Urban

Legends

Legends & Kwaidans

Yōkai
& Kami

History

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”

The Invisible Woman – Life as a Samurai’s Wife

Solitude more as a role than a feeling At dawn, Hirata Orise’s home was bathed in twilight—the warmth of the fire had yet to dispel the chill of the night,

Shōjō – the yōkai who drank with style but knew nothing of tomorrow

A yōkai who brewed perfect sake On one of those intoxicated nights, when the moon reflects on the surface of sake in a small ochoko cup, and the sound of

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

Katakiuchi – A License for Samurai Clan Revenge in the Era of the Edo Shogunate

First, Formalities – Then, Bloody Vengeance In feudal Japan, revenge was not an impulse. It was a duty, a ritual, and at the same time a cold legal construct deeply

Goddess Uzume dances naked and, with her sacred antics, saves us from sorrowful seriousness – Japanese mythology, how timely today

「もっと踊ってよ、アメノウズメさん腕ふり回し、汗かき散らし、首しならせて、踊って、踊って、もっと、もっと」 "Dance for us again, Ame no Uzume Swing your arms, shake off the sweat Tilt your head toward the heavens And dance, dance, again, again" —

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"

see book by the author

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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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