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The Snow Ghost and Other Tales: Classic Japanese Ghost Stories
Enter the haunted world of Ancient Japan in this spine-tingling collection of ghostly tales told and retold across the centuries.
From Goblin infested caves and haunted Tombs, to vengeful spirits and strange, sinister happenings, Ancient Japan was a country and culture that lived with between the world of everyday and the world of supernatural. It was a time and place where men could be brought down by karmic forces or lured into deadly danger by ghostly apparitions, and where the land held sorrowful secrets or stories that long-awaited an opportunity to reveal them and seek reparation.
The Snow Ghost and Other Tales brings together some of the best and scariest tales that endured across centuries of folk lore in one new beautiful hardback collection. Finally commited to writing during the turn of the twenieth cenutry by a unique set of folklorists, the ghost stories presented in this new anthology will transport readers to a time of magic and mystery, and let them relish in the spine-tingling traditions of Japanese culture largely lost now to modernity.
From Goblin infested caves and haunted Tombs, to vengeful spirits and strange, sinister happenings, Ancient Japan was a country and culture that lived with between the world of everyday and the world of supernatural. It was a time and place where men could be brought down by karmic forces or lured into deadly danger by ghostly apparitions, and where the land held sorrowful secrets or stories that long-awaited an opportunity to reveal them and seek reparation.
The Snow Ghost and Other Tales brings together some of the best and scariest tales that endured across centuries of folk lore in one new beautiful hardback collection. Finally commited to writing during the turn of the twenieth cenutry by a unique set of folklorists, the ghost stories presented in this new anthology will transport readers to a time of magic and mystery, and let them relish in the spine-tingling traditions of Japanese culture largely lost now to modernity.
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 17, 2023
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If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.
Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
September 5, 2023
An intriguing selection of stories based on Japanese myth and legend, which introduced supernatural creatures like yōkai to Western, English-language readers. Originally published in collections by so-called “Japanologists” Lafcadio Hearn and Richard Gordon Smith, and the less well-known Yei Theodora Ozaki, these mostly date from the late 1890s to early 1900s - the writing often resembles variations on English folk and fairy tales from the time. There are grisly accounts of the dead brutally punishing the living; Buddhist priests narrowly escaping the clutches of cannibal goblins; shapeshifters; love-sick youth; and vengeful spirits. Some of the entries are fairly slight but there were a few standouts like Hearn’s “Yuki Onna” and Gordon Smith’s response to that “The Snow Ghost” as well as atmospheric folk stories like Ozaki’s “The Tongue-cut Sparrow” – which reminded me of something by the Brothers Grimm.
I hadn’t come across Ozaki’s writing before, she moved to Japan to live with her Japanese father and seems to have carved out a living reframing mythical Japanese narratives. I’d love to know more about the origins of her stories, and the others, presented here, particularly how far they deviate from original versions or how they were sourced: Hearn’s second wife Setsu was Japanese and it’s very possible she was an active, if unrecognised, writing partner, engaged in picking out and translating work for Hearn to transform for Western audiences. But this is really a book to dip into or buy as a gift – it’s really nicely presented and designed – not something aimed at people with a serious or sustained interest in Japanese folklore.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Vintage Classics
I hadn’t come across Ozaki’s writing before, she moved to Japan to live with her Japanese father and seems to have carved out a living reframing mythical Japanese narratives. I’d love to know more about the origins of her stories, and the others, presented here, particularly how far they deviate from original versions or how they were sourced: Hearn’s second wife Setsu was Japanese and it’s very possible she was an active, if unrecognised, writing partner, engaged in picking out and translating work for Hearn to transform for Western audiences. But this is really a book to dip into or buy as a gift – it’s really nicely presented and designed – not something aimed at people with a serious or sustained interest in Japanese folklore.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Vintage Classics
April 18, 2025
A collection of slight but wonderfully evocative tales that reinforce the towering influences of Shinto and Buddhism in the Japanese psyche. Deeply rooted in nature and superstition, these are portals to a fascinating and solitary culture rather than mere stories to chill the soul.
August 9, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
A collection of Japanes folk/ghost tales. For the most part they were able to evoke a strong sense of place, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Many of them were quite slight, and often rather insubstantial, though I don't think that is unusual in tales of this sort. Naturally, as with all collections, some were better than others; on the whole, an interesting collection and I'm glad I was given the opportunity to read them.
*Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*
A collection of Japanes folk/ghost tales. For the most part they were able to evoke a strong sense of place, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Many of them were quite slight, and often rather insubstantial, though I don't think that is unusual in tales of this sort. Naturally, as with all collections, some were better than others; on the whole, an interesting collection and I'm glad I was given the opportunity to read them.
*Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*
September 21, 2023
I seem to have been drawn to literature from Japan in the past few months; something that began a couple of years ago and has been steadily gaining pace.
Certainly, here is a book that satisfies the need to learn about those chilling ghosts stories and tales of terror that strike fear into the average citizen’s heart.
If these episodes potentially scare you then you should keep a light on. They have common themes bordering on horror, reflecting superstition and religious practices and dealing with death often of the young and innocent.
So not for the faint hearted but revealing due to their historical authorship and rooted in culture, folklore and spiritual belief.
I think the key is to embrace and reflect upon the themes and familiar scenarios that although often repeating ideas of restless spirits and vengeful ghouls and goblins are full of fresh spookiness with each passing tale. The stories if read back to back might appear too similar and the fear watered down by their sameness. However, while the genre is consistent the means to offend the departed, insult the ancestors and lose one’s own life is varied and at times shockingly unexpected.
I loved the sense of being immersed in Japanese tradition and the darker side of another tradition’s culture. Stepping back you feel a sense of being not just an observer but a reluctant participant. Certainly without blood on your own hands but aware of the cries of the dead and the dripping of bodily fluids from fatal wounds.
Certainly, here is a book that satisfies the need to learn about those chilling ghosts stories and tales of terror that strike fear into the average citizen’s heart.
If these episodes potentially scare you then you should keep a light on. They have common themes bordering on horror, reflecting superstition and religious practices and dealing with death often of the young and innocent.
So not for the faint hearted but revealing due to their historical authorship and rooted in culture, folklore and spiritual belief.
I think the key is to embrace and reflect upon the themes and familiar scenarios that although often repeating ideas of restless spirits and vengeful ghouls and goblins are full of fresh spookiness with each passing tale. The stories if read back to back might appear too similar and the fear watered down by their sameness. However, while the genre is consistent the means to offend the departed, insult the ancestors and lose one’s own life is varied and at times shockingly unexpected.
I loved the sense of being immersed in Japanese tradition and the darker side of another tradition’s culture. Stepping back you feel a sense of being not just an observer but a reluctant participant. Certainly without blood on your own hands but aware of the cries of the dead and the dripping of bodily fluids from fatal wounds.
November 4, 2024
Review soon! 🌬️
November 26, 2023
Such an intriguing collection of classic Japanese ghost stories that were told, retold and firstly written in books by Lefcafio Hearn, Yei Theodora Ozaki and Richard Gordon Smith in the 1900s. A compilation of 26 tales in total, I love how it sneaked into the traditional Japanese customs and culture while compellingly grasped the authentic supernatural and surreal details of its local folklores and sinister legends. The stories were mainly revolved on lifestyle, of marriage, greed or wicked wild dreams and premonitions, superstitious and religious beliefs as well on one’s frame of mind and selfishness; so compellingly crafted to me and I guess it was meant to be enjoyably short and quite straightforward for how these stories were purposely written by these authors to introduce the folktales and myths of Japan to the Western readers.
Not too ghostly or hauntingly narrated yet the spookish dark hue in its tales having that addictive appeal which kept me invested. Few that I personally love— Ghost Story Of The Flute’s Tomb (in between sincerity and trust; a spirit wandered to avenge the unfaithful wife), Of A Promise Broken (a deadly curse in return for a promise— love the footnote of how it argued that the vengeance should be taken upon the man yet it was not the way a woman would feels), The Tongue-Cut Sparrow (a lovely story of a pet sparrow and a man until a greedy wife interfered), The Legend Of Yurei-Daki (what you’ll get after stealing a money box at a shrine) and The Camphor Tree Tomb (of greed and evil scheme to cut a holy tree that ended in an awful tragedy).
Fairly love the rest as much for how each having its charm in observing the rich culture and the engaging exploration to the folktales; the morals can be both disturbing and affecting but overall it was a fun and absorbing read to me. So highly recommended!
Thank you Pansing Distribution for sending me this hardback edition in return for my review!
Not too ghostly or hauntingly narrated yet the spookish dark hue in its tales having that addictive appeal which kept me invested. Few that I personally love— Ghost Story Of The Flute’s Tomb (in between sincerity and trust; a spirit wandered to avenge the unfaithful wife), Of A Promise Broken (a deadly curse in return for a promise— love the footnote of how it argued that the vengeance should be taken upon the man yet it was not the way a woman would feels), The Tongue-Cut Sparrow (a lovely story of a pet sparrow and a man until a greedy wife interfered), The Legend Of Yurei-Daki (what you’ll get after stealing a money box at a shrine) and The Camphor Tree Tomb (of greed and evil scheme to cut a holy tree that ended in an awful tragedy).
