Japan makes me scared - Horror and Scary stories of Japanese Kaidan

Japan makes me scared - Horror and Scary stories of Japanese Kaidan

A podcast to the chilling realm of Japanese horror and scary stories. My name is Jumpei, and I will invite you to the mysterious world of Kaidan, exploring spine-tingling experiences that have haunted Japan... --- *Kaidan is a type of scary story that has been popular entertainment in Japan for centuries. You might imagine some kind of traditional ghost stories, Yokai and monster folklore, or maybe any temple-shrine-related thing. But Kaidan also consists of some supernatural tales, urban legends and creepypasta, true crime, and even modern human-based horrors as well, which means you will nev

Episodes

April 25, 2025 16 mins

“I can't go out because the woman will be lonely...”

But oviously there is nobody around... or is there...

Today, I would like to share a classic Japanese Kaidan/Urban legend story called "Sukima Onna".


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Official Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/MuPBxfQDR7⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/japan_makes_me_scared/⁠...

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"This is bad. I'm definitely not going in here."

What actually lurks in the abandoned hospital at midnight?

Today, I would like to share one of the classic Japanese urban legend? type of scary stories.


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Official Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/⁠⁠⁠

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/MuPBxfQDR7

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/japan_makes_me_scared/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Japon, fais-mo...

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"It’s coming, it’s coming, it’s coming, it’s coming, it’s coming..."

What is "IT"? And what's actually happened in the lodge?


Today, I would like to share a scary story about a murder case in Hokkaido, which was originally posted on 2chan.


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Official Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/⁠⁠

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/MuPBxfQDR7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/japan_makes_me_scare...

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Do you like Ryokan (旅館), a traditional Japanese inn?


Often nestled in nature locations like near hot spring towns or mountain villages, steeped in history, offering a slice of old Japan with their tatami mat rooms, futon bedding, and exquisitely prepared meals. And, of course, never miss the chance to soak in onsen baths.


But when it comes to Japanese horror scenes, Ryokan is not always a happy place. You know, they are often haun...

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Are you scared of toilets? I was as a kid, and still am, honestly.


While it is because of my personal problem, it could also be because we have so many horror stories and urban legends about toilets in Japan. Today’s episode is about one of them, Aka Manto (赤マント).


In this episode, we will deep-dive into Aka Manto, including what this being is, a typical urban legend, and what could be the origins behind it. Lastly, I will share o...

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Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) It is not only the most commercially successful film in Japan, but also the lifetime favourite of so many, including myself. But are there not some parts in the film that make you feel uneasy? That's totally normal because there are some horror elements in it. In this bonus episode, I’m talking about Ghibli's masterpiece, Spirited Away, and how you can watch it as a horror film with some deep analysis of ...

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When somebody is missing, what do you think would be the cause?


I guess most people would think it is about personal problems like relationships and money, or it could be external factors like kidnapping or murder at worst.


But Japanese people have one more option: Kamikakushi (神隠し). That's the topic of the day.


So, today's episode is like a complete guide to understanding Kamikakushi through some deep-dive analysis. We will explor...

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Ryomen Sukuna.

Have you heard this name? Maybe some of you already have from the hit JP Anime, Jujutsu Kaisen. But This name has not just come out of it recently. Actually, it has echoed through centuries of Japanese folklore

In today’s episode, we’ll dive into the origins of Ryomen Sukuna, and even explore a real-life urban legend that’s posted on 2chan and possibly inspired how he’s transformed in Japanese pop culture nowadays.

...

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"Ten...Sou...Metsu"

What is that voice? Then something white is coming towards us...


Today, I would like to share one of the scariest stories from Japanese urban legends, Yamanoke.


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Official Website: https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/yamanoke/

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/MuPBxfQDR7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/japan_makes_me_scared/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Japon, fais-moi peur (My wife's...

Mark as Played

"There was something like a giant iron hoop hanging down vertically."

Where has he gone? But there is no other choice for me but to go as well anyway.


Then I wake up to... what's going on actually?


Today's story is about a classic mystery Kaidan masterpiece posted on 2chan, the Japanese message board website.


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Official Website: https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/⁠

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dis...

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"There was a slide, and one woman was standing behind it."

But wait. Does she look familiar to somebody? Somebody from... one of the Japanese urban legends?


Today's story is about a mysterious Kaidan story that connects an urban legend and reality, originally told by Yurian Retriever.


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Official Website: https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/woman-behind-the-slide/

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/MuPBx...

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He probably wanted to see her dance...But wait, did he really mean that?


Today's story is about a frightening and strange experience encountered by a girl who tried some psychic test, originally from Nobuhiko Otani.


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Official Website: ⁠https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/psychic-test/

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/MuPBxfQDR7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/japan_makes_me_scared/⁠⁠⁠...

Mark as Played

An eerie entrance in the mountains leads to a haunted village where evil spirits lurk. If you wander into there, there is no guarantee that you will return safely…


Today, I will introduce Sugisawa Village, an abandoned village that’s not on the map but possibly exits deep inside the mountains in Japan.


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Official Website: ⁠https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/sugisawa-village/

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/MuPBxfQD...

Mark as Played

"And her laughter was exactly the same as..."
Who was the woman coming to save me that day?


Today's story is about a deeply sad but mysterious event experienced by a woman, originally told by Ryokichi Iyama.


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Official Website: https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/loop/

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/MuPBxfQDR7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/japan_makes_me_scared/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Mark as Played

A jealous woman falls into a demon state trapped by hatred...

Join me in unravelling the legend of Hashihime associated with old bridges.


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Official Website: https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/hashihime/

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/MuPBxfQDR7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/japan_makes_me_scared/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Japon, fais-moi peur (My wife's French podcast): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.c...

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“Excuse me. Do you know how I can get to this place?”

Is it just a coincidence that she wants to go to that place? The story should be just something that I came up with at the drinking party…


Today's story is about a scary experience associated with a made-up story, originally told by Shigeki Nakanishi.


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Official Website: ⁠⁠https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/made-up-story/

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/MuPBxf...

Mark as Played

A seemingly innocent work often created by a child, but only there could be dark mysteries hiding behind it...


Today, I will introduce Teru Teru Bozu, a doll with which people pray for good weather in Japan.


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Official Website: ⁠https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/teru-teru-bozu/

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/MuPBxfQDR7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/japan_makes_me_scared/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Japon, fais-mo...

Mark as Played

If you happen to find the village, never set foot in it. Otherwise, you might be harmed by the villagers in their madness…


Today, I will introduce Inunaki Village, a hidden village that may be located somewhere in the Inunaki area of Fukuoka prefecture.


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Official Website: ⁠https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/inunaki-village/⁠

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/MuPBxfQDR7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/...

Mark as Played

Do not approach that tunnel for fun without respect. You may be struck by an unexpected experience of horror…


Today, I will introduce Inunaki Tunnel, one of the most scary tunnels in Japan.


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Official Website: https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/inunaki-tunnel/

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/MuPBxfQDR7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/japan_makes_me_scared/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Japon, fais-moi peur (My wife's Fren...

Mark as Played

A coin placed on a piece of paper, and fingers that move on their own. Don’t quit halfway, though. Otherwise, the thing that you’ve summoned will take you away…


Today, I will introduce Kokkuri-san, a Japanese board game to possibly call out evil spirits.


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Official Website: ⁠⁠https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/kokkuri-san/

Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/MuPBxfQDR7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/japan_ma...

Mark as Played

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