superstition

That time our reporter’s classmate became possessed by a dead child at school

Kokkuri-san is a Japanese ouija board that shouldn’t be messed with.

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How Kyoto’s shrine of severing ties helped our reporter escape from a “black company”

Yasui Konpiragu worked its magic, but for once, not in the terrifying way it usually does.

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Does changing your smartphone lock to 8376 bring good luck, as one Japanese book title suggests?

We try to harness the magical power of a new passcode.

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Shizuoka City orders mysterious torii of unknown origin torn down, sparks concern that a horror movie is beginning

Local government finds new way to invite misery to 2020.

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Find a red envelope on the ground? Here’s why you should never pick it up

Especially for men, snatching an unassuming red envelope from the ground can lead to a shocking proposition.

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Japanese mythbusting: Is it good luck to stumble upon another person’s poo in a shared toilet?

We put the cold comfort that fecal encounters bring good fortune to the test.

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What is Teru Teru Bozu? The tragic history behind the Japanese fine weather doll

While many believe the tradition of making the ghost-like doll can be traced back to a bald-headed monk, history suggests it actually began with a small girl.

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Phantom Pikachu photo gives thousands the chills

Optical illusion? Smoke and mirrors? Or is this creepy photo of Pikachu the work of the supernatural?

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People in Japan are growing concerned that another major earthquake might hit soon

We don’t think we have to tell you that when some lunatic wearing a sandwich board starts telling you that the earth will open up and swallow humanity whole if you don’t do seven Hail Marys, constantly chant “Yahweh,” and transfer a small donation exceeding 10 dollars to his PayPal account right now, you can probably take that prediction with a grain of salt.

But, when it comes to earthquakes, there are actually some pretty solid, observable predictors that one may be coming soon. And, holy crap you guys, there are a bunch of those happening right now in Japan and I for one am starting to get worried.

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1.5-meter snake discovered in home, owner couldn’t be happier

On 18 June in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture, 48-year-old Kaoru Kurosawa came home to find a 1.5-meter Japanese rat snake on the second floor. Kurosawa quickly took a picture of the serpent before it slithered down a gutter and escaped.

Now, netizens across Japan are heralding this event as a sign of good things to come for Japan or at least for Kurosawa.

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