Creepy Customs & Bizarre Beliefs
Summary
Host Tara A. Devlin presents a collection of Japanese folklore and urban legends, beginning with the maritime tradition of treating drowned bodies as auspicious gifts. The episode features the terrifying "Soigi" ritual, where a boy witnesses a secret ceremony to appease earth spirits after his friends are killed for witnessing it. Other stories include the protective "crow name" custom, the "Doyo Bozu" earth spirit, the "pulling" death custom, and a mountain yokai that forces children to make string moths to escape.
Topics discussed
Fishermen's beliefs about drowned bodies and sea spirits
Introduction to Kowabana and episode overview
Story of Soigi: A boy witnesses a deadly ritual
The custom of Crow Names in a Kyoto valley village
Doyu Bozu: The earth spirit and a stingy farmer's curse
Pulling: A dying person takes a living one with them
Yoshiuki-sama: The silkworm moth yokai and string figures
Do Not Fall Over in the Graveyard: A childhood warning
Outro and links to Kowabana resources
Listen ad-free on Castria