Abstract

★Mysterious Folk Beliefs Are Still Alive and Well in Japan
★Reflecting on the Human Heart That Cannot Help but Make a Wish

Mysterious folk beliefs are still alive and well in Japan. Guided by this conviction, the author travels across the country in search of quirky, sometimes spooky yet endearing wishes and beliefs deeply rooted in everyday life and local customs. Drawing on folklore studies and research into ghost stories, the author presents these traditions from a uniquely personal perspective.

This book helps readers “turn travel and strolls into adventures.” Through five themes—Everyday Life, Festivals, Epidemics, Death, and Stories—it playfully explores the human act of wishing, “May … happen,” to unseen beings and forces, whether gods, nature, people who are no longer present, or the future itself. With a light and engaging writing style, the author invites readers on a fascinating journey into Japan’s mysterious world of folk beliefs.

Author’s Information

Born in 1985 in Iida, Nagano Prefecture, he is a researcher specializing in Japanese supernatural folklore and culture. He is a special research fellow at CRC LLC (Regional Revitalization Clinic) and a graduate of Kyoto Seika University.