Rephonic
Artwork for Uncanny Japan

Uncanny Japan

SpectreVision Radio
Japanese Folklore
Buddhism
Japan
Folklore
Japanese Culture
Superstitions
Yokai
Shinto
Lafcadio Hearn
Ryomen Sukuna
Taira No Masakado
Osechi-Ryori
Japanese Language
Oiwa
Teru Teru Bōzu
Oshogatsu
Kabuki
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 monthlyEpisodes196Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Uncanny Japan

Latest Episodes

In 1803, fishermen on Japan’s Hitachi coast spotted something round and unfamiliar drifting offshore. They hauled the hollow vessel onto the beach—and discovered a mysterious young woman inside.

Step into the story as one of those fishermen. Examine... more

Japan’s 1970s UFO boom gave us some wonderfully strange cases: children capturing a tiny hat-shaped UFO in Kōchi, two boys encountering wrinkled aliens in a Yamanashi vineyard, and a Hokkaidō farmer who claimed repeated abductions, spoon-bending powe... more

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 ta... more

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 wall... more

Key Facts

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.

Knifepoint Horror
Knifepoint HorrorSpectreVision Radio
History of Japan
History of JapanIsaac Meyer
Creepy
CreepyBe Afraid
Wrong Station
Wrong StationThe Wrong Station
The HorrorBabble Podcast
The HorrorBabble PodcastSpectreVision Radio

Host

Thersa Matsuura
Host and creator of Uncanny Japan; writer/folklorist with extensive experience in Japanese culture.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • Relaxing

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Barbuski
    Canada2 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 Kingdom4 months ago
  • Hey it’s kenta

    Where are you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Goji 4x4
    Canada4 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
    Canada4 months ago
  • Too bad for the ads

    I’ve always loved this show, but the ads ruin it for me :( I’m going back and re-listening to the older episodes. EDIT: Soooo the old videos now have ads too :( I’m sad again

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    idontusuallywritereveiws
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners critique ads and pacing, requesting longer episodes
Appreciation for host's cultural insights and research depth
Positive sentiment about the educational value and atmosphere
Listener praise for soothing narration and immersive soundscape
Positive feedback on deep folklore knowledge and storytelling

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#224
Norway/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#242
Philippines/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?

This show explores obscure corners of old Japan, focusing on folklore, superstitions, rituals, and eerie cultural curiosities. Each episode blends thorough research with immersive sound design to transport listeners into Japanese myths, legends, and historical practices, often tying ancient beliefs to modern culture. Noteworthy is the host's background as a folklorist and writer, and the production's roots in a dedicated network that emphasizes the uncanny and atmospheric storytelling. Potential listeners will likely find deeply researched narratives, serene audio landscapes, and a distinctive, contemplative pace suitable for focused listening or background immersion.

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 three 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. Knifepoint Horror
2. History of Japan
3. Creepy
4. Wrong Station
5. The HorrorBabble Podcast

How many episodes of Uncanny Japan are there?

Uncanny Japan launched 10 years ago and published 196 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