Jikininki

The subject of our show today might just be the creepiest so far: jikininki. Unlike a lot of the monsters from legend, Japanese jikininki aren’t scary because of the danger they pose. If you come face to face with one, it’s likely to freeze with fear— the old saying, it’s more afraid of you than you are of it rings true in this case— and if you’re healthy and, well— alive— there’s nothing a jikininki wants from you. No, these spirits are not particularly dangerous; however, their sheer existence is a troubling reminder to live a selfless, altruistic life. Because if you’re greedy, you might one day become just like them. Today’s episode features a story from Lafcadio Hearn’s Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things. Find a transcript of this episode here.