Ugetsu Monogatari: Tales of Moonlight and Rain

by Ueda Akinari

At the threshold between rain and moonlight, the dead do not rest—and human desire refuses to die.Published in 1776 in Edo-period Japan, Ugetsu Monogatari elevated ancient ghost stories (kaidan) to high literary art. Under the pen of physician and poet Ueda Akinari, the supernatural ceased to be cheap entertainment and became a haunting mirror of the human soul.

In these nine tales, terror does not come from mindless monsters. It comes from blind jealousy, greed, carnal desire, the promise of loyalty that not even death can erase. Akinari's ghosts are human emotions taken to their extreme—and for that reason, far more terrifying.

This edition features a translation into contemporary English that fully preserves the atmosphere, structure, and aesthetic refinement of the original, accompanied by a preface and reading guides to help the modern reader immerse themselves in this world.

Perfect for readers

love atmospheric and psychological horror, not cheap jump scares;are fascinated by Japanese folklore, mythology, and the supernatural;seek a J-horror classic that's hard to find in English.Click Buy Now and cross the threshold between the world of the living and the dead.

113 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2026

About the author

Ueda Akinari or Ueda Shūsei (上田 秋成) was a Japanese author, scholar and waka poet, and a prominent literary figure in 18th century Japan. He was an early writer in the yomihon genre and his two masterpieces, Ugetsu Monogatari ("Tales of Rain and the Moon") and Harusame Monogatari ("Tales of Spring Rain"), are central to the canon of Japanese literature.