
Japanese Ghost Stories
Penguin Classics
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $18.88
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Eleanor Matsuura
-
By:
-
Lafcadio Hearn
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
This Penguin Classic is performed by Eleanor Matsuura, known for AMC's The Walking Dead and Spooks. This definitive recording includes an Introduction by Paul Murray.
In this collection of classic ghost stories from Japan, beautiful princesses turn out to be frogs, paintings come alive, deadly spectral brides haunt the living and a samurai delivers the baby of a Shinto goddess with mystical help. Here are all the phantoms and ghouls of Japanese folklore: 'rokuro-kubi', whose heads separate from their bodies at night; 'jikininki', or flesh-eating goblins; and terrifying faceless 'mujina' who haunt lonely neighbourhoods. Lafcadio Hearn, a master storyteller, drew on traditional Japanese folklore, infused with memories of his own haunted childhood in Ireland, to create these chilling tales. They are today regarded in Japan as classics in their own right.
Public Domain (P)2019 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
-
Kwaidan
- Stories and Studies of Strange Things
- By: Lafcadio Hearn
- Narrated by: Blaise Adams
- Length: 3 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, was an Irish writer known also by the Japanese name Koizumi Yakumo. His book Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, comprises two parts, the first being the "Kwaidan Proper" and the second, "Insect-Studies", which consists of an essay each on ants, butterflies and mosquitos. According to the author, most of the folk tales and ghost stories in the first part were translated from old Japanese texts. The themes encompass resurrection, sacrifice, magic, and the realm of dreams.
By: Lafcadio Hearn
-
Japanese Mythology Collection
- Japanese Fairy Tales and Aino Folk-Tales (Annotated) with a Historical Introduction
- By: Iwaya Sazanami, Basil Hall Chamberlain
- Narrated by: Jim D. Johnston
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discover fascinating ancient Japanese fairy tales as well as the folk tales of the Ainu/Aino. The first book in this collection, titled Japanese Fairy Tales, was written by Iwaya Sazanami and translated by Yei Theodora Ozaki, a 20th-century translator of Japanese short stories and fairy tales. The second book in this collection is a rare one that is not usually available in audio format: Aino Folk-Tales by Basil Chamberlain, one of the most prominent British Japanologists active in Japan during the latter half of the 19th century.
-
-
The reader...:(
- By Sara Penn on 02-24-24
By: Iwaya Sazanami, and others
-
The Tale of Genji, Volume 1
- By: Murasaki Shikibu, Dennis Washburn - translator
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 35 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Murasaki Shikibu, born into the middle ranks of the aristocracy during the Heian period (794-1185 CE), wrote The Tale of Genji, widely considered the world's first novel, during the early years of the 11th century. Expansive, compelling, and sophisticated in its representation of ethical concerns and aesthetic ideals, Murasaki's tale came to occupy a central place in Japan's remarkable history of artistic achievement and is now recognized as a masterpiece of world literature.
-
-
Tales of Genji
- By Amazon Customer on 02-24-20
By: Murasaki Shikibu, and others
-
Ghost Stories: Stephen Fry's Definitive Collection
- By: Stephen Fry, Washington Irving, M.R. James, and others
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As the days grow shorter and the temperature drops, Halloween approaches. Come, brave listener, pull up a chair, and spend some time with master storyteller Stephen Fry as he tells us some of his favourite ghost stories of all time, in truly terrifying spatial audio. From the headless horseman of Sleepy Hollow to the tortured spirits of M.R. James, from Edgar Allan Poe’s terrifying tale of a doppelganger to Charlotte Riddell’s Open Door that should definitely stay shut, join Stephen as he tells you some truly terrifying tales.
-
-
Wonderful narration. Mediocre stories.
- By Michael Fuchs on 11-07-23
By: Stephen Fry, and others
-
Winged Pharaoh
- The Far Memory Books, Book 1
- By: Joan Grant
- Narrated by: Mil Nicholson
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Winged Pharaoh, Joan Grant tells the story of Sekeeta, the pharaoh's daughter. The ancient Egyptians reserved the title of Winged Pharaoh for ruler priests who possessed extrasensory powers. When Sekeeta demonstrates psychic abilities, she is sent to the temple and trained to recall past lives. Upon the death of her father, she becomes a Winged Pharaoh - both priestess and pharaoh - and leads her country with enlightenment.
