Kowabana: ‘True’ Japanese scary stories from around the internet
- Episodes
- 244
- Released
- every two weeks
- Latest episode
- Nov 13, 2026
About the podcast
Each week on “Kowabana: ‘True’ Japanese scary stories from around the internet,” horror author and translator Tara A. Devlin presents a selection of Japanese horror, creepypastas and urban legends translated from the deepest, darkest parts of the web. Creepy ghosts and vengeful onryo, cursed technology and haunted shrines. Discover horror like only Japan knows how to deliver. Brand new and exclusive stories translated each week. Find out more at http://www.kowabana.net/
Episodes 244
Spooky Season Bite-sized Horrors
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Spooky season never ends, so this week, we have …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Spooky season never ends, so this week, we have another 12 bite-sized Japanese horror stories for you to enjoy after Halloween.
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
UFO & Alien Sightings
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! 10 creepy and bizarre tales of strange unidentified …
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Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
10 creepy and bizarre tales of strange unidentified sightings in the Japanese skies, and the creatures that perhaps came from them.
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Unbelievable Small Town Legends
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Three terrifying tales from Japan about small towns …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Three terrifying tales from Japan about small towns and villages that have horrifying urban legends associated with them… but are they real?
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Vicious Village Tales
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Five bizarre and creepy tales of what lurks in tiny …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Five bizarre and creepy tales of what lurks in tiny villages hidden far from civilisation, and why you should perhaps not let curiosity get the better of you.
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Creepy Customs & Bizarre Beliefs
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Seven creepy tales from Japan about horrifying old …
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Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Seven creepy tales from Japan about horrifying old customs and bizarre beliefs that maybe still linger in hidden pockets of the country today.
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Watery Tales of Doom
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Six terrifying tales from Japan that will make you …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Six terrifying tales from Japan that will make you question what’s really in the water…
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Mountain Forest Mayhem
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Six weird and terrifying tales from Japan’s many …
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Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Six weird and terrifying tales from Japan’s many forests and mountains. What lurks just on the fringes of civilisation? Perhaps it’s best not to find out…
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Terrifying Unconventional Encounters
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Ten terrifying tales from Japan that feature weird …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Ten terrifying tales from Japan that feature weird, bizarre, and often incomprehensible encounters that’ll make you wonder what’s really out there…
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Nightmarish Encounters & Happenings
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! These seven horrifying tales from Japan will make …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
These seven horrifying tales from Japan will make you question what’s lying in wait in not just the dark, but the light as well…
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Traumatising Encounters To Keep You Up At Night
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Five horrifying tales from Japan that will make you …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Five horrifying tales from Japan that will make you question what lurks around the corner, or perhaps, even in your own home…
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Horrifying Haunts
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Take a trip to four terrifying haunted houses that …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Take a trip to four terrifying haunted houses that you won’t soon forget…
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Vicious Voices
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Whatever you do, do *not* listen to these voices …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Whatever you do, do *not* listen to these voices, and certainly don’t try to follow them. They are most certainly up to no good, and you don’t want to find out why…
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Creepy Crafty Dolls
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! These three tales from Japan will remind you once …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
These three tales from Japan will remind you once again not to mess with dolls. They really don’t play around.
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Ghastly Gruesome Ghosts
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Seven terrifying tales of ghosts so ghastly, so …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Seven terrifying tales of ghosts so ghastly, so gruesome, you’ll wonder how anyone ever survived encountering them… If they did survive at all.
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Horrifying Encounters That Can’t Be Explained
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! The people in these seven stories encounter things …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
The people in these seven stories encounter things that not only chill them deep to their core, but to this day, just can’t be explained. What really happened?
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Bewildering & Bizarre Experiences
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! What on earth is actually going on in these seven …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
What on earth is actually going on in these seven tales straight out of Japan? Ghosts? People? Something else entirely? They’ll leave you thinking long into the night…
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Bizarre & Ghastly Ghosts
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Six tales of bizarre, horrifying, and ghastly ghosts …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Six tales of bizarre, horrifying, and ghastly ghosts from Japan. What happened to them, what do they want, and is there any way to escape them?
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Spine-tingling Accounts of the Sea
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Seven terrifying tales straight from the oceans …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Seven terrifying tales straight from the oceans surrounding Japan. Ghosts, monsters, the divine, and maybe even some fish…
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Deadly Spiritual Encounters
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Four terrifying tales from Japan of deadly …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Four terrifying tales from Japan of deadly, horrifying, bizarre, and unforgettable encounters with the other side.
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Spectral Frights and Bites
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! 11 terrifying tales from Japan of ghosts, spectres …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
11 terrifying tales from Japan of ghosts, spectres, and all the horrible things that crawl around in the night.
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Maddening Mountain Frights
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Let’s head into the mountains of Japan for 12 …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Let’s head into the mountains of Japan for 12 terrifying tales of monsters, spirits, and the other horrifying things that lurk far from civilisation.
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Hair-raising School Adventures
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! It’s time to head back to school for eight …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
It’s time to head back to school for eight terrifying tales of what lurks in the classrooms, in the halls, in the gym, and perhaps even right in front of you…
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Best of 2025
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! As we kick back over the holidays, let’s take a look …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
As we kick back over the holidays, let’s take a look back at some of the best stories from last year as we prepare ourselves for another terrifying year of terrific tales.
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Deadly Dreadful Dolls
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Nine terrifying tales of Japanese dolls that’ll make …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Nine terrifying tales of Japanese dolls that’ll make you question what’s really sitting on the shelf at night…
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Devilish Dreams
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Eight terrifying dreams that’ll make you question …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Eight terrifying dreams that’ll make you question going to sleep, and if it’s really safer there than it is here in the waking world.
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Encounters of the Twisted
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Eight Japanese horror tales that will not just …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Eight Japanese horror tales that will not just terrify you, but also make you question what’s really out there, and whether everything can truly be explained.
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Spooky Spectral Terrors
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Five terrifying tales of spooky Japanese ghosts who …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Five terrifying tales of spooky Japanese ghosts who may or may not just be after a little help… If you’re willing to offer it, that is.
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Human Horrors for Halloween
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Sometimes it’s not the ghosts or monsters or other …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Sometimes it’s not the ghosts or monsters or other supernatural creepies that might be lurking in the dark that you have to fear. Sometimes it’s our fellow man…
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
2ch Classics Revisited
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Revisit some of the most beloved creepypastas to …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Revisit some of the most beloved creepypastas to have ever come out of 2channel, as voted by Japanese readers!
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
Tales of Cursed Buildings
Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Step inside for 10 terrifying tales of cursed …
Show notes
Episode NotesJoin our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord!
Step inside for 10 terrifying tales of cursed buildings, haunted abodes, and the creepy things that lurk in the darkness of where we live.
BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana
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