curious ordinary

▪️Folklore▪️Myth▪️Magic▪️Art▪️
Not currently posting on this account, please follow here my Bridge account (see link below) for daily content via Bluesky.
Sharing supernatural folklore, mythology, Japanese folklore, yokai and art. Also love cats, crows, books and trees.

Website: http://www.curiousordinary.com
Bluesky Bridge: curious ordinary (npub1qk9…2qu4)
Substack: https://curiousordinary.substack.com
Linktree: http://linktr.ee/curiousordinary

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Last Notes

2025-06-10 12:05:25 UTC

Seeing it's tsuyu (the rainy season) in Japan I've just published a new article with rainy folklore, rainy yokai, rainy traditions and rainy woodblock prints. It's got lots of rain, just like tsuyu.
https://open.substack.com/pub/curiousordinary/p/japanese-folklore-for-rainy-days?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2q0akd
#JapaneseFolklore #yokai #folklore

2024-12-01 11:51:15 UTC

- reply

thank you, I'm still trying to work it out but I think it's working ok, except for when I repost my threads. Anyway, thanks so much for following.

2024-11-26 22:35:29 UTC

I have really struggled with maintaining two different social media platforms and in the end I haven't been posting here and am using Bluesky. I have created a bridged account as [@curiousordinary.bsky.social](https://bsky.brid.gy/r/https://bsky.app/profile/curiousordinary.bsky.social ) which will mean you can see what I post here if you follow that account. If you have enjoyed my content in the past, please feel free to follow the bridge account as I'll be sharing Japanese folklore, art and culture daily.
🎨'Bamboo Market at Capital Bridge' - Utagawa Hiroshige, 1857.
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/113/551/637/888/677/253/original/24f65de777f6e9b0.jpeg

2024-10-28 12:25:48 UTC

In #JapaneseFolklore there is a #yokai known as makuragaeshi, which translates as pillow flipper. This creepy phenomenon is caused by a ghostly child spirit believed to haunt rooms. If you sleep there, you may wake up with your pillow flipped over, or even find it down at your feet. There are also reports of makuragaeshi sitting on people's chests to force the air from their lungs, or even throwing them around in their sleep.
#MythologyMonday #yokai #JapaneseFolklore #spookyseason
🎨Matthew Meyer
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/113/385/025/585/253/800/original/68fcc9d091bfc192.jpg

2024-10-28 12:01:04 UTC

In Japanese folklore kanashibari is the term used for sleep paralysis. In ancient times, this phenomenon was attributed to supernatural forces, and in some cases spirit possession by yokai. Kitsune or tanuki were often believed to be behind the possession and Buddhist priests were called in to drive out the animal's spirit. Kanashibari can also be caused by ghosts or sorcery.
#MythologyMonday #yokai #JapaneseFolklore #folklore #spooktober #spookyseason @npub1sxf…3s04
🎨Matthew Meyer
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/113/384/928/504/981/391/original/65671eb4c4f283c1.jpg

2024-08-29 00:09:37 UTC

Yama uba (mountain hag/witch) is a type of yokai that lives alone in remote areas. They appear as kind old ladies offering travellers a place to stay, but late at night they magically transform into ugly hags and eat their guests alive.
#FolkloreThursday #yokai #JapaneseFolklore #folklore @npub13ss…cjth
🎨'Mountain Witch' - Totoya Hokkei
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/113/042/401/094/520/571/original/837663c220074e9b.jpg

2024-08-14 11:01:04 UTC

In Japanese folklore there is a supernatural yokai phenomenon known as mayoibune. During the Obon holiday spirits are believed to return from the dead. Mayoibune are the haunting ghosts of sailors that have drowned at sea and return on the northwesterly winds. Seeing mayoibune can result in terrible visions and even death for the sailors once they return to land. More info and art here:
https://www.curiousordinary.com/2024/08/mayoibune.html
🎨Matthew Meyer
#JapaneseFolklore #yokai #folklore @npub13ss…cjth
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/112/960/032/626/063/318/original/a4f9939c766d9a23.jpg

2024-08-14 09:31:54 UTC

'Bamboo in Summer' - Kasamatsu Shiro, 1954.
#JapaneseArt #bamboo #art
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/112/959/674/522/951/686/original/4053d7374676db12.jpg