-
-
Entertaining yes, but historically accurate?
- By Setken on 09-30-21
By: Joan Grant
-
Greek Mythology
- Classic Stories of the Greek Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters (Classic Mythology, Book 1)
- By: Scott Lewis
- Narrated by: Madison Niederhauser
- Length: 3 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This captivating audiobook will take you on a beautiful journey through the fascinating world of Greek mythology. From the beginning of the cosmos to the Odyssey, be ready to venture into an exciting world of love, loyalty, infidelity, vengeance, deception, and intrigue!
-
-
A great way to gain insight to Ancient Greece
- By cosmitron on 07-27-18
By: Scott Lewis
-
Kwaidan
- Stories and Studies of Strange Things
- By: Lafcadio Hearn
- Narrated by: Blaise Adams
- Length: 3 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, was an Irish writer known also by the Japanese name Koizumi Yakumo. His book Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, comprises two parts, the first being the "Kwaidan Proper" and the second, "Insect-Studies", which consists of an essay each on ants, butterflies and mosquitos. According to the author, most of the folk tales and ghost stories in the first part were translated from old Japanese texts. The themes encompass resurrection, sacrifice, magic, and the realm of dreams.
By: Lafcadio Hearn
-
Japanese Mythology Collection
- Japanese Fairy Tales and Aino Folk-Tales (Annotated) with a Historical Introduction
- By: Iwaya Sazanami, Basil Hall Chamberlain
- Narrated by: Jim D. Johnston
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discover fascinating ancient Japanese fairy tales as well as the folk tales of the Ainu/Aino. The first book in this collection, titled Japanese Fairy Tales, was written by Iwaya Sazanami and translated by Yei Theodora Ozaki, a 20th-century translator of Japanese short stories and fairy tales. The second book in this collection is a rare one that is not usually available in audio format: Aino Folk-Tales by Basil Chamberlain, one of the most prominent British Japanologists active in Japan during the latter half of the 19th century.
-
-
The reader...:(
- By Sara Penn on 02-24-24
By: Iwaya Sazanami, and others
-
The Tale of Genji, Volume 1
- By: Murasaki Shikibu, Dennis Washburn - translator
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 35 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Murasaki Shikibu, born into the middle ranks of the aristocracy during the Heian period (794-1185 CE), wrote The Tale of Genji, widely considered the world's first novel, during the early years of the 11th century. Expansive, compelling, and sophisticated in its representation of ethical concerns and aesthetic ideals, Murasaki's tale came to occupy a central place in Japan's remarkable history of artistic achievement and is now recognized as a masterpiece of world literature.
-
-
Tales of Genji
- By Amazon Customer on 02-24-20
By: Murasaki Shikibu, and others
-
Ghost Stories: Stephen Fry's Definitive Collection
- By: Stephen Fry, Washington Irving, M.R. James, and others
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As the days grow shorter and the temperature drops, Halloween approaches. Come, brave listener, pull up a chair, and spend some time with master storyteller Stephen Fry as he tells us some of his favourite ghost stories of all time, in truly terrifying spatial audio. From the headless horseman of Sleepy Hollow to the tortured spirits of M.R. James, from Edgar Allan Poe’s terrifying tale of a doppelganger to Charlotte Riddell’s Open Door that should definitely stay shut, join Stephen as he tells you some truly terrifying tales.
-
-
Wonderful narration. Mediocre stories.
- By Michael Fuchs on 11-07-23
By: Stephen Fry, and others
-
Winged Pharaoh
- The Far Memory Books, Book 1
- By: Joan Grant
- Narrated by: Mil Nicholson
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Winged Pharaoh, Joan Grant tells the story of Sekeeta, the pharaoh's daughter. The ancient Egyptians reserved the title of Winged Pharaoh for ruler priests who possessed extrasensory powers. When Sekeeta demonstrates psychic abilities, she is sent to the temple and trained to recall past lives. Upon the death of her father, she becomes a Winged Pharaoh - both priestess and pharaoh - and leads her country with enlightenment.
