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Supernatural Japan

Supernatural Japan explores the dark, mysterious, and unexplained side of Japan. Each episode uncovers the country’s most chilling Japanese ghost stories, haunted places, urban legends, yokai, spirits, folklore, true crime, and paranormal mysteries.

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38 episodes
a few times a week
Avg 31 min
English

Episodes 38

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Yesterday · 12 min
Nikusui: The Flesh Eater
A beautiful stranger. A dark mountain road. A hunger for human flesh. In this episode of Supernatural Japan, host Kevin O’Shea explores Nikusui, the flesh-sucking yōkai of Japan’s Kii Peninsula. Discover the regional folklore recorded by Minakata Kumagusu, the chilling tales of a woman who approaches travelers at night, and an original horror story inspired by her legend. Journey into Japanese folklore, mountain spirits, and supernatural horror—and find out why you should never give her your lantern. Website: supernaturaljapan.com (Sign up for our FREE newsletter) Instagram: @supernaturaljapan BECOME a Ghost by joining us on @patreon Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tuesday · 31 min
Nagoya Castle's Dark Secrets
Discover the dark secrets of Nagoya Castle, one of Japan's most iconic historical landmarks, in this Halloween-themed episode of the Supernatural Japan podcast! Join host Kevin O'Shea as we uncover forgotten Japanese ghost stories, mysterious yokai, vengeful fox spirits, and eerie supernatural legends hidden within the castle's 400-year history. Drawing on the fascinating research of Professor Junko Hayashi of Nanzan University, we explore historical accounts of a mysterious chest that must never be moved, a tengu lurking in a pine tree, and strange tales of kitsune seeking revenge against samurai. We'll also investigate modern rumors of ghostly apparitions wandering the castle grounds. From traditional Japanese folklore to haunted castles and unexplained mysteries, this spooky journey into Nagoya Castle's supernatural past is perfect for fans of Japanese history, paranormal encounters, and chilling Halloween ghost stories. Are the spirits of Nagoya Castle still watching over its ancient walls? Website: supernaturaljapan.com (Sign up for our FREE newsletter) Instagram: @supernaturaljapan BECOME a Ghost by joining us on @patreon Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 15 · 12 min
Aka Manto: Red Paper, Blue Paper
Red paper or blue paper? In this spooky-season episode of Supernatural Japan, host Kevin O’Shea explores Aka Manto, the Red Cloak—a chilling Japanese urban legend about a mysterious spirit haunting school bathrooms and public toilets. Discover the deadly choices at the heart of this ghost story, the unsettling variations in how to escape, and its roots in Japanese schoolyard folklore. Perfect for Halloween listening, this mini-episode explores how a simple question can turn an ordinary bathroom visit into a nightmare. Website: supernaturaljapan.com (Sign up for our FREE newsletter) Instagram: @supernaturaljapan BECOME a Ghost by joining us on @patreon Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 13 · 17 min
Yamapikaryā: Japan’s Cryptid Cat?