Fairly love the rest as much for how each having its charm in observing the rich culture and the engaging exploration to the folktales; the morals can be both disturbing and affecting but overall it was a fun and absorbing read to me. So highly recommended!
Thank you Pansing Distribution for sending me this hardback edition in return for my review!
November 2, 2023
One of those books that I didn't expect to like, but felt to my liking.
This is a collection of short stories that centres around the horrors that has impended and the folktales from old stories in Japanese Literature. The collection has 29 short stories in total and overall, I feel that it was a very satisfying read for me. Not only that these short stories brings forward a message on spirits vengenace, it also brings around the central theme of greed from the mankind and how at the end of the day, its scarier than the ghosts and spirits that roams around without sight.
I loved how vast this collection of short stories are. From goblins, to roaming ghosts women, to ghosts who kill for vengeance, and to even the origins of certain ghosts and its sad back story. I feel that albeit the stories are short, I liked how at the end of the day, the stories portrays a message bigger and scarier than the spirits itself, its how humans are the scariest being at the end of the day. Whilst spirits are predictable, humans acts on their own impulse and needs and therefore, there might be times that some things might turn out totally unepexted.
Some of the stories that I really liked :-
6th Story: Of A Promise Broken
4.5🌟
The story of a woman vetting for vengeance due to a broken promise.
This was both eerie and just :')))))))) im- im sad for the new mistress cause of a broken promise from her husband but damn. Lesson learnt : don't make promises to woman if you can't keep them.
9th story: The Tongue-cut Sparrow
4.25🌟
Its the greed of humans that made them unbearable. I love this. The sparrow who turned to become a fairy and has rewarded kindness of her master but misfortune to the mistress
It doesn't hurt to be kind to everyone.
Overall, if you're into books that are short, has that classic feature and is into the japanese classic cult horror, you will definitely like this collection. Its short and yet there's a whole collective theme to it that makes reading it like a fun, horror and weird adventure .
Thank you to @definitelybooks for this copy!
"The vengeance of the dead - if taken at all - should have been taken upon the man."
"Men think so, but that is not the way that a woman feels."
This is a collection of short stories that centres around the horrors that has impended and the folktales from old stories in Japanese Literature. The collection has 29 short stories in total and overall, I feel that it was a very satisfying read for me. Not only that these short stories brings forward a message on spirits vengenace, it also brings around the central theme of greed from the mankind and how at the end of the day, its scarier than the ghosts and spirits that roams around without sight.
I loved how vast this collection of short stories are. From goblins, to roaming ghosts women, to ghosts who kill for vengeance, and to even the origins of certain ghosts and its sad back story. I feel that albeit the stories are short, I liked how at the end of the day, the stories portrays a message bigger and scarier than the spirits itself, its how humans are the scariest being at the end of the day. Whilst spirits are predictable, humans acts on their own impulse and needs and therefore, there might be times that some things might turn out totally unepexted.
Some of the stories that I really liked :-
6th Story: Of A Promise Broken
4.5🌟
The story of a woman vetting for vengeance due to a broken promise.
This was both eerie and just :')))))))) im- im sad for the new mistress cause of a broken promise from her husband but damn. Lesson learnt : don't make promises to woman if you can't keep them.
9th story: The Tongue-cut Sparrow
4.25🌟
Its the greed of humans that made them unbearable. I love this. The sparrow who turned to become a fairy and has rewarded kindness of her master but misfortune to the mistress
It doesn't hurt to be kind to everyone.
Overall, if you're into books that are short, has that classic feature and is into the japanese classic cult horror, you will definitely like this collection. Its short and yet there's a whole collective theme to it that makes reading it like a fun, horror and weird adventure .
Thank you to @definitelybooks for this copy!
December 19, 2023
This is a collection of Japanese ghost stories and other folk tales in English. In particular, it is a collection from a hundred years ago or more (many turn of the twentieth century) so what we are getting are Anglicizations and translations of traditional stories, light on explainers but often with framing devices of "I was told this story..." There is an academic feel to its language in places, and there is an anthropological air which doesn't really seem to care if the stories turn out to be - er - a bit rubbish. But that's all part of the survey, and in a not-dissimilar collection of Irish folk tales I read in the last year or so, there are still a fair few that boil down to "there bain't been a priest in these mountains for forty year".
Some of these tales are very basic, with what the west saw as Japanese traits, so hari-kiri is the precursor to many a ghost here, as is the pining woman. There is a Shinto flavour to many of them too, with spirits guarding places, and in one particular high point, a Camphor Tree. And even when you think these are getting tame, suddenly a bout of extreme cruelty or horror will suddenly pop up - one of the shorter stories here ends up with a radical dismemberment of a small child for the sins of his mother. It does feel more like a resource, or even a toilet book, that a coherent collection (the dates of the tales suggest its all copyright free), but an interesting survey nonetheless both for its content, and how that content came to be.