-
-
Entertaining yes, but historically accurate?
- By Setken on 09-30-21
By: Joan Grant
-
Greek Mythology
- Classic Stories of the Greek Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters (Classic Mythology, Book 1)
- By: Scott Lewis
- Narrated by: Madison Niederhauser
- Length: 3 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This captivating audiobook will take you on a beautiful journey through the fascinating world of Greek mythology. From the beginning of the cosmos to the Odyssey, be ready to venture into an exciting world of love, loyalty, infidelity, vengeance, deception, and intrigue!
-
-
A great way to gain insight to Ancient Greece
- By cosmitron on 07-27-18
By: Scott Lewis
-
Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey
- By: Homer, W. H. D. Rouse - translator
- Narrated by: Anthony Heald
- Length: 25 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey are unquestionably two of the greatest epic masterpieces in Western literature. Though more than 2,700 years old, their stories of brave heroics, capricious gods, and towering human emotions are vividly timeless. The Iliad can justly be called the world’s greatest war epic. The terrible and long-drawn-out siege of Troy remains one of the classic campaigns. The Odyssey chronicles the many trials and adventures Odysseus must pass through on his long journey home from the Trojan wars to his beloved wife.
-
-
Oddball Translation
- By Joel Jenkins on 05-11-17
By: Homer, and others
-
Kokoro
- By: Natsume Soseki
- Narrated by: Matt Shea
- Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The subject of Kokoro, which can be translated as 'the heart of things' or as 'feeling,' is the delicate matter of the contrast between the meanings the various parties of a relationship attach to it. In the course of this exploration, Soseki brilliantly describes different levels of friendship, family relationships, and the devices by which men attempt to escape from their fundamental loneliness. The novel sustains throughout its length something approaching poetry, and it is rich in understanding and insight.
-
-
The Heart Of Things, Relationships & Feelings
- By Sara on 04-27-15
By: Natsume Soseki
-
Musashi
- By: Eiji Yoshikawa, Charles S. Terry - translator
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 53 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The classic samurai novel about the real exploits of the most famous swordsman. Miyamoto Musashi becomes a reluctant hero to a host of people whose lives he has touched and by whom he has been touched. Inevitably, he has to pit his skill against the naked blade of his greatest rival.
-
-
Good Historical Novel
- By The Walking Dude on 08-11-19
By: Eiji Yoshikawa, and others
-
The Pillow Book
- By: Sei Shōnagon
- Narrated by: Georgina Sutton
- Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon is a fascinating, detailed account of Japanese court life in the closing years of the 10th century. Written by a lady of the court at the height of Heian culture, this book enthrals with its lively gossip, witty observations and subtle impressions. Lady Shōnagon was an erstwhile rival of Lady Murasaki, whose novel, The Tale of Genji, fictionalized the elite world Lady Shōnagon so eloquently relates.
-
-
Exquisite. Truly!
- By Erick DuPree on 01-10-23
By: Sei Shōnagon
-
I Am a Cat
- By: Soseki Natsume, Aiko Ito - translator, Graeme Wilson - translator
- Narrated by: David Shih
- Length: 21 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Soseki Natsume's comic masterpiece, I Am a Cat, satirizes the foolishness of upper-middle class Japanese society during the Meiji era. With acerbic wit and sardonic perspective, it follows the whimsical adventures of a world-weary stray kitten who comments on the follies and foibles of the people around him. A classic of Japanese literature, I Am a Cat is one of Soseki's best-known novels. Considered by many as the greatest writer in modern Japanese history, Soseki's I Am a Cat is a classic novel sure to be enjoyed for years to come.
-
-
Great performance!
- By mz on 04-03-20
By: Soseki Natsume, and others
-
Mythology: Mega Collection
- Classic Stories from the Greek, Celtic, Norse, Japanese, Hindu, Chinese, Mesopotamian and Egyptian Mythology
- By: Scott Lewis
- Narrated by: Madison Niederhauser, Oliver Hunt
- Length: 31 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Do you know how many wives Zeus had? Or how the famous Trojan War was caused by one beautiful lady? Or how Thor got his hammer? Give your imagination a real treat. This Mega Mythology Collection of eight audiobooks is for you....
