Horror Tales of Japan – 21 Classic Japanese Ghost Stories and Folktales with Cultural Commentary by Kyota Ko

Enter the eerie world of Japanese ghost stories and yokai legends with Horror Tales of Japan, a chilling collection of 21 traditional horror folktales retold and analyzed by storyteller Kyota Ko. These tales—rooted in centuries-old superstition and moral reflection—uncover the dark corners of Japan’s imagination, where spirits, curses, and divine retribution dwell.

From The Singing Skull and The Peony Lantern to The Tale of the Old Woman at Rajōmon and The Razor Fox of Sanbon-eda, each story explores the thin veil between the living and the supernatural. Through haunting narratives of greed, revenge, and tragic mistakes, readers are drawn into the moral and spiritual lessons that shaped Japan’s folklore traditions.

Far from simple ghost stories, these yokai and kaidan tales offer deep insight into Japanese beliefs about life, death, and karma. Ko’s accompanying cultural commentary provides historical background, regional context, and reflections on how these stories continue to influence Japanese art and popular culture today.

The 21 Tales Include:
The Murderer of Rokubu / The Singing Skull / Sakichi’s Boat / Mount Iburi / The Monster of the Weathered Temple / The Peony Lantern / The Goddess of Lake Kamo / Death / The Story of Neko-yama / The Cowherd and the Yamamba / Michibiki Jizō / Kissaku’s Plunge / Leave It at the Moat / The Tale of the Old Woman at Rajōmon / Sixteen-men Valley / Anchin and Kiyo-hime / The Funeral at Midnight / The Saucer Mansion at Banchō / A Hundred Ghost Stories / The Razor Fox of Sanbon-eda / The Entrance to the Underworld

Dark, poetic, and profoundly human, Horror Tales of Japan captures the moral tension and mysterious beauty of Japan’s storytelling tradition. A must-read for fans of Japanese folklore, yokai culture, and literary horror.

Details:
• ASIN: B0D57T6YW5
• Publisher: Independently published (June 1, 2024)
• Publication Date: June 1, 2024
• Language: English
• Paperback: 240 pages
• ISBN-13: 979-8326499356
• Dimensions: 4.33 × 0.6 × 7.09 inches