Some of these tales are very basic, with what the west saw as Japanese traits, so hari-kiri is the precursor to many a ghost here, as is the pining woman. There is a Shinto flavour to many of them too, with spirits guarding places, and in one particular high point, a Camphor Tree. And even when you think these are getting tame, suddenly a bout of extreme cruelty or horror will suddenly pop up - one of the shorter stories here ends up with a radical dismemberment of a small child for the sins of his mother. It does feel more like a resource, or even a toilet book, that a coherent collection (the dates of the tales suggest its all copyright free), but an interesting survey nonetheless both for its content, and how that content came to be.
September 30, 2024
These stories are interesting and informative without being in any way chilling. Most of them are less than ten pages and relate a tale from Japanese folklore. They are very different to what we, in the west, consider a ghost story to be. Due to their brevity there isn’t a chance to delve into any character.
Many of these stories have been told from generation to generation for hundreds of years and stand almost as a piece of history.
Many of these stories have been told from generation to generation for hundreds of years and stand almost as a piece of history.
Want to read
April 11, 2025A Note on the Text
--The Goblin of Adachigahara
--White Bone Mountain
--Mujina
--A Passional Karma
--Ghost Story of the Flute's Tomb
--Of a Promise Broken
--Ghost of the Violet Well
--Ikiryō
--The Tongue-cut Sparrow
--The Dream of Akinosuké
--The Eater of Dreams
--The Secret of Iidamachi Pond
--The Legend of Yurei-Daki
--Yuki Onna
--The Snow Ghost
--Jikininki
--A Haunted Temple in Inaba Province
--The Camphor Tree Tomb
--Rokurokubi
--How an Old Man Lost His Wen
--The Story of Mimi-Nashi-Hōichi
--Fragment
--Furisodé
--The Kakemono Ghost of Aki Province
--A Dead Secret
--The Nun of the Temple of Amida
--The Goblin of Adachigahara
--White Bone Mountain
--Mujina
--A Passional Karma
--Ghost Story of the Flute's Tomb
--Of a Promise Broken
--Ghost of the Violet Well
--Ikiryō
--The Tongue-cut Sparrow
--The Dream of Akinosuké
--The Eater of Dreams
--The Secret of Iidamachi Pond
--The Legend of Yurei-Daki
--Yuki Onna
--The Snow Ghost
--Jikininki
--A Haunted Temple in Inaba Province
--The Camphor Tree Tomb
--Rokurokubi
--How an Old Man Lost His Wen
--The Story of Mimi-Nashi-Hōichi
--Fragment
--Furisodé
--The Kakemono Ghost of Aki Province
--A Dead Secret
--The Nun of the Temple of Amida
March 7, 2025
The first half I sort of liked but the second half was sooooo dry! Rah.
I can understand why the Japanese are so well mannered! The amount of karma they believe in and the ghost stories that they tell to each other.
I can understand why the Japanese are so well mannered! The amount of karma they believe in and the ghost stories that they tell to each other.
October 30, 2023
A really interesting set of short stories.
I was intrigued to discover that this collection was curated for the specific purpose of introducing introducing the West to Japanese folklore and mythology.
A stunning edition, though I have to say that Japanese authors are obsessed with women dying of a broken heart. The feminist in me rolled their eyes a lot everytime a young lady pined herself to death after seeing an attractive man but then not getting to talk to them. Silly.
I was intrigued to discover that this collection was curated for the specific purpose of introducing introducing the West to Japanese folklore and mythology.
A stunning edition, though I have to say that Japanese authors are obsessed with women dying of a broken heart. The feminist in me rolled their eyes a lot everytime a young lady pined herself to death after seeing an attractive man but then not getting to talk to them. Silly.
December 29, 2024
Downright creepy! Been reading it at night and it gave me the creeps!
The stories deal with human passion, love, lust, sorrow, misery, revenge and madness and present a series of interesting characters.
I found it insightful as far as Japanese spirituality is concerned and some of the stories can be easily adapted into movies.
The reader will be both delighted and terrified by the variety of supernatural occurrences and creatures described in the book.
The stories deal with human passion, love, lust, sorrow, misery, revenge and madness and present a series of interesting characters.
I found it insightful as far as Japanese spirituality is concerned and some of the stories can be easily adapted into movies.
The reader will be both delighted and terrified by the variety of supernatural occurrences and creatures described in the book.
August 14, 2024
An interesting collection, though repetitive at times. My favourite tale was probably 'A Passional Karma'.