-
-
An interesting set of introductions.
- By Kevin Potter on 05-30-19
By: Scott Lewis
-
M.R. James: The Complete Ghost Stories Collection
- By: M. R. James
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 18 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For the first time, the complete works of M. R. James are available to download in one collection. This unabridged collection of all M.R. James' ghost stories includes tales from Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, More Ghost Stories, A Thin Ghost and Others, and A Warning to the Curious and Other Ghost Stories. It is expertly read by award-winning narrator Jonathan Keeble.
-
-
The Master
- By Mardou Fox on 08-09-22
By: M. R. James
-
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
- By: Haruki Murakami
- Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
- Length: 14 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Across two parallel narratives, Murakami draws listeners into a mind-bending universe in which Lauren Bacall, Bob Dylan, a split-brained data processor, a deranged scientist, his shockingly undemure granddaughter, and various thugs, librarians, and subterranean monsters collide to dazzling effect. What emerges is a novel that is at once hilariously funny and a deeply serious meditation on the nature and uses of the mind.
-
-
Highly recommend
- By Amazon Customer on 07-23-18
By: Haruki Murakami
-
Sanshiro
- Penguin Classics
- By: Natsume Soseki, Haruki Murakami, Jay Rubin
- Narrated by: Andrew Koji
- Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of Soseki's most beloved works of fiction, the novel depicts the 23-year-old Sanshiro leaving the sleepy countryside for the first time in his life to experience the constantly moving 'real world' of Tokyo, its women and university. In the subtle tension between our appreciation of Soseki's lively humour and our awareness of Sanshiro's doomed innocence, the novel comes to life. Sanshiro is also penetrating social and cultural commentary.
-
-
This story had no point.
- By icelandicponies on 12-30-21
By: Natsume Soseki, and others
-
Kusamakura [Grass Pillow]
- By: Natsume Soseki, Meredith McKinney - translator
- Narrated by: Kotaro Watanabe, Elizabeth Jasicki
- Length: 7 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Natsume Soseki's Kusamakura - meaning “grass pillow” - follows its nameless young artist-narrator on a meandering walking tour of the mountains. At the inn at a hot-spring resort, he has a series of mysterious encounters with Nami, the lovely young daughter of the establishment. Nami, or "beauty", is the center of this elegant novel, the still point around which the artist moves and the enigmatic subject of Soseki's word painting.
-
-
Puzzling choice of narrator
- By Ana Matilde Sousa on 09-01-24
By: Natsume Soseki, and others
-
The Woman in the Dunes
- By: Kobo Abe
- Narrated by: Julian Cihi
- Length: 6 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After missing the last bus home following a day trip to the seashore, an amateur entomologist is offered lodging for the night at the bottom of a vast sand pit. But when he attempts to leave the next morning, he quickly discovers the locals have other plans. Held captive with seemingly no chance of escape, he is tasked with shoveling back the ever-advancing sand dunes that threaten to destroy the village. His only companion is an odd young woman. Together, their fates become intertwined as they work side-by-side at this Sisyphean task.
-
-
Nihilistic horror
- By Mr. Sagan on 07-20-19
By: Kobo Abe
-
Japanese Mythology
- Classic Stories of Japanese Myths, Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters, the Story of Princess Hase, Issun-Boshi, Momotaro, Kintaro, Kaguya Hime
- By: Roberts Parizi
- Narrated by: Joshua
- Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Are you interested in learning about Japanese mythology? Are you intrigued by the culture of Japan? Are you looking for some interesting stories to read? These myths are great from adults and children alike. They give you an insight into a culture that is full of traditions. These myths are like nothing you have ever read before. You will find that Japanese mythology is not based in only one belief system. These myths and folktales are based in their Shinto and Buddhist traditions. The origin stories within Japanese mythology can vary.