Could a mysterious big cat be hiding in Japan’s subtropical forests? In this Supernatural Japan mini-episode, host Kevin O’Shea explores Yamapikaryā, the mystery cat of Iriomote Island in Okinawa. Discover the real, endangered Iriomote cat and the unconfirmed accounts of a larger, long-tailed feline sharing its jungle home. Explore the island’s geography, local animal names, tourism mascots, and conservation challenges, alongside comparisons with Britain’s Beast of Bodmin Moor, the Beast of Exmoor, and Tasmania’s thylacine. Join Kevin for a journey through Japanese cryptid legends, rare wildlife, and the intriguing boundary between documented animals and unexplained sightings. Website: supernaturaljapan.com (Sign up for our FREE newsletter) Instagram: @supernaturaljapan BECOME a Ghost by joining us on @patreon Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 8 · 19 min
Tokyo After Dark: Five Haunted Places You Can Actually Visit
Discover five of Tokyo’s most famously haunted places in this episode of Supernatural Japan (Originally an episode of Japan Ghost Stories for Patreon). From the vanishing taxi passengers of Aoyama Cemetery and the eerie Sendagaya Tunnel to Oiwa Inari Tamiya Shrine, Sunshine City’s dark prison history, and the legendary curse of Taira no Masakado’s head mound, we explore the history and ghost lore behind locations you can legally visit. Join Kevin for a countdown through haunted Tokyo, where Japanese folklore, vengeful spirits, and unsettling urban legends linger beneath the modern city. The perfect guide for anyone celebrating "Spooky Season" and Halloween in the world's biggest city! Website: supernaturaljapan.com (Sign up for our FREE newsletter) Instagram: @supernaturaljapan BECOME a Ghost by joining us on @patreon Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 6 · 1 hr
Did I wake you? Stories from 3 am Japan
Japanese ghost stories, haunted places, and the mysteries of Japanese folklore take centre stage in this episode of Supernatural Japan. Host Kevin O’Shea chats with Osaka-based creator Darren Vickers, the storyteller behind the YouTube channel and podcast Did I Wake You? Stories from 3 a.m. We explore his approach to telling eerie stories from Japan, from the ancestral spirits and rituals of Obon to accounts of ghostly encounters following the devastating March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Darren’s work also explores Osaka’s Sumiyoshi Shrine, tragic events at Japanese train stations, and the haunting stories associated with these locations. Join us for a conversation about Japan’s supernatural traditions, the relationship between memory and ghost stories, and the history behind some of the country’s most unsettling tales. Discover more of Darren’s stories and subscribe to Did I Wake You? Stories from 3 a.m. on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DidIWakeYou3AM Website: supernaturaljapan.com (Sign up for our FREE newsletter) Instagram: @supernaturaljapan BECOME a Ghost by joining us on @patreon Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 1 · 17 min
Kanashibari: The Ghost Beside Your Bed
What if you woke up in your own bedroom, unable to move, with someone standing beside your bed? In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore kanashibari, the Japanese name for sleep paralysis. From shadowy figures and footsteps to the terrifying weight on your chest, we look at why the experience feels so real, how REM sleep helps explain it, and why it has become part of Japanese ghost stories. Is the figure beside the futon a yūrei, or a dream that followed you into waking life? Website: supernaturaljapan.com (Sign up for our FREE newsletter) Instagram: @supernaturaljapan BECOME a Ghost by joining us on @patreon Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 29 · 1 hr 15 min
Spooky Tales from Kobe and Kyoto
In this episode of the podcast, host Kevin O’Shea joins Phillip Jackson to share some tales of haunted places and ghostly stories from around Kansai. Learn about the legend of the slain samurai, Taira no Atsumori, who died on Suma Beach in Kobe. His head remains at the nearby Suma Temple, and his ghost is said to roam the nearby beach. Phillip shares a tale of a ghostly apparition of a samurai and a woman in white appearing in Kyoto's Kazan Tunnel. Philip also discusses Kimon Demon Gates in Japan as well as the ghosts of the Momoyama Castle town pleasure district. This episode features lots of ghosts and haunted tales from Japan. A perfect episode for those who love dark history and want some eerie tales for Spooky Season. Find all of Philip’s work and arrange a tour with him: https://www.hiddenpathskyoto.com/ Website: supernaturaljapan.com (Sign up for our FREE newsletter) Instagram: @supernaturaljapan BECOME a Ghost by joining us on @patreon Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 22 · 13 min
Suzugamori: Ghosts of Tokyo’s Old Execution Ground