October 10, 2025
3.5 stars
January 16, 2025
Ants are people too!
Preface Note:
At first I wasn't sure how to write this review. Being my first time reading such a genre as folk lore or story retellings it didn't fit my usual criteria for rating a novel. So as such, I have decided to give an overall rating for each story and use the combined average to rate the anthology.
As these are all stories that hold cultural and spiritual beliefs know that these ratings are not to do with the characters or religious beliefs portrayed within. Instead it is of the writing style, language, translation and overall interest I had with each.
⭐📖 Story Ratings ⭐📖
Overall Ratings
Overall Average Rating - 3/5
Overall Translation Rating - 2/5
Overall Rating - 2.5 ⭐
💭Who is this for?💭
Firstly, other reviews may give the impression that this is a booked filled to brim with horror and spooks that will leave you stirring and struggling to fall asleep a night, chilling you right down to the bone. However, I want to say that is not the case at all. I by no means am someone who doesn't get scared easily, but in saying that, these tales are not intended to be scary. I believe my wife accurately described the frustration I had with the other reviewers stating that, "it's like if someone were to be horrified at the story of Goldie locks and the three bears" to which I agree with whole heartedly. These stories are folk lore, not horror stories like the blurb and other reviewers may have you to believe.
It's not bad, it does what it sets out to do and if you are wanting to learn more about this subject than its a perfect fit for you, being quite an easy short read that you can put down and pick right back up again. However, if you are looking for Japanese horror, I would recommend looking elsewhere.
🤔 General Thoughts 🤔
This was an okay book. Really that's all I have got. As stated just above, this is an anthology of folk lore short stories with the major difference being that some seemingly have no moral to them, being told purely for the purpose to be historical fictional tales for the readers enjoyment. My main issue aside the terribly marketed blurb and reviews, is the translation issues. There were many, many sentences that either didn't flow or make sense at all and more often than not I found my self three paragraphs into a story utterly confused and having to scan back through the texting again to decipher what was going on.
(Not a book reviewer as always, just my thoughts after reading!)
Preface Note:
At first I wasn't sure how to write this review. Being my first time reading such a genre as folk lore or story retellings it didn't fit my usual criteria for rating a novel. So as such, I have decided to give an overall rating for each story and use the combined average to rate the anthology.
As these are all stories that hold cultural and spiritual beliefs know that these ratings are not to do with the characters or religious beliefs portrayed within. Instead it is of the writing style, language, translation and overall interest I had with each.
⭐📖 Story Ratings ⭐📖
The Goblin of Adachigahara - 1.5/5
White Bone Mountain - 2/5
Mujina - 1.5/5
A passional Karma - 3.5/5
Ghost Story of the Flute's Tomb - 3/5
Of a Promise Broken - 3/5
Ghost of the Violet Well - 4/5
Ikiyō - 2.5/5
The Tongue-cut Sparrow - 3.5/5
The Dream of Akinosukè - 4/5
The Eater of Dreams - 2/5
The secret of Idamachi Pond - 3/5
The ledged of Yurei-Daki - 2/5
Yuki Onna - 1.5/5
The Snow Ghost - 1.5/5
Jikininki - 4/5
A Haunted Temple in Inaba Province - 3/5
The Camphor Tree Tomb - 3.5/5
Rokurokubi - 3.5/5
How an Old Man Lost His Wen - 3.5/5
The Story of Mini-Nashi-Hōshi - 5/5
Fragment - 0.5/5
Furisodè - 2/5
The Kakemono Ghost of Aki Province - 3/5
A Dead Secret - 2.5/5
The Nun of the Temple of Amida - 2.5/5
Overall Score - 78/135
Overall Ratings
Overall Average Rating - 3/5
Overall Translation Rating - 2/5
Overall Rating - 2.5 ⭐
💭Who is this for?💭
Firstly, other reviews may give the impression that this is a booked filled to brim with horror and spooks that will leave you stirring and struggling to fall asleep a night, chilling you right down to the bone. However, I want to say that is not the case at all. I by no means am someone who doesn't get scared easily, but in saying that, these tales are not intended to be scary. I believe my wife accurately described the frustration I had with the other reviewers stating that, "it's like if someone were to be horrified at the story of Goldie locks and the three bears" to which I agree with whole heartedly. These stories are folk lore, not horror stories like the blurb and other reviewers may have you to believe.
It's not bad, it does what it sets out to do and if you are wanting to learn more about this subject than its a perfect fit for you, being quite an easy short read that you can put down and pick right back up again. However, if you are looking for Japanese horror, I would recommend looking elsewhere.