-
-
I enjoyed it
- By bud p. on 10-30-22
By: Roberts Parizi
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
In Ghostly Japan
- Japanese Legends of Ghosts, Yokai, Yurei and Other Oddities
- By: Lafcadio Hearn, Michael Dylan Foster - Foreword by
- Narrated by: Kaipo Schwab
- Length: 3 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Ghostly Japan collects 12 ghostly stories from Lafcadio Hearn, deathless images of ghosts and goblins, touches of folklore and superstition, salted with traditions of the nation. While some of these stories contain nightmare imagery worthy of a midnight creature feature, others are not ghostly or ghastly at all. "Bits of Poetry" offers an engaging study on verse, and "Japanese Buddhist Proverbs" explains the meaning of several aphorisms based on Japanese cultural references.
-
-
I really enjoyed this
- By Vanessa on 10-02-24
By: Lafcadio Hearn, and others
-
Japanese Mythology Collection 2
- Myths and Legends of Japan, Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan and Kwaidan
- By: Lafcadio Hearn, F. Hadland Davis, Richard Gordon Smith
- Narrated by: James Francis Markert
- Length: 24 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Together, these three volumes form an essential collection for anyone fascinated by mythology, folklore, and the cultural heritage of Japan. Each story in this anthology is not just a tale. It's a window into the ancient soul of Japan, its people, and its enduring legacy.
-
-
Try again
- By ELIPEGO on 04-16-24
By: Lafcadio Hearn, and others
-
Kwaidan
- Stories and Studies of Strange Things
- By: Lafcadio Hearn
- Narrated by: Blaise Adams
- Length: 3 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, was an Irish writer known also by the Japanese name Koizumi Yakumo. His book Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, comprises two parts, the first being the "Kwaidan Proper" and the second, "Insect-Studies", which consists of an essay each on ants, butterflies and mosquitos. According to the author, most of the folk tales and ghost stories in the first part were translated from old Japanese texts. The themes encompass resurrection, sacrifice, magic, and the realm of dreams.
By: Lafcadio Hearn
-
Japanese Mythology Collection
- Japanese Fairy Tales and Aino Folk-Tales (Annotated) with a Historical Introduction
- By: Iwaya Sazanami, Basil Hall Chamberlain
- Narrated by: Jim D. Johnston
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discover fascinating ancient Japanese fairy tales as well as the folk tales of the Ainu/Aino. The first book in this collection, titled Japanese Fairy Tales, was written by Iwaya Sazanami and translated by Yei Theodora Ozaki, a 20th-century translator of Japanese short stories and fairy tales. The second book in this collection is a rare one that is not usually available in audio format: Aino Folk-Tales by Basil Chamberlain, one of the most prominent British Japanologists active in Japan during the latter half of the 19th century.
-
-
The reader...:(
- By Sara Penn on 02-24-24
By: Iwaya Sazanami, and others
-
The Japanese Classics Collection: Literature, Myths, Samurai Philosophy, Folk Tales and More
- The Tale of Genji, The Kojiki, Bushido: The Soul of Japan, The Book of Tea, and Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things
- By: Lady Murasaki Shikibu, Basil Hall Chamberlain, Inazo Nitobe, and others
- Narrated by: Blaise Adams
- Length: 18 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Japanese culture has fascinated the West ever since the country’s doors opened up in the 1800s. In many ways, Japan has remained elusive, and people have travelled from all around the world to see for themselves how unique this nation remains. Another way of exploring this enigmatic culture is through its literature. The English language succeeds surprisingly well in revealing the Japanese sense of life.
By: Lady Murasaki Shikibu, and others
-
The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth
- The Stories of the Mischievous Kappa, Trickster Kitsune, Horrendous Oni, and More
- By: Thersa Matsuura
- Narrated by: Thersa Matsuura
- Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: a fascinating journey through Japan’s folklore through profiles of the legendary creatures and beings who continue to live on in pop culture today. From the sly kitsune to the orgrish oni and mischievous shape-shifting tanuki, learn all about the origins of these fantastical and mythical creatures. With information on their cultural significance, and how it’s been spun into today’s popular culture, this tome teaches you about the stories and histories of the beings that inspired characters in your favorite movies, animes, manga, and games.
