Japanese Folklore-Past and Present

Frog-like kappa, vengeful ghosts, and demons all populate the world of Japanese folklore and mythology. If you are looking for a comprehensive online source for information on these topics, I know of no better place than mukashibanashi. Here you will find a content rich website that includes a plethora of stories, including such famous tales as Mimi Nashi Hoichi (Earless Hoichi, also featured in Masaki Kobayashi’s outstanding movie, Kwaidan), and a detailed bibliography for visitors interested in doing their own research.

The creator of this website, Michael Henry Lucero, has also written an original novel inspired by Japanese folklore, The Spirit Captive. You can read a sample and vote for the book to be published. From the tastefully chosen haiku that begin each chapter, to the elegant prose, not to mention compelling plot, I think you’ll agree that the novel deserves to make it into print.