🤔 General Thoughts 🤔
This was an okay book. Really that's all I have got. As stated just above, this is an anthology of folk lore short stories with the major difference being that some seemingly have no moral to them, being told purely for the purpose to be historical fictional tales for the readers enjoyment. My main issue aside the terribly marketed blurb and reviews, is the translation issues. There were many, many sentences that either didn't flow or make sense at all and more often than not I found my self three paragraphs into a story utterly confused and having to scan back through the texting again to decipher what was going on.
(Not a book reviewer as always, just my thoughts after reading!)
August 15, 2023
The Snow Ghost and Other Tales is a collection of Japanese ghost stories (loosely put; it would be more accurate to say supernatural stories based in folkore), which appears to be of interest to those curious to learn more about Japan and/or fans of mythology and folklore with a creepy flavour. But it should come with an important caveat, and I wish the book had been more clear in telegraphing it.
My reservation is this: as an anthology, I feel like it's done only half of its work. All the stories in this edition are reproduced as they originally appeared in first English language collections, issued in early 20th century in response to the general public's interest in all matters Orientalist as they were known at the time. The foreword does note that minimal edits were done since then (they removed a lot of footnotes), and noted the year of publication of each story in English for the first time. But is it really enough? I can't help feeling that in this day an age, even if you are not going to pursue a more sensitive, informed translation of the original texts, and instead go with reproducing what was the first Western rendition of it, it should come with additional reflections. Things that help re-frame and understand more the context in which the stories were first written. The acknowledgement of a difference in understanding that must have taken place in over the century since the translations were introduced to English readers.
Which brings me back to my original point: the way this collection has been put together, feels to me like a job left unfinished because it lacks this kind of reflection on translation that's more than a century old.
Thank you to #Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of #TheSnowGhostandOtherTales.
My reservation is this: as an anthology, I feel like it's done only half of its work. All the stories in this edition are reproduced as they originally appeared in first English language collections, issued in early 20th century in response to the general public's interest in all matters Orientalist as they were known at the time. The foreword does note that minimal edits were done since then (they removed a lot of footnotes), and noted the year of publication of each story in English for the first time. But is it really enough? I can't help feeling that in this day an age, even if you are not going to pursue a more sensitive, informed translation of the original texts, and instead go with reproducing what was the first Western rendition of it, it should come with additional reflections. Things that help re-frame and understand more the context in which the stories were first written. The acknowledgement of a difference in understanding that must have taken place in over the century since the translations were introduced to English readers.
Which brings me back to my original point: the way this collection has been put together, feels to me like a job left unfinished because it lacks this kind of reflection on translation that's more than a century old.
Thank you to #Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of #TheSnowGhostandOtherTales.
March 2, 2025
Just a great insight into Japanese society via what was supposed to be feared. However, the stories were too disjointed for me, which was exacerbated by how short the stories were. Due to this I did not get a great feel for the worlds of the stories.
July 7, 2024
The Snow Ghost and Other Tales: Classic Japanese Ghost Stories (Vintage Classics) is full of folkloric tales from across the centuries.
Translated at the turn of the 20th century, this gorgeous anthology takes you back in time to experience the ghostly traditions of Japanese culture. Goblins and vengeful spirits, Samurai and unrequited lovers, the stories bring together the living and the dead in a flesh-creepingly entertaining way.
Translated at the turn of the 20th century, this gorgeous anthology takes you back in time to experience the ghostly traditions of Japanese culture. Goblins and vengeful spirits, Samurai and unrequited lovers, the stories bring together the living and the dead in a flesh-creepingly entertaining way.
August 21, 2023
This book is a vintage classic, written by an absolutely fascinating man born in Greece in 1890, who then became a teacher and journalist in Japan where he died in 1904.
These are ghost stories passed down to him through the years by the local people as one would pass on fairytales.
A great insight into Japanese folklore.
These are ghost stories passed down to him through the years by the local people as one would pass on fairytales.
A great insight into Japanese folklore.
December 10, 2024
I actually enjoyed these ghost stories. Some of the stories by Lafcadio Hearn included in this collection also appear in his other books as well so they were a reread but nonetheless, these stories are simple yet interesting.
I really teared up while reading the last one. Also, the cover is absolutely wonderful! ❤️
I really teared up while reading the last one. Also, the cover is absolutely wonderful! ❤️
October 20, 2023
Such a great anthology of ghost stories here. Some of them surprisingly had light hearted endings which was odd for the typical Japanese horror story. Regardless, many of the stories had some pretty terrifying twists and details that left me wanting more.