Discover the dark history and ghost stories of Suzugamori Execution Ground, one of Tokyo’s most infamous former execution sites. Located in Shinagawa along the old Tōkaidō road, Suzugamori was once a place of crucifixion, burning, beheading, and public punishment during the Edo period. In this mini episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the chilling legend of the head-washing well, the tragic story of Yaoya Oshichi, reports of shadowy figures and unexplained voices, and the site’s modern reputation as a haunted shinrei spot. From samurai-era executions to eerie paranormal legends, Suzugamori is a haunting reminder that beneath modern Tokyo lies a much darker past. Website: supernaturaljapan.com (Sign up for our FREE newsletter) Instagram: @supernaturaljapan BECOME a Ghost by joining us on @patreon Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 18 · 30 min
Paranormal News in Japan (Summer 2026) - Special "Ghosts Only" Episode
Kevin is joined by regular Supernatural Japan podcast contributor Phillip Jackson to explore the latest paranormal news in Asia, plus stories about U.S. Marines and a very haunted firebase. Did a Chinese paranormal influencer seal her own fate? They also answer a listener question about the most eerie places they've visited in Japan. You can also learn about supernatural spots they've visited outside Japan and more! Find Phillip’s work: https://www.hiddenpathskyoto.com/ Website: supernaturaljapan.com Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Premium membership: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast) Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 15 · 22 min
The Ghosts of Tokyo’s Shakujii Park
Explore the haunted history of Shakujii Park in Nerima, Tokyo, where the ruins of a medieval samurai castle overlook the dark waters of Sanpōji Pond. According to legend, after Shakujii Castle fell in 1477, defeated lord Toshima Yasutsune rode his horse—and its magnificent golden saddle—into the pond, while his grieving daughter, Princess Teruhime, followed him to a watery death. Today, visitors report eerie splashing, strange sensations, and sightings of a pale woman near the water. Discover the history of the Toshima clan, the legend of the sunken treasure, and the ghost said to haunt one of Tokyo’s most atmospheric parks. Website: supernaturaljapan.com (Sign up for our FREE newsletter) Instagram: @supernaturaljapan BECOME a Ghost by joining us on @patreon Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 10 · 19 min
Ghosts Beneath the Harvest Moon: Tsukimi in Japan
Step beneath the autumn moon and discover the eerie folklore behind Tsukimi, Japan’s traditional moon-viewing festival. In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore the festival’s ancient origins, offerings of tsukimi dango and pampas grass, the mischievous custom of Otsukimi Dorobō, and the rabbits said to live on the moon. We also examine how modern Japan celebrates with seasonal treats—including McDonald’s famous egg-topped Tsukimi burgers—while uncovering the supernatural beliefs and ghostly atmosphere surrounding the harvest moon. Website: supernaturaljapan.com (Sign up for our FREE newsletter) Instagram: @supernaturaljapan BECOME a Ghost by joining us on @patreon Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 8 · 22 min
Japan’s Flower of Death
Discover the dark folklore surrounding higanbana, Japan’s striking red spider lily known as the “flower of death.” In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we explore its connection to cemeteries, the autumn equinox, Buddhist beliefs about the “other shore,” poisonous bulbs, and chilling superstitions warning people never to pick the flowers or bring them home. We also uncover the unsettling legend of a missing child who returned carrying an armful of higanbana—and learn why this mysterious flower can symbolize death, remembrance, fox spirits, and even heaven. Website: supernaturaljapan.com (Sign up for our FREE newsletter) Instagram: @supernaturaljapan BECOME a Ghost by joining us on @patreon Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 3 · 26 min
Funayūrei — Ghosts Beneath the Waves
Dive into Japan’s most terrifying maritime legend with Supernatural Japan as Kevin O’Shea confronts the Funayūrei (Funayurei)—vengeful drowned spirits, haunted ghost ships, and deadly sea demons said to drag sailors into the abyss. Uncover the chilling truth behind their impossible demands for a ladle, the bottomless hishaku that could save your crew, and the fog, storms, cursed waterways, and Obon nights when these supernatural encounters strike. Explore regional Japanese ghost stories, the terrifying Umibōzu, the legendary Noh play Funa Benkei, and the shocking parallels between Japan’s haunted seas and Eastern Canada’s phantom ships. If you love Japanese folklore, true ghost stories, paranormal mysteries, yokai, haunted oceans, and unexplained supernatural encounters, this is one chilling voyage you won’t want to miss. BECOME a Ghost by joining us on @patreon Website: supernaturaljapan.com Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 1 · 30 min
Haikyo: How Japan’s Abandoned Places Become Haunted
