EPISODE GUIDE
SEASON ONE
JUKAI:
THE SUICIDE FOREST
Episode 1: Origins of a Mysterious Forest
Stories examining the origins of Aokigahara Jukai (the "Suicide Forest")-- from a volcanic eruption burying 30,000 to tales of ghosts, mysterious screams, the Tengu yokai creature in the trees, and superstitions surrounding the forest.
Produced, written and translated by Heath A. Havey
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Episode 2: EXPUNGING EVIL FROM THE FOREST
Stories about monks who mummified themselves alive to expel the evil from Jukai, and a journalist seeks a hidden cult in the forest and finds more than he bargained for.
Produced, written and translated by Heath A. Havey
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Episode 3: BECOMING THE SUICIDE FOREST
This episode examines stories showing the origins of Jukai becoming known as the "Suicide Forest," including tales of heroes seeking to intervene to prevent the suicides. As the sensitive topic of suicide is discussed, listener discretion is advised.
Episode 4: murder in THE SUICIDE FOREST
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Produced, written and translated by Heath A. Havey
This episode relates stories of curses and murder in the suicide forest, a perfect place for a perfect crime, the group known as "murder maniacs," and a journalist finds his life hanging by a thread--literally.
Produced, written and translated by Heath A. Havey
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Episode 5: CORPSE HUNTERS in THE SUICIDE FOREST
Stories of people who go into the Suicide Forest searching for corpses, including the socially shunned "Corpse Maniacs," a death photographer, and the frightening tale of two men who go looking for corpses but find something supernatural instead.
Produced, written and translated by Heath A. Havey
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Episode 6: the mysteries of jukai
This episode examines stories around the six most popular legends of Jukai: a Lake of Blood in Jukai, spirit monks, a hidden village of castouts, a cursed altar that will not let people leave, sounds and phantoms in the forest, and the story of the woman in the red dress. Some of these legends surprisingly have been proven true.
Produced, written and translated by Heath A. Havey
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Episode 7: a stash of cash in jukai
An unbelievable heist in Japan. Japan’s favorite author commits an act of violence that will shock the nation. Are these two connected? And how do they connect to Jukai? Are millions of dollars hidden somewhere in the forest caves?
Produced, written and translated by Heath A. Havey
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Episode 8: GHOST STORIES From THE SUICIDE FOREST
Is Jukai haunted? This episode features ghost stories from Jukai.
Produced, written and translated by Heath A. Havey
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Episode 9: folklore tales from jukai
Jukai has resulted in urban legends and tales of folklore. Season one wraps up by examining some of the scariest tales from the forest.
Produced, written and translated by Heath A. Havey
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season two:
THE TERRORS OF TWO VOLCANOES
IWO JIMA
EPISODE 10: HOLDOUTS OF IWO JIMA
The harrowing tale of survival and self-deception of two World War II Japanese soldiers amid a violent battle for this volcanic island.
Produced, written and translated by Heath A. Havey
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EPISODE 11: THE GHOSTS OF IWO JIMA
With tens of thousands dead on this island, the Japanese consider Iwo Jima a sacred island. Rules have been established to keep the spirits at peace and to avoid having them follow visitors back to the mainland. Ghost stories on the island are pervasive. Listen to those ghost stories and tales that have terrified Japanese and U.S. military visitors to the island.
MIHARA
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EPISODE 12: THE DARK lEGENDS OF MIHARA
Listen to three tales of legend involving Yokai, a famous shaman, and 25 young men who sought revenge against a ruthless warlord. All three tales give rise to the belief that the island of Izu Oshima, and its volcano Mihara, are haunted places of tatari.
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EPISODE 13: MIHARA’S LEGACY OF SELF-IMMOLATION
Release Date: February 23, 2024
In 1933, two young women face a Japan intolerant of their lesbianism. One of them decides to throw herself into the Mihara volcano. She could never anticipate the wave of thousands of people over the next four years who would throw themselves into the lava belching volcano. These are the rejected of society, the forbidden loves, and those feeling persecuted by Japanese homogeneous standards.
And the business people on the island capitalize on this tragedy. Thousands visit the volcano each day to see who will throw themselves into the crater. News crews arrive. Global news covers the story. Izu Oshima becomes known as “Suicide Island” and Mihara becomes known as the “Suicide Volcano.” The government tries countless measures to stop the plague of suicides.