June 13, 2024
Not something I’d usually read and it took me a while to get through which didn’t help but that was my own fault. Some really good stories and some not so good in my opinion. An interesting read at the very least and for something that’s not my usual type of book I did enjoy it
November 7, 2024
A collection of Japanese folk/ghost tales from the early 20th Century, some more successful than others, with a few stand out tales. A decent Halloween-read. Yuko Shimizu's cover illustration gets 5 stars!
December 30, 2023
**3.5**- although a little repetitive, this is a very pleasant collection. An enjoyable and tranquil read with some succinctly spooky Japanese folklore
October 19, 2025
This is a collection of around 20 short horror and ghost stories from the classic Japanese era. It was fun and easy to read, though it did not give me the creeps. Good for getting started into the horror genre.
December 7, 2025
Fabulously dark fantasy horror tales from Japanese legend and myth, I loved every second of these stories!
January 1, 2025
So most of these stories are from Lafcadio Hearn, and they range from OK to pretty good. Hearn can do an evocatively nasty turn of phrase pretty well, especially when describing a yokai eating up a human corpse like a cat. If I have a recommendation from this, it's to check out some Lafcadio Hearn stuff - highlights from this book were:
Mujina (my boy Lafcadio knows how to do an ending)
The Dream of Akinosuke (Studio Ghibli adaptation when?)
The Eater of Dreams (He's just a helpful little guy!)
Yuki Onna (Bang! That! Ghost!)
Jikininki (Eating up corpses like a cat he was)
If it was just Hearn stories, this would probably be a 4/5. Richard Gordon Smith's stuff however is pretty bad. Almost all of his stories read like he's telling us about a ghost story he's heard, rather than, you know, telling us a ghost story. Worst offender is The Camphor Tree Tomb, or, several pages of contract negotiations with a dull haunted tree in the last paragraph. While Hearn's internalised commentary for the English speaking reader is often interesting (considering which characters in A Promise Broken would be most villainous to Eastern and Western eyes), Smith instead just complains about how the Japanese don't send enough letters to each other.
The couple of stories from Yei Theodora Ozaki aren't bad at all, but lean much more towards the fairy tale end of the spectrum than Hearn's offerings (where his are grim, hers are more Grimm). Nothing wrong with that, but given how few of them there are they feel a little out of place in the anthology.
Tied in with that is the real lack of any editorial voice here. Maybe I've been spoiled by all the British Library Tales of the Weird books I've been reading, but I really missed having an introduction that contextualised these three turn of the century writers presenting Japanese folklore to an English speaking audience. I kind of came out of this book wondering why they didn't just reprint one of Hearn or Ozaki's old books with a modern intro, or collate either of their best stories into one volume.
Mujina (my boy Lafcadio knows how to do an ending)
The Dream of Akinosuke (Studio Ghibli adaptation when?)
The Eater of Dreams (He's just a helpful little guy!)
Yuki Onna (Bang! That! Ghost!)
Jikininki (Eating up corpses like a cat he was)
If it was just Hearn stories, this would probably be a 4/5. Richard Gordon Smith's stuff however is pretty bad. Almost all of his stories read like he's telling us about a ghost story he's heard, rather than, you know, telling us a ghost story. Worst offender is The Camphor Tree Tomb, or, several pages of contract negotiations with a dull haunted tree in the last paragraph. While Hearn's internalised commentary for the English speaking reader is often interesting (considering which characters in A Promise Broken would be most villainous to Eastern and Western eyes), Smith instead just complains about how the Japanese don't send enough letters to each other.
The couple of stories from Yei Theodora Ozaki aren't bad at all, but lean much more towards the fairy tale end of the spectrum than Hearn's offerings (where his are grim, hers are more Grimm). Nothing wrong with that, but given how few of them there are they feel a little out of place in the anthology.
Tied in with that is the real lack of any editorial voice here. Maybe I've been spoiled by all the British Library Tales of the Weird books I've been reading, but I really missed having an introduction that contextualised these three turn of the century writers presenting Japanese folklore to an English speaking audience. I kind of came out of this book wondering why they didn't just reprint one of Hearn or Ozaki's old books with a modern intro, or collate either of their best stories into one volume.
October 16, 2024
TL;DR: great cover; shit book.
The stories in this book are Japanese folk tales told by Western writers for western readers in the late 19th century. I can’t speak to the fidelity of the narratives to actual Japanese folklore, but I assume (and hope, for the sake of every Japanese person whose ever existed (including the ones who were a bit crook)) that this is not an accurate retelling.
I feel the stories *could* be really interesting if not for the prose, which is, at best, very bland and, at worst, feels like a bloke recounting a story he half remembers hearing in a pub having had too many sakes (which I honestly think might be how the honkeys who wrote this book did their research).
