Rephonic
Artwork for Uncanny Japan

Uncanny Japan

SpectreVision Radio
Japanese Folklore
Japan
Buddhism
Folklore
Japanese Culture
Superstitions
Yokai
Shinto
Lafcadio Hearn
Ryomen Sukuna
Taira No Masakado
Osechi-Ryori
Japanese Language
Oiwa
Kabuki
Teru Teru Bōzu
Oshogatsu
Turbo Granny
Ame-Onna
Yotsuya Kaidan

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... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes202Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Uncanny Japan

Latest Episodes

The cicadas are fading, the bell crickets are singing, and autumn is beginning to creep into Japan. There’s an old saying: aki no hi wa tsurube otoshi—“an autumn day falls like a well bucket”—describing how suddenly darkness arrives this time of year... more

This episode is story time. We’re traveling to the remote Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan for an old Japanese tale collected by Richard Gordon Smith in his 1908 book Ancient Tales and Folk-Lore of Japan.

When young Tokoyo sets out to find her banish... more

In Japan, ghosts don’t wait for October.

Summer—especially the hot, humid weeks around Obon—has long been the season for ghost stories, strange encounters, and deliberately scaring yourself silly.

In this episode of Uncanny Japan, we’ll sit down fo... more

Every Obon, Japan’s ancestral spirits return home—guided by tiny fires and carried on cucumber horses. This year, for the first time, I’m responsible for preparing my father-in-law’s family altar. Join me for cauldron lids, lost ghosts, strange noise... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Host

Thersa Matsuura
Host and creator of Uncanny Japan; folklorist and writer with deep ties to Japanese folklore and spectral storytelling.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • Hilarious!

    As a Japanese who grew up overseas, this podcast is a great source for me to learn Japanese cultures and customs in a fun way! My favorites are episodes on oshogatsu and obon! Please keep them coming!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    1223Mai
    Japana month ago
  • Relaxing

    Very interesting and relaxing podcast. I like learning more from Japan folktales

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Barbuski
    Canada5 months ago
  • Love this podcast. Very soothing voice and GREAT content.

    I used to live near Lafcadio Hearn’s old home in Kumamoto (author of Kwaidan) and love the darker side of Japanese folklore and history. This podcast is so great to listen to in quiet times and evenings. Wishing the host all the best for navigating her life changes. Stay strong and keep putting your excellent work out there. Maybe the year of the Fire Horse might see the show go weekly.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Daveydavedave74
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Hey it’s kenta

    Where are you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Goji 4x4
    Canada6 months ago
  • Hey it’s kenta

    The best way to make a podcast is by using the right tool to create the best content. its you!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Goji 4x4
    Canada7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the immersive sound design and storytelling.
Some listeners note ads and sponsor reads as a drawback, but many find the content engaging and educational.
Overall, the show is praised for its calming voice and deep folklore coverage.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#205
Ukraine/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The All-powerful Five Elements and You (Ep. 141)
Q: If I were an element, what element would I be?
Listeners are invited to discover their elements based on their birth year endings, dividing them into categories such as earth, fire, water, metal, and wood.
Ryomen Sukuna: Awesome Saint or Japan-Destroying Demon? (Ep. 145)
Q: Is it a fair depiction to show Sukuna as so entirely evil and unredeemable?
The episode explores Sukuna's complex character, contrasting modern interpretations of his evilness with historical legends portraying him as a benevolent figure.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Uncanny Japan

What is Uncanny Japan about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A soothing, immersive series that explores obscure corners of Japanese folklore, history, and superstition through long-form storytelling and atmospheric sound design. Episodes blend traditional lore with personal memories, behind-the-scenes notes, and practical cultural context, often weaving in regional rituals, historical figures, and modern-day observations. A standout is the deeply crafted, cinematic narration that helps listeners feel transported to temples, coastlines, and festival floors, making esoteric topics approachable and relaxing for curious adults. The show's thoughtful production, archival research, and occasional author-promotional angles are noteworthy, and its niche focus on lesser-known myths and practices offers a dist... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Uncanny Japan?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Uncanny Japan. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Uncanny Japan and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Uncanny Japan get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Uncanny Japan, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Uncanny Japan?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Uncanny Japan, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Uncanny Japan have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Uncanny Japan has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Uncanny Japan?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Uncanny Japan:

1. NOCTURNAL TRANSMISSIONS : dark tales, both old and new, performed by voice artist Kristin Holland
2. Knifepoint Horror
3. The HorrorBabble Podcast
4. History of Japan
5. Lore

How many episodes of Uncanny Japan are there?

Uncanny Japan launched 10 years ago and published 202 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Uncanny Japan?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Uncanny Japan?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Uncanny Japan from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Uncanny Japan?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Uncanny Japan. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days