Hear these stories and more on Episode 13.
EPISODE 14: THE CURSE OF MIHARA
Release Date: March 8, 2024
Episode 14 follows the results of the so-called “Plague of Suicides,” where thousands each year plunged to their deaths into the molten crater of Mount Mihara in the 1930s, while tens of thousands crowded around the crater to watch and unethical businessmen exploited the tragedy.
Hear the incredible tales of rescue efforts, including the inspirational tale of Nobu Jo, who spent her life trying to prevent outcast women from taking these drastic actions, and giving hope despite the many death threats and tragedies facing her own life by unscrupulous men.
But beyond the horrific center of this volcano, curses were placed by many on the island. Some believe these curses led to an unbelievable airplane crash right into the side of the volcano. Others believe the ghosts of those who died in the volcano can be seen. And one such ghost is believed to have been caught on a news team's camera during a powerful eruption in the 1980s.
Is the island and its volcano cursed? Do the dead still roam the trees and the rim of the caldera? Listen now and judge for yourself.
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INTERLUDE one:
WEIRD, FUNNY AND MYSTERIOUS JAPAN
Release Date: March 22, 2024
Taking a break from the tragic and frightening side of Japan, we look in this episode at two very bizarre, and perhaps humorous, aspects of Japan.
First, adoption in Japan may shock the senses of many in the West, including adoption of a mistress. Hear the strange customs and reasons behind the customs of the odd way the Japanese view adoptions.
Second, Japan’s medieval era had disparate views on flatulence. For nobility, it could be a reason to shut oneself up in shame or worse. Among the common people, a professional entertainer called a flatulist (Heppiri Otoko) arose, What the master flatulist in Japan could do is both shocking and hilarious. Listen now to hear humorous stories of flatulence in medieval Japan.
And flatulence was used to make political statements in so called “flatulence wars” embodied in scrolls. Hear the incredible tale of such a “fart war,” and that poor cat caught in the middle.
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SEASON THREE:
the hotel turned tatari
Season Three Debut Date: April 5, 2024
Episode 16: The Legends of akasaka
Release Date: April 5, 2024
Episode 16 begins our look at the site of the most haunted hotel in Japan. Located in the busy Akasaka district of downtown Tokyo, the spot is notorious for ghostly, demonic and yokai activity, as well as a place of frequent murders.
For centuries, this place has been known as a portal where demons enter. Hear what was done to close the portal and how the portal was eroded over time by evil deeds and curses. One man’s fateful death is linked directly to his attempt to open the portal.
The site is also the place haunted by a mysterious yokai known as the noppera-bo. This is a faceless creature that lures people in by disguising itself as a woman in distress, only to viciously attack them. The most famous noppera-bo story took place in the 19th Century on the site where the Hotel New Japan would one day be erected.
But there are many more tales that make this spot a place of tatari, cursed by tragedy, death, and malicious intent. Hear about the tale to overthrow the government and murder its leaders, a scheme hatched in this very spot. Hear about the infamous murder of a celebrity and the yakuza tortures and murders that many believe have left this place cursed with ghostly activity.
All these legends and more explored in this episode of Mysterious Japan.
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episode 17: the deadly ashes of error
Release Date: April 19, 2024
An owner who installed dummy sprinkler systems to fool the fire department and save money. He ruled over his employees with intimidation and fear, firing any who questioned him. He refused to train them on emergency procedures to save money and hide his negligence. What could go wrong?
On February 8, 1982, a cigarette on the ninth floor sends the hotel into a fiery and deadly blaze. The few late night workers fail to pull the fire alarm and soon found themselves outmatched by the fire. By the time the fire engines arrive, it is too late for many on the top two floors. Hear this story compiled from the harrowing court records, investigation reports, and witness testimony.
It is a story full of daring escapes, bumbling employees untrained on procedures, and a fire jumping from room to room as it develops into the second most deadly fire in the history of Japan, resulting in 9 long hours of hell on earth for the 103 guests on the 9th and 10th Floors.
Their stories and tragedies unfold in this episode of Mysterious Japan.
What people are saying
“As authentic and scary as it gets for Japan. Like nothing I’ve ever heard before.”