Igamori Ryunosuke– Author –
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Nezu Reitaisai: From Edo’s ‘World Festival’ to a Neighborhood Celebration
Nezu Reitaisai began in 1714 as Edo’s grand Tenka Matsuri and has evolved into a vibrant September neighborhood festival rooted in local tradition. -
Was Sharaku a Noh Actor? The Mysterious Ukiyo-e Artist Who Vanished
English Version Many works of art continue to grip people’s hearts across the centuries. Toshusai Sharaku, the ukiyo-e artist known simply as Sharaku, is o -
Were Yokai Ever Real? How Japan’s Monsters Were Born
English Version Thanks to GeGeGe no Kitaro, Yo-kai Watch, and other pop culture hits, Japanese yokai are familiar not only to older generations but even to -
Was Prince Shotoku Real? The Mysterious Figure Disappearing from Japanese Textbooks
English Version Prince Shotoku is probably one of the historical figures many people in Japan studied intensively during compulsory education. In recent ye -
Hyakki Yagyo: Japan’s Night Parade of Demons, Yokai, and Deathly Rumors
English Version Hyakki Yagyo, often translated as the “Night Parade of One Hundred Demons,” has appeared as a motif in countless manga, anime, and works of -
Are Kappa Based on Drowned Bodies? The Dark History of Japan’s River Yokai
English Version Kappa are often counted among Japan’s three great yokai, alongside oni and tengu. Compared with many other spirits and monsters, kappa lege -
Cape Nyudozaki: Ghost Rumors and UFO Sightings on Akita’s Coast
English Version Cape Nyudozaki in Oga, Akita, is a scenic coastal area known for its dramatic cliffs—but it has also picked up a darker reputation. Rumors -
Nezu Shrine’s 2026 Shinkosai: A Procession Seen Only Once Every Four Years
Nezu Shrine's 2026 Shinkosai procession, held only every four years, brings a rare parade of the shrine’s sacred mikoshi through Tokyo’s Nezu district. -
The Haunted Sea Near Oga Aquarium GAO in Akita
English Version Near Oga Aquarium GAO in Oga, Akita, there is a stretch of sea said to have an unsettling reputation. According to local rumor, a figure dr -
Kamo Aosa Coast: The Female Ghost Rumored on Akita’s Oga Peninsula
English Version Kamo Aosa Coast in Oga City, Akita Prefecture, is said to be haunted by the spirit of a woman. According to local rumor, places like this c
