podcast also examines the deep symbolism of key elements like the divine sword and the hero's final transformation into a white bird, and traces his enduring legacy in modern Japan through shrines, festivals, and popular culture, including appearances in film, anime, and video games.

The tale of Kasane exists in two powerful forms: one as a generational curse haunting a single bloodline, and another, older version where a ghost's vengeance is not against one murderer, but against an entire village that was complicit in her death through their prejudice and silence.

In this episode, we explore one of Japan's most haunting tales: the curse of Kasane-ga-fuchi. This podcast delves into the two distinct narratives that share this name. The first is a famous generational tragedy of a samurai's sin, where a murdered moneylender's curse is passed down through his killer's bloodline, dooming his descendants to madness and violence. The second is an older, folkloric version where the ghost of a murdered woman seeks revenge not just on her killer, but on the entire village that stood by and did nothing, exposing a deep-seated social cruelty. This podcast examines the historical context of the Edo period that shaped these stories, from the social anxieties between the samurai and merchant classes to the rise of the ghost story as popular entertainment. We will also discuss the pivotal role of master storyteller San'yūtei Enchō, who modernized the tale for a new era. Finally, the episode looks at the story's enduring legacy, including its many film adaptations and its brilliant reinvention in the modern psychological manga, Kasane.

How a rejected prayer, a holy scripture written in blood, became a 700-year curse that toppled an empire.

In this episode of our podcast, we explore one of Japan's most powerful and enduring legends: the story of Emperor Sutoku. We begin by examining the political betrayals that led to his defeat in the Hōgen Rebellion and his subsequent exile. The podcast then details his attempt at spiritual reconciliation by painstakingly creating holy sutras written in his own blood, and the court's fateful decision to reject this offering. This rejection is the turning point that transforms a pious emperor into a vengeful spirit, or onryō, who unleashes a curse to bring down the imperial family. This episode discusses how subsequent historical events, including natural disasters and the rise of the samurai class, were seen as the direct fulfillment of his prophecy. We also look into the cultural concepts of karmic retribution (inga) and the appeasement of angry spirits (goryō shinkō), which culminated in Sutoku's eventual deification. Finally, the podcast touches on his modern legacy and why even 20th-century leaders took steps to appease his spirit.

The myth of Hoori and Hoderi is not just a fairytale about sibling rivalry but a sophisticated political allegory created to provide divine justification for the Yamato imperial court's historical subjugation of the Hayato people.

This episode delves into one of Japan's foundational myths: the story of Hoori and Hoderi, the divine brothers known as the Luck of the Mountains and the Luck of the Sea. The narrative begins with a simple exchange of magical tools that leads to a lost fishhook, a journey to the undersea palace of a Dragon King, and a marriage to a sea goddess. However, this podcast explores the deeper political meaning behind the tale. We will discuss how this story, first recorded in the 8th-century chronicles Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, functions as a political charter to legitimize the rule of the Yamato imperial family. In this episode, we analyze the characters of Hoori as an ancestor of the imperial line and his defeated brother Hoderi as the mythological ancestor of the subjugated Hayato people. The discussion also covers the rich symbolism of key objects like the magical tide-jewels and the irreplaceable fishhook, as well as the myth's lasting legacy in modern Japan through Shinto shrines and local festivals.

The story's evolution from a Buddhist parable, where wealth is a reward for piety and selfless compassion, into the secular "trading quest" trope found in modern video games.

In this podcast, we explore the Japanese folktale of the Straw Millionaire, or Warashibe Chōja. The episode begins with a telling of the core narrative: the story of a poor but devout man who, following a divine message from the Bodhisattva Kannon, trades a single piece of straw through a series of compassionate exchanges that ultimately lead him to immense wealth. This episode delves into the tale's historical origins, tracing it back to 12th-century Buddhist setsuwa collections like the Konjaku Monogatarishū. We will discuss the story's original purpose as a parable illustrating key Buddhist principles such as karma (inga), divine grace, and the importance of selfless action. Finally, the podcast examines the tale's modern legacy, analyzing how its compelling narrative structure was secularized and adapted to become the blueprint for the "trading quest" trope common in video games.

The idea that the Hashihime was not a passive victim who became a ghost, but a living woman who willfully transformed herself into a demon through a horrifying ritual to enact her own revenge.

In this episode of our podcast, we explore the terrifying Japanese legend of the Hashihime, the Bridge Princess of Uji. Unlike typical ghost stories about wronged spirits, this is a tale of terrifying agency. We'll discuss how the story begins not with a death, but with a choice: a scorned noblewoman, consumed by jealousy, performs an arduous ritual to willfully forge herself into a living demon. This podcast delves into the narrative's evolution, tracing the Hashihime's journey from a benign guardian goddess to a pining lover in classical poetry, and finally to the monstrous figure of rage recorded in the epic Tale of the Heike. We will also examine the story's rich cultural context in the Heian period and its surprising modern legacy, where the demon born of a broken relationship is now worshipped as a goddess of divorce.