Japanese horror and ghost stories

-

Kaidanbanashi is a general term for ghost stories, which have been handed down since ancient times in the rakugo performance genre, and which deal with ghosts, spirits, and other supernatural phenomena.
The genre became popular from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period.


Rakugo is a form of entertainment in which a single performer sits in front of an audience and tells amusing stories, with a focus on laughter. There are also "humanity stories" that depict the love between family members and couples, but ghost stories are also one of the most popular rakugo genres.

The stage, called a 'kouza', is decorated with a backdrop, and sounds and music are played to create a sense of fear.
Props such as people dressed as fireballs or ghosts, and puppets, also make an appearance, making it a performance that is almost like a play.


Kaidan Botan Doro (Ghost Story: Peony Lantern), written by Sanyutei Encho, who is considered to be the biggest star in the history of Japanese Rakugo, is considered to be a masterpiece. It is often performed in Kabuki, and is also the subject of horror films. (Tokyo Rakugo)

Kaidan Botan Doro (Kabuki)
 
On the other hand, in rakugo in the Kansai region, stories such as "Shichiyagura" are popular,
and they include elements of comic stories and comedies, with dancing ghosts appearing and funny conversations taking place.


Recently, rakugo recordings on compact disk have become available, making it easier to obtain.
Rakugo is a form of entertainment performed in Japanese, so it may be difficult for people from overseas to understand, but why not try enjoying the atmosphere at least?
The atmosphere, the sounds, the tone of the story - you can feel the fear just from the atmosphere.

If you are interested in Japanese Rakugo, please contact us.
We will choose a recommended title from our collection.

 

 Kenshi Yonezu's song "Shinigami" is based on this type of ghost story. 

↓original
 

 

↓Subtitled version





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is "Mame-Chishiki"?

-
Image
"Mame Chishiki" means trivia. "Mame" means beans, and "Chishiki" means knowledge. Knowledge as small as a bean is called "Mame Chishiki". In Japanese, small is expressed as “Mame”. A small Shiba Inu is "Mame Shiba", a small piece of charcoal is "Mame Tan", a toy gun with no power is "Mame Teppou",etc. In Japanese, “Mame” mostly refers to food, but it can also mean ‘small’ or “little” in this way. In Japan, there is a female vocal group called "Mame-Shiba no Taigun". "Mame Shiba“ means a small Shiba dog, and ”Taigun" means a horde or large group. The group is called “Taigun” (horde), but it has five members. They are what is called an “idol” group in Japan, and were born as a result of an audition for a TV show. I first learned that “Japanese idols” were a bit strange and unique when I read William Ford Gibson's novel “Idoru” (1996). Reading this novel, I learned that “idols” are unique from a ...
Read more

Various types of 'ANKO' (red bean paste)

-
Image
 Today we'll be introducing a type of Japanese confectionery that you'll often see in Japan: anko. There are many different types of anko. The most common type is made from azuki beans and sugar. Like many other Japanese foods, anko has been eaten since the Edo period. The favorite food of Doraemon, dorayaki, also contains anko.  There are different types of 'anko' made from azuki beans and sugar. ① 'Tsubuan', ② 'Koshi-an', ③ 'Tsubushi-an', ④ 'Ogura-an ① and ② are the most common types of 'anko'. ③ and ④ are variations on ① and ②. ① "Tsubuan" Tsubuan" is made by cooking azuki beans without crushing them, while retaining their shape. The shape of the azuki beans is left intact. You can enjoy the texture of the individual beans, and it is very filling. ② "Koshi-an" Koshi-an" is made by straining cooked azuki beans through a cloth. The bean skins are removed. It is characterized by its smooth texture. ③ ...
Read more

Okinawa's doughnuts, "Sata Andagi"

-
Image
 Sata Andagi is a deep-fried Okinawan doughnut. Sata means "sugar", Anda means "oil", and Agi means "fry". In other words, it means "something made by frying sugar in oil". As the name suggests, sata andagi uses a lot of sugar. Sata Andagi Sata andagi is a snack with a crispy outer layer and a chewy inner texture that is very filling. It is fried slowly so it keeps for a long time, and it is made in large quantities at once. Sata Andagi is made by mixing flour, baking powder, eggs and sugar to make the dough, but these days, there are also special mixes on sale that are popular. There are also doughs that have been kneaded with ingredients such as pumpkin, sweet potato and turmeric. There is also a square doughnut called "Sangwachi gwashi", which means "March cake", made from the same ingredients. This is also a traditional Okinawan confectionery that is popular. Sangwachi gwashi It is said that the way the surface of the sata...
Read more