By: Thersa Matsuura
-
In Ghostly Japan
- Japanese Legends of Ghosts, Yokai, Yurei and Other Oddities
- By: Lafcadio Hearn, Michael Dylan Foster - Foreword by
- Narrated by: Kaipo Schwab
- Length: 3 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Ghostly Japan collects 12 ghostly stories from Lafcadio Hearn, deathless images of ghosts and goblins, touches of folklore and superstition, salted with traditions of the nation. While some of these stories contain nightmare imagery worthy of a midnight creature feature, others are not ghostly or ghastly at all. "Bits of Poetry" offers an engaging study on verse, and "Japanese Buddhist Proverbs" explains the meaning of several aphorisms based on Japanese cultural references.
-
-
I really enjoyed this
- By Vanessa on 10-02-24
By: Lafcadio Hearn, and others
-
Japanese Mythology Collection 2
- Myths and Legends of Japan, Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan and Kwaidan
- By: Lafcadio Hearn, F. Hadland Davis, Richard Gordon Smith
- Narrated by: James Francis Markert
- Length: 24 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Together, these three volumes form an essential collection for anyone fascinated by mythology, folklore, and the cultural heritage of Japan. Each story in this anthology is not just a tale. It's a window into the ancient soul of Japan, its people, and its enduring legacy.
-
-
Try again
- By ELIPEGO on 04-16-24
By: Lafcadio Hearn, and others
-
Kwaidan
- Stories and Studies of Strange Things
- By: Lafcadio Hearn
- Narrated by: Blaise Adams
- Length: 3 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, was an Irish writer known also by the Japanese name Koizumi Yakumo. His book Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, comprises two parts, the first being the "Kwaidan Proper" and the second, "Insect-Studies", which consists of an essay each on ants, butterflies and mosquitos. According to the author, most of the folk tales and ghost stories in the first part were translated from old Japanese texts. The themes encompass resurrection, sacrifice, magic, and the realm of dreams.
By: Lafcadio Hearn
-
Japanese Mythology Collection
- Japanese Fairy Tales and Aino Folk-Tales (Annotated) with a Historical Introduction
- By: Iwaya Sazanami, Basil Hall Chamberlain
- Narrated by: Jim D. Johnston
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discover fascinating ancient Japanese fairy tales as well as the folk tales of the Ainu/Aino. The first book in this collection, titled Japanese Fairy Tales, was written by Iwaya Sazanami and translated by Yei Theodora Ozaki, a 20th-century translator of Japanese short stories and fairy tales. The second book in this collection is a rare one that is not usually available in audio format: Aino Folk-Tales by Basil Chamberlain, one of the most prominent British Japanologists active in Japan during the latter half of the 19th century.
-
-
The reader...:(
- By Sara Penn on 02-24-24
By: Iwaya Sazanami, and others
-
The Japanese Classics Collection: Literature, Myths, Samurai Philosophy, Folk Tales and More
- The Tale of Genji, The Kojiki, Bushido: The Soul of Japan, The Book of Tea, and Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things
- By: Lady Murasaki Shikibu, Basil Hall Chamberlain, Inazo Nitobe, and others
- Narrated by: Blaise Adams
- Length: 18 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Japanese culture has fascinated the West ever since the country’s doors opened up in the 1800s. In many ways, Japan has remained elusive, and people have travelled from all around the world to see for themselves how unique this nation remains. Another way of exploring this enigmatic culture is through its literature. The English language succeeds surprisingly well in revealing the Japanese sense of life.
By: Lady Murasaki Shikibu, and others
-
The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth
- The Stories of the Mischievous Kappa, Trickster Kitsune, Horrendous Oni, and More
- By: Thersa Matsuura
- Narrated by: Thersa Matsuura
- Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: a fascinating journey through Japan’s folklore through profiles of the legendary creatures and beings who continue to live on in pop culture today. From the sly kitsune to the orgrish oni and mischievous shape-shifting tanuki, learn all about the origins of these fantastical and mythical creatures. With information on their cultural significance, and how it’s been spun into today’s popular culture, this tome teaches you about the stories and histories of the beings that inspired characters in your favorite movies, animes, manga, and games.