Explore haikyo—Japan’s abandoned places—in this episode of Supernatural Japan. From deserted hotels to forgotten schools, discover the history behind these ruins, the appeal of urban exploration, and why liminal spaces feel so unsettling. Host Kevin O’Shea examines how YouTube, social media, and ghost stories can turn an empty building into a supposedly haunted location. Learn why abandoned doesn’t mean haunted, alongside essential guidance on legal access, safety, and respectful exploration. BECOME a Ghost by joining us on @patreon Website: supernaturaljapan.com Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 25 · 47 min
Summer Scares in Japan
Summer Scares in Japan In this episode of Supernatural Japan, Japan’s “spooky season” is coming to an end! Listen to host Kevin O’Shea and writer Phillip Jackson talk about summer chills in Japan and the end of the Obon season. Although Halloween is the time when people in many parts of the world tell ghost stories and tune into the paranormal, summer- specifically Obon- is when the veil between the spirit world and our world is thinnest in Japan. Learn about spooky places, haunting connections to nature, the Kyot Gozan Okuribi, and more. Find Phillip’s work: https://www.hiddenpathskyoto.com/ Website: supernaturaljapan.com Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Premium membership: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast) Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 18 · 1 hr 13 min
Hibagon: The Search Continues
In this episode of Supernatural Japan, I catch up once again with Hibagon researcher Kyle Brink to hear the latest developments in his ongoing search for Japan’s legendary wild man. We revisit the mystery of Hibagon, the Bigfoot-like creature reportedly seen in Hiroshima’s Mount Hiba region since the 1970s, and explore Todd’s latest research, investigations, sightings, and theories. If you’re fascinated by Japanese cryptids, Bigfoot, mysterious creatures, Japanese folklore, and unexplained phenomena, you won’t want to miss this episode. Kyle’s Book: “Hibagon: Japan’s Bigfoot” (Amazon) Kyle’s YouTube channel Connect with Kyle: fecmohawk@gmail.com Website: supernaturaljapan.com Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Premium membership: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast) Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 13 · 23 min
Haunted Tunnels of Japan
Why are so many tunnels in Japan considered haunted? In this episode of Supernatural Japan, we descend into three of the country's most notorious haunted tunnels: Kyoto's eerie Kiyotaki Tunnel, Tokyo's Sendagaya Tunnel beneath a cemetery, and the mysterious Old Komine Tunnel in Hachioji. We explore the ghost stories, urban legends, tragic histories, and reported supernatural encounters associated with these dark passageways, while examining why tunnels around the world have become natural settings for ghost stories. From mysterious apparitions and unexplained sounds to Japanese folklore and the psychology of fear, discover why entering a tunnel can feel like crossing into another world. Website: supernaturaljapan.com Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Premium membership: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast) Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 11 · 51 min
Yokai, Folklore and Japan with Zack Davisson
In this episode of Supernatural Japan, host Kevin O’Shea talks to Zack Davisson, award-winning writer, translator, folklorist, and one of the leading English-language experts on Japanese folklore and the supernatural. They discuss his translation work and relationship with the late, great Shigeru Mizuki, creator of GeGeGe no Kitaro, as well as the evolution of yōkai from feared monsters to pop-culture icons. He also tells us about his own writing and role as a folklorist. Zack tells us about his Japan “origin story” and about his upcoming book, “Kaibyō: The Supernatural Cats of Japan.” Kevin and Zack then continue their conversation for another episode over in the Members’ Section on Patreon! To learn more about what Zack is up to, check out: zackdavisson.com To listen to another amazing conversation with Zack, consider becoming a Member @Patreon Website: supernaturaljapan.com Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Supernatural Japan locations map: Google Map Get lots of Premium and Exclusive Content and Ad-free Episodes! Become a Member: @patreon Support on: @BuyMeACoffee Tales from Kevin (my expat diary podcast) Connect with Supernatural Japan: Instagram: @supernaturaljapan Facebook: @SupernaturalJapan BlueSky: @MadForMaple X: @MadForMaple YouTube: @BusanKevin Email: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 8 · 3 min
Release Day Change - Supernatural Japan
The release day for the main episode of Supernatural Japan will now be on Tuesday, and the smaller, companion episodes will be released on Thursdays. Have no fear, you will all get the same number of episodes a month, they will just come out on diferent days from now on. Thanks for being so awesome and so spooky! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Showing 1–20 of 38 episodes