For example, one story is about a man chilling under a tree, who is suddenly whisked away to a palace to marry a princess. He then has a couple of adventures and wakes up, under the tree, to discover that the last 23 years have been a dream. His friends have watched him snooze for a few minutes and tell him that, while he slept, they saw an ant attack and kill a butterfly and some other bugs did some other kooky things. This all unfolds over like 6 pages. I strongly suspect that the original tale this stems from is really poignant and symbolic, but this was a shoddy mess.
As for the rest of the stories, they’re mostly very simple morality tales about jealous dead lovers coming back to seek revenge on their husband’s new wives. Most, if not all the stories perpetuate the moral that women are untrustworthy and promiscuous, while men are good blokes who are just trying their best.
Sidenote: some of the stories end with an author’s note where the writer (I assume a man) says that he and his mates both agree that women ruddy love these stories and agree with all the messages. I wish I was joking. I’m not.
I’m honestly mostly mad because the cover is awesome, so I decided to buy it on impulse, thinking it was a collection of traditional stories BY Japanese writers.
It isn’t.
Big disappointment.
The stories in this book are Japanese folk tales told by Western writers for western readers in the late 19th century. I can’t speak to the fidelity of the narratives to actual Japanese folklore, but I assume (and hope, for the sake of every Japanese person whose ever existed (including the ones who were a bit crook)) that this is not an accurate retelling.
I feel the stories *could* be really interesting if not for the prose, which is, at best, very bland and, at worst, feels like a bloke recounting a story he half remembers hearing in a pub having had too many sakes (which I honestly think might be how the honkeys who wrote this book did their research).
For example, one story is about a man chilling under a tree, who is suddenly whisked away to a palace to marry a princess. He then has a couple of adventures and wakes up, under the tree, to discover that the last 23 years have been a dream. His friends have watched him snooze for a few minutes and tell him that, while he slept, they saw an ant attack and kill a butterfly and some other bugs did some other kooky things. This all unfolds over like 6 pages. I strongly suspect that the original tale this stems from is really poignant and symbolic, but this was a shoddy mess.
As for the rest of the stories, they’re mostly very simple morality tales about jealous dead lovers coming back to seek revenge on their husband’s new wives. Most, if not all the stories perpetuate the moral that women are untrustworthy and promiscuous, while men are good blokes who are just trying their best.
Sidenote: some of the stories end with an author’s note where the writer (I assume a man) says that he and his mates both agree that women ruddy love these stories and agree with all the messages. I wish I was joking. I’m not.
I’m honestly mostly mad because the cover is awesome, so I decided to buy it on impulse, thinking it was a collection of traditional stories BY Japanese writers.
It isn’t.
Big disappointment.
August 26, 2024
2.5 stars.
Whilst there are some genuinely great stories in this anthology, namely the old man with the ravens, it was unfortunately bogged down with some awkward pacing, repetitive stories and a good helping of misogyny.
I understand the time this was written and the age of the stories would mean misogyny woven into the tales but it was truly excessive. All of the women either died from being lovesick (sometimes coming back as a ghost), killed themselves due to being lovesick or simply were wicked old crones. None of these women’s thoughts veered from the men in their lives once. This would’ve been fine if it were one or two stories but it became tiring once I realised it was the whole book. Even for its time it felt excessive as I’ve read books from this time and before that weren’t this prevalent.
The exception I can think of is the last story which is very good but also very sad and lovely.
However, the stories I did enjoy were very good and really gave insight into Japan’s folklore and culture as it progressed throughout the centuries. There was some really cool and atmospheric stories in here that I wish I’d bookmarked as I read so I could return to them easily.
Overall, this book is full of hits and misses with the hits being exceptionally strong but, sadly, having more misses overall.
Whilst there are some genuinely great stories in this anthology, namely the old man with the ravens, it was unfortunately bogged down with some awkward pacing, repetitive stories and a good helping of misogyny.
I understand the time this was written and the age of the stories would mean misogyny woven into the tales but it was truly excessive. All of the women either died from being lovesick (sometimes coming back as a ghost), killed themselves due to being lovesick or simply were wicked old crones. None of these women’s thoughts veered from the men in their lives once. This would’ve been fine if it were one or two stories but it became tiring once I realised it was the whole book. Even for its time it felt excessive as I’ve read books from this time and before that weren’t this prevalent.
The exception I can think of is the last story which is very good but also very sad and lovely.
However, the stories I did enjoy were very good and really gave insight into Japan’s folklore and culture as it progressed throughout the centuries. There was some really cool and atmospheric stories in here that I wish I’d bookmarked as I read so I could return to them easily.
Overall, this book is full of hits and misses with the hits being exceptionally strong but, sadly, having more misses overall.
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