By: Thersa Matsuura
-
Kwaidan
- Japanese Ghost Stories and Insect Studies
- By: Lafcadio Hearn
- Narrated by: Nanako Water
- Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A wonderful collection of spine-tingling ghost stories and thought-provoking essays on insects. This new version has an introduction "Hearn and Japan", which details the continuing influence of Hearn on contemporary Japan.
By: Lafcadio Hearn
-
Japanese Mythology Unleashed
- Discover Shinto Deities, Yōkai, and Historic Heroes on a Journey through Ancient Japan
- By: Anthony Poe
- Narrated by: Xander Krivacka
- Length: 3 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dive into the mystical world of ancient Japan and uncover its incredible deities, mythical creatures, and heroic tales, even if you're new to folklore! Are you fascinated by Japan's rich culture and history?Discover captivating tales of Shinto gods, Yōkai, and legendary heroes that shape Japan's cultural heritage.
-
-
Deeper than a tourist info into Japanese Legends
- By desjef on 02-08-25
By: Anthony Poe
-
Japanese Short Stories for Beginners
- 20 Captivating Short Stories to Learn Japanese & Grow Your Vocabulary the Fun Way! (Easy Japanese Stories)
- By: Lingo Mastery
- Narrated by: Jason Sullivan, Rieah Masubuchi
- Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
You may have found the best teacher in town or the most incredible learning app around, but if you don’t put all of that knowledge to practice, you’ll soon forget everything you’ve obtained. This is why being engaged with interesting learning material can be so essential for somebody wishing to learn a new language. Therefore, in this book we have compiled 20 easy-to-follow, compelling, and fun stories that will allow you to expand your vocabulary and give you the tools to improve your grasp of the wonderful Japanese language.
-
-
Very useful for increasing Japanese vocabulary
- By Anderson Kreutzfeldt on 09-28-20
By: Lingo Mastery
-
Korean Mythology Collection
- The Stories, Folklore, Fairy Tales, Folktales, and History of Korea
- By: William Elliot Griffis, Im Bang, Yi Ryuk, and others
- Narrated by: James Francis Markert
- Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether you're a lover of mythology, a student of Korean culture, or simply in search of a mesmerizing listen, this collection offers a treasure trove of stories that have withstood the test of time. Delve into this book and let the magic of Korean mythology enchant you.
-
-
Entertaining and informative
- By S A Smith on 11-14-23
By: William Elliot Griffis, and others
-
The Leo Tolstoy Complete Collection
- War and Peace; Anna Karenina; Resurrection; Short Stories; Novellas; and Non-Fiction
- By: Leo Tolstoy
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble, Malk Williams, Emma Gregory
- Length: 186 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Leo Tolstoy: The Complete Collection includes unabridged recordings of Leo Tolstoy's 3 timeless novels; all his major novellas and short stories; and 4 renowned works of non-fiction in one audiobook, all read by Audie Award-winning narrators.
-
-
Legendary author, flawless narrations.
- By Kindle Customer on 06-07-24
By: Leo Tolstoy
-
Shakespeare: The Complete Works
- Argo Classics
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Ian McKellen, Derek Jacobi, Diana Rigg, and others
- Length: 98 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
All of the Shakespeare plays within the Argo Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations.
-
-
Great collection marred by a few missing sections
- By J. T. Woosley on 02-27-21
What listeners say about Japanese Ghost Stories
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Steven A. Townshend
- 12-16-23
Beautiful Storytelling and Performance
The reader’s dramatic training, voice, and pace cast a spell. The performance truly articulates the beauty of the stories so that they have an immersive quality, like a storyteller relating a ghost story by candlelight.
The stories Hearn wrote down are strange and captivating, and it was wonderful to hear about his life in this book as well.
I have listened to the stories on this audiobook again and again and never tire of them. The production and performance are among the best I have experienced from Audible.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- E.S.
- 11-16-19
Finally on Audible!
