Urban

Legends

Legends & Kwaidans

Yōkai
& Kami

History

Encoding the Wind – Secret Communication Techniques of Ninja Schools During the Sengoku Wars

Encoding the Landscape In an era when an overheard word or intercepted signal could bring death and destruction — silence became the most powerful language. In the Japan of centuries

Tanuki Swinging His Coin Pouch – How Did Japanese Woodblock Artists See This Rascal?

Just when we thought nothing in Japanese folklore could surprise us anymore… Tanuki is a creature that holds a place in Japanese culture as honorable as it is… incomprehensible to

The City of Nara – a Geometrically and Spiritually Designed Metropolis of Ancient Japan Long Before the Samurai

Ancient Japan Today’s Japan is a land of silent trains, tea-scented vending machines, autonomous drones, colossal cities, and deserted villages. But close your eyes for a moment and surrender to

Urami: the Silenced Wrong, All-Encompassing Grief, Fury — What Emotions Are Encoded in the Character “怨”

Grief that destroys; grief that builds Some kanji resemble deeply symbolic seals of the soul—and the character 怨 (urami) is among the most poignant. It is constructed from the “heart”

Chimerical Masks of Noh Theatre – A Form Truer than Content

The Essence of Japan – the Most Foreign to Us In a world where every emotion must be named, photographed, and published, and every identity declared and defended, the noh

“Hidden Villages” Kakurezato – Where Descendants of the Heike Clan Have Lived for Centuries, Forgotten by Time and Maps

山霧を重ね重ねて隠れ里 “Mountain mists, layer upon layer— and you shall not find the hidden village.” – Ōsaki Natsumi, 2011, Ugetsu (雨月) Japan comprises over 6,800 islands, with its four main islands—Honshu,

SUBCATEGORY

Legends & Kwaidans

History and Folklore

Each era (jidai), each tale, each legend is like a thread weaving the intricate fabric of national identity — from the pride of the samurai to stories whispered by the fire about mischievous yōkai and chilling yūrei. In Japanese storytelling, fear and wonder walk hand in hand, creating a mosaic where the worlds of kami and humans meet, where heroic deeds and tragic missteps, distant castles and urban alleys filled with ghosts of the past and living legends intertwine.

As we journey through Japanese history and folklore, we uncover not only past events, but also timeless questions about life, death, and humanity’s place in the universe. The extraordinarily rich history of the Japanese people, along with their vividly colorful mythology, offers an endless source of inspiration for both life and creativity.

Shadows of the Past: Thousands of Years of a Nation’s Turbulent History and Unbridled Mythic Imagination

妖怪と神

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"Strong Japanese Women"

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未開ソビエライ

An enthusiast of Asian culture with a deep appreciation for the diverse philosophies of the world. By education, a psychologist and philologist specializing in Korean studies. At heart, a programmer (primarily for Android) and a passionate technology enthusiast, as well as a practitioner of Zen and mono no aware. In moments of tranquility, adheres to a disciplined lifestyle, firmly believing that perseverance, continuous personal growth, and dedication to one's passions are the wisest paths in life. Author of the book "Strong Women of Japan" (>>see more)

Personal motto:

"The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest." - Albert Einstein (probably)

Mike Soray

(aka Michał Sobieraj)

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Ciechanów, Polska

dr.imyon@gmail.com

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