2024-08-13 12:33:24 UTC

In #JapaneseFolklore there is a supernatural #yokai phenomenon known as mayoibune. During the Obon holiday (which starts today) spirits are believed to return from the dead to visit the living. Mayoibune are the haunting ghosts of sailors that have drowned at sea and return on the northwesterly winds. Seeing mayoibune can result in terrible visions and even death once sailors return to shore. More info and art here:
https://www.curiousordinary.com/2024/08/mayoibune.html
#folklore #Obon #JapaneseArt #ukiyoe #Japan @npub13ss…cjth
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/112/954/725/733/455/825/original/19a6a7262f9d8607.jpg

2024-08-13 08:15:05 UTC

Kitsune statue at Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan.
#JapanTravel #kitsune #JapaneseFolklore #yokai #Shinto
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/112/953/709/789/839/899/original/ecdce794236b905c.jpg

2024-08-13 05:02:17 UTC

'View of Mount Fuji from Satta Point in the Suruga Bay' - Utagawa Hiroshige, 1859.
#JapaneseArt #ukiyoe #MtFuji #Japan
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/112/952/952/393/267/616/original/29bd172a5426ab63.jpg

2024-08-12 12:17:56 UTC

In #JapaneseFolklore Mekurabe is a strange #yokai that is actually many skulls grouped together to take the form of a giant skull. It appears at night and challenges people to staring contests. Reports indicate that this strange phenomenon begins with skulls rolling around before forming the giant skull, which then begins staring at you. If it loses the contest it will crumble and disappear but if it wins...actually no-one knows what happens if it wins.
#MythologyMonday @npub13ss…cjth
🎨 Matthew Meyer
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/112/949/006/987/243/527/original/5ea7c406da1913c8.jpg

2024-08-12 11:58:04 UTC

- reply

thank you, I took A LOT and most of them were terrible. I did crop this one and increase the colour saturation slightly, but it was definitely a lucky shot.

2024-08-12 11:52:40 UTC

Today in Japan is Mountain Day (山の日) and here is a photo of the most famous mountain in Japan, Mount Fuji (富士山). I took this from the Shinkansen between Kyoto and Tokyo while visiting last year.
#Japan #JapanTravel #MountFuji
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/112/948/896/853/740/348/original/33d00afe933fc553.jpg

2024-08-12 11:35:56 UTC

Stone lanterns at Kasuga Taisha, Nara, Japan.
#Japan #JapanPhotos #JapanTravel #moss #mosstodon #Shinto #ShintoShrine
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/112/948/839/375/751/412/original/329d9584497281eb.jpg

2024-08-12 11:32:39 UTC

Mancala is one of the oldest games and Congkak is the Malay version, played on a board with holes and stones, shells or marbles and two players aiming to gather the most 'seeds'.
🎨'Nyonyas playing Congkak' by Maisarah Loo.
#MythologyMonday #folklore #games @npub13ss…cjth @npub1hv7…vedn
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/112/948/828/939/384/703/original/124de027d374a077.jpg

2024-08-12 11:14:36 UTC

Mahjong originated in China during the Qing Dynasty and is played throught Asia with many variations. Most games have four players using tiles with various characters and markings. Legend says that Confucius himself invented the game.
#MythologyMonday #mythology @npub1h38…cc77 @npub13ss…cjth @npub1hv7…vedn
🎨Unknown artist, early 20th C.
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/112/948/744/994/589/196/original/1f94cdf88674b408.jpg

2023-08-05 11:00:02 UTC

MonoKubo (also known as ariduka55) creates surreal illustrations depicting humans living in a world inhabited by a variety of giant animals. This is one of my favourites. Her portfolio is here: https://www.tumblr.com/ariduka55
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/110/836/652/712/320/861/original/880ed10864e654f0.jpg

2023-07-28 07:54:30 UTC

'Short-Sighted Man and a Ghost' - Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 1881.
#JapaneseArt #ukiyoe #yoshitoshi #japan #ghost #ghosts #folklore @npub13ss…cjth
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/110/790/626/801/257/284/original/62b024ed80822013.jpg

2023-05-29 10:50:39 UTC

'The Ghost of Oiwa' is one of Japan's most famous ghost stories. It tells the sad tale of a woman who was betrayed by her husband and returned as a haunting spirit determined to get her revenge. The tale is also known as 'The Lantern ghost.' You can read more here:
https://www.curiousordinary.com/2021/07/ghost-oiwa.html?m=1
#MythologyMonday #folklore #ghosts
🎨'The Lantern Ghost' - Katsushika Hokusai, 1832.
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/110/451/578/968/908/143/original/050b3e9556b1ddc2.jpg