I have a wishlist of books I want to see on Audible and this was one of them. I was so pleased to see this collection of stories available. The narrator does a fantastic job with pronunciations and has a very pleasant voice. I much appreciated the footnotes, as they explained Japanese words, terms, and ideals that may otherwise be unknown to the reader. It was like having a personal guide to Japanese culture/fairytales, which was a essentially what Lafcadio Hearn’s books were. I was very satisfied with this book!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Chemar
- 12-02-19
Difficult to Follow
Interesting information. Probably enjoyed the background on the author the most as it could be easily followed. The rest of the book with footnotes interspersed mid text was a bit difficult.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- CT
- 01-20-21
Japanese pronunciation a problem
Lafcadio Hearn spent the last ten years of his life in Japan, at the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries. He made a life there, marrying a Japanese woman and having four children with her. He obtained Japanese citizenship, and wrote about Japanese culture, especially its traditional stories. He was not a scholar, and his extensive knowledge about Japan came from personal experience and what he learned from ordinary Japanese people. He adapted the tales he wrote, and offers some interesting insights into some lessons to be learned from the stories. These are interesting stories, and provide a view of Japanese culture as seen through the eyes of a sympathetic observer and talented teller of stories. His explanations of Japanese samurai ranks and of history ought not to be taken as strictly true; sometimes they are right, and sometimes they are not. One oddity is that he tries to render his conversations with Japanese people in English that mimics Japanese word order, in which the verb comes last, with adjustments only to make it intelligible to an English reader.
The narrator reads well, but her performance has one main flaw that may not bother an average reader without any knowledge of Japanese: she mispronounces Japanese words and names throughout, and I find myself automatically correcting her. These errors are not confined to Japanese names, but also the two French names mentioned in the introduction. Those are unimportant, as that is the only place they occur.
The Japanese mispronunciations are much more serious. As far as pronunciation goes, it is not a difficult language, because unlike English, it is very regular. Vowels retain their sound even in combination with other vowels. The “g” is always hard. In spite of her Japanese surname, Matsuura certainly has no knowledge of these basic rules, and I wish that, before taking on this job, she had bothered to, or been required to, learn basic Japanese pronunciation. Thus we have the temple name Amadera—short “e”—pronounced with a long “e”, although this pronunciation is not consistent throught. Also the era name Genroku (hard g, remember) rendered Jenroku.
Now, if I were listening to a book with similar problems, but with Greek words, I am quite sure that I wouldn’t notice. Therefore, if you haven’t a clue what Japanese is supposed to sound like, you might well give her performance at least four stars. But if you do know enough to notice, be prepared for frequent, not winces exactly, but maybe dissonances.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
13 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Atul Joshi
- 05-26-20
Great writer great narrator
Forget lovecraft - honestly the depth that this man gets to is way way better and nuanced. Narrator delivers a superlative treatment. Ten stars.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Johandre
- 11-21-19
Great collection of stories.
The narrator was very pleasing to listen to and the journey was very immersive, story to story. That immersion was broken a bit by difficulty or unfamiliarity pronouncing a large number of Japanese words. Or perhaps this was an intentional performance choice, seeing as the narrator's last name appears to be Japanese and that she may be perfectly familiar with the native pronunciations. If so, it was a poor stylistic choice in my opinion, as it cripples the audio book's appeal to Japanese language learners and may reinforce mispronounciation. This criticism aside, the overall listen was great!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Peter W. Kalnin
- 04-23-23
LH Was a Master
Hearn's folk tales about ghosts have an authentic quality that only someone who lived in Japan could possibly know. These horrific stories touch us still.
Eleanor Matsuura does a brilliant job of narrating, being fluent in both English and Japanese which makes this a pleasure to listen to.
I recommend this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Hajime Koyama
- 07-05-24
Narrater needs linguistic coach
Every single Japanese and Sanskrit word in this book was so badly mispronounced. The narrator needs to receive some linguistic coaching.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- Teresa Inafuku
- 04-12-20
Disappointing...reading the book might have been more gratifying...but when you're losing your eyesight your options become limi
The narrator was a let down. I thought the recitation of the poems sounded inauthentic...having lived in Japan and have familiarity with the language I found the narrator's voice inauthentic. This might be a minor thing but I was expecting more. Having read Shadowings over 50 years ago I was so looking forward to this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful