The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales

by Thersa Matsuura, Gene O'Neill (Introduction)

Beautiful, haunting, and grotesque, The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales offers stories reminiscent of traditional Japanese folktales alongside contemporary horror fiction. Matsuura’s unique voice, in its poignancy and lightheartedness, is unforgettable.From the Introduction by Bram Stoker Award Winner Author Gene O' I have Thersa Matsuura’s name underlined on the side of my fridge. I will watch for her byline. As I’m sure, you, the reader of this collection will, too.Cover Art by Daniele Serra

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Japan, Mythology, Fiction, Fantasy

222 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2017

About the author

My name is Thersa Matsuura. I’m a Clarion West 2015 graduate and recipient of the HWA’s Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship. My most recent publications are Black Static, Dark Regions Press’ Madhouse Anthology, and the Fortean Times. I have a story forthcoming in Alessandro Manzetti’s THE BEAUTY IN DEATH anthology. My short story collection (A ROBE OF FEATHERS AND OTHER STORIES) was published by Counterpoint LLC.

I’m a long-term expat and have lived half my life in a small fishing town in Japan. I'm fluent in Japanese and use this to research parts of the culture that are unfamiliar to a western audience. I then spin this information into my own short fiction.

I also have a podcast: http://www.uncannyjapan.com/

And a Patreon page:https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura

Reviews

[Tenzin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author uses surgical precision in choosing each word for an enormous impact while, at the same time, polishes alabaster to preserve the beautiful oral tradition of the spoken word. It is a joy to read, read aloud, and hear; a masterful English telling of traditional stories.

I will forgo any of the details of the stories since I loved walking down the dark street of discovery of each turn of the page!

[Tina Wilkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Great read! Actually had a nightmare from the unharmonus man.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this beautifully written collection of stories, Ms. Matsuura once again proves that the art of story-telling is not lost as she takes us to the world of Japanaese folk lore retold with her own spin. She has the ability to paint pictures with her words, which are carefully selected and crafted into phrases which transport the reader into the worlds she has created. I felt as if I could hear the dripping water, feel the wind blowing through the trees, and hear the breath of the creatures she's created.

I would say that these stories are dark, but not your traditional horror stories that terrify you. I will promise that you won't be disappointed.

[Ian Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this collection of short horror stories.

The best part were very reminiscent of Kaidan and other old Japanese ghost stories. Slow methodical pacing leading to a bit of a shock.

If I have any complaints it would be that at times an appendix would have been useful to explain in more detail a few of the back stories, and at a few times I thought that there were a few spots that I had to read over to clarify intended meaning...

But, recommended and enjoyable and even commendable for tackling a genre (Japanese style horror) often untouched in English short stories, and very fresh compared with the retreads that many English authors in Japan put out.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful writing about horrible things. And I have to say that the expat friends in "Four Guys Walk Into A Bar" struck me as hilariously authentic.

[John Catton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at the Japan Writers Conference because I was intrigued by the use of “Mythical Realism” to describe it. Having read the stories, I think they also fit the label of “New Weird” used to describe writers like China Mieville. In fact, one story was published in the New Weird flagship magazine, Black Static. My favorite stories were Spider Sweeper and Mother of All Devils (genuinely creepy), Pinwheels and Spider Lilies (creepy and heartbreaking), and Four Guys Walk Into a Bar (creepy, borderline and gory, as well as being drop-dead hilarious. Matsuura’s writing is distinctive, confident, and uses the logic of legends and folktales to reveal the weirdness embedded in the conventional world around us. Whatever Mythical Realism is, it doesn’t get much better than this!

[Susiem · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many different and "Abby" normal bizarre stories. They made me laugh and also grossed me out. What i liked best that I couldn't predict the endings.

[jc · Rating 3 out of 5]

spoilers

I found them very hit or miss as a casual Japanese folklore enjoyer. I lot of the stories have endings that come out of left field seeing as it doesn't really give context of the deity/ legend referenced so you're just left there kind of confused. Some of them are fully creepy without the need for background information, but the vast majority, you won't enjoy without being familiar with the particular urban legend being referenced.

Shoutout to my Nono who loved Japanese folklore and I found this in his office :)
I would've loved to talk about the legends with you because I know you'd know them all.

[Jason Valverde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Japanese Horror

Beautifully written, Thersa was a way of writing that is so succinct, every sentence paints a whole picture. This collection of stories were so engrossing I liked them all. An awesome book.

[Sara_t · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little gem I came across totally by chance, recommended for Japanese folklore enthusiasts who seek to go a little deeper than mainstream cultural references.
The author is an American lady who lives in a small rural town in Japan. She uses her unique position to research little-known traditions, superstitions, and trivia for her English-speaking audience.

By the way, she shares all the interesting tidbits she comes across in a podcast appropriately named Uncanny Japan, which I started to follow after reading the book.
I enjoyed finding all the tiny details in her stories expanded upon on the podcast. Partially, because it gives you a feeling of the breadth of her research and helps flesh out the story, and partially because she always picks such interesting topics.
In this review, I'm going to try and link each tale to the relevant podcast episodes for other readers who would like more background.

This is a collection of 10 short tales.

The Spider Sweeper

A queer love story taking a turn into mystery and then supernatural horror, involving a gentle temple boy who sweeps spiders out of harm's way.

As for the bit of Japanese folklore, it is explained how in certain areas of Japan, "night spiders" are to be killed on the spot, while "morning spiders" are considered good luck and should never be harmed. Conversely, in other parts of Japan with a different dialect, "night spiders" are considered lucky and spared because their local name (yoru kobu) sounds like the word for happiness (yorokobu). I think this linguistic curiosity is cleverly woven into the plot, foreshadowing the dual nature of certain characters and events.
Uncanny Japan Japanese Superstitions Part One (Ep. 6) goes into more detail on whether or not to kill spiders and on the yoru kobu / yorokobu play of words.

Amongst other things Jin describes when telling about his travels, there are "ghosts that swilled their long tongues into unattended oil lamps". He's referring to the adorable chochin obake, covered in this episode on haunted artifacts: Haunted Artifacts (Tsukumogami) (Ep. 44) (I really loved this episode!)

Also, he talks about "beautiful women with hungry mouths concealed in the backs of their heads". They are another unique, fascinating piece of Japanese folklore. I recommend the audio story "The Wife Who Didn't Eat". It's not available on Uncanny Japan, but only on the author's Patreon account (by the way, if you appreciate the podcast or love to listen to audiobooks and binaural background sounds, it's totally worth the membership fee.)

Finally, more info on the torments of the Buddhist hell the Abbot talks about towards the end: Screaming and Crushing in Four Buddhist Hells (Ep. 21)
and Great Screaming and Uninterrupted Pain: More Buddhist Hells (Ep. 22)

Sasa's Rouged Cheeks, Sasa's Reddened Lips

A star-crossed lovers' story, a coming of age story, and a monster story all wrapped into one. The adolescent Oni Sasa gives her heart to a frail human boy. But to crown her love, she must come to terms not only with her disapproving ogre family but also with her own blood-thirsty nature.
This tale has a very cinematic cut, describing lavishly every detail from Sasa's careful grooming for her tryst to her overpowering bloodlust as she mows down an angry mob.

If you wish to know more about Japanese Oni lore: The Ferocious Oni (Ep. 93) |
A curious Japanese festivity with Oni: Setsubun: The Devils are Coming! (Ep. 29) |
And, finally, a collection of Oni related sayings (amongst other monsters): Yokai Related Sayings (Becoming a Tengu) (Ep. 54)

Here we have a couple of passing references, with detailed and interesting in-depth podcasts.
On the Obon, during which the story happens: On Cucumber Horses They Ride: Obon Part One (Ep. 8);
Okuribi: Sending Away Fires (Obon Part Two) (Ep. 9); Bon Odori: Dancing with the Dead (Ep. 58)

On the "God of Pox", who decimated Choushichi's family: The God of Smallpox (Housougami) (Ep. 18)

Four Guys Walk Into a Bar

The setting of this story is modern Japan. It's one of those tales that start normally enough but end on a very unexpected note. The interesting thing here is the continuously shifting POV between the four main characters, American expats, the bar owner, and the patrons. The four Americans think they understand everything about this country and how to act in it, while the Japanese consider them a nuisance, even if they are too polite to show it openly.

The theme is the cultural gap: foreigners in Japan often think they come off as charming and charismatic while they're being silently loathed for their uncouthness.
Much food for thought for Westerners visiting Japan. This topic is discussed in Behind the Curtain: Advice for people coming to Japan (Ep. 39) I promise you this tale makes a lot more sense after you listen to it.

Not strictly related, but if you are interested in alien sightings in old Japan, I suggest this episode: Utsuro-Bune: The Hollow (Space?) Ship (Ep. 78)

Go-Away Monkey

Back to ancient Japan: a wandering performer, with his trained monkey chained to the hip, visits a village stricken by epidemy, famine, and poverty. He claims that, in exchange for offerings, he will perform a ritual to make all the misfortune "go away" (in Japanese, "saru", which is also the word for "monkey"). Spoiler: the ritual takes a nightmarish turn. The story is narrated through the eyes of Okappa, an outcast girl taking pity on the destiny of the poor, mistreated monkey. I should also mention a trigger warning for non-consensual sex.

The story is also available for free in audio format, narrated by the author herself: Scary Story Time: "Go-Away Monkey" (Ep. 86)

On the titular "go-away monkey" and other trivia on Japanese monkeys: Monkeys and Monkey Lore! (Ep. 4);
More lore on Japanese monkeys: Sanzaru: Three Wise Monkeys and How They Can Help Extend Your Life (Ep. 70)

The monkey's master claims that a mountain Tengu taught him the ritual. Also, the monkey dons a Tengu mask. Two podcasts cover the fascinating figure of the Tengu: Heavenly Dogs and Brilliant Swordsmen (The Tengu) (Ep. 32) and Hidden by the Gods (kamikakushi) (Ep. 34)

At one point, the monkey Fukumimi is claimed to be transfigured into one of the "Seven Gods." Maybe, a reference to Hotaru, the god with the long earlobes (in Japanese "fukumimi"): Enjoying the Luck of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin) (Ep. 68)

The episode on the Pox God is linked above.

May Be Dim

"May be" my favorite tale of the collection. Taro is a vigorous but dim-witted man with a bad leg, living in an extremely poor village. The village can't afford to support its unproductive members, so periodically Taro has to piggyback an elder on top of the mountain, abandon him or her to die, and hurry back to the safety of the village before the hungry spirits of those left for dead grab him. He's proud of his job, the only job a lame like himself can do to be considered a "productive member." Until, one day, he must take to the mountain his cherished granny...

On the real-life tradition of abandoning elders on top of mountains: Granny Dumping Mountain (Ubasuteyama) (Ep. 17)

If you're interested in the various types of ghosts threatening to come back into this world: Yuurei: Japanese Ghosts from Protective to Wrathful (Ep. 62); also, an entire episode dedicated to the gaki variety: Gaki: Hungry Ghosts (Ep. 10)

On a less cruel tradition concerning elders: Kanreki: Your Auspicious Years, Yakudoushi: Your Calamitous Ones (Ep. 60)

The Un-Harmonious Man

This tale reads like a long, poetic metaphor on... breaking free of your psychological restraints to live in the real world? I sincerely don't know, but in the Acknowledgments, it's hinted that this may be an extremely personal experience for the author.

The protagonist has been cruelly nailed to a tree for as long as she can remember. But the sight of an "un-harmonious man" in the distance, seemingly torturing animals (her only friends), gives her the motivation to break free of her restraints, with lavishly narrated excruciating pain. Except for the protagonist's name (Sora, meaning "sky"), I didn't find any Japanese reference. The story could be happening anywhere.

This is not implied anywhere in the story, it's just my personal reading, but... Sora's predicament, being nailed to a tree, reminded me a little of the Japanese practice of hammering a straw doll to a sacred tree to perform a curse: Putting a Curse on Your Enemies (Ushi no Koku Mairi) (Ep. 52). Also, the idea of someone permanently chained to a boulder is a bit reminiscent of the practice of the "human pillars": Hitobashira: The Tragic Stories of Human Pillars (Ep. 81) and the mysterious "Him" slightly resembles this guy: Tsuno Daishi: The Great Horned Master (Ep. 43)

My Dog Bucky

A story with nothing to do with Japanese folklore, so I can't link any Uncanny Japan podcasts to this one. However, there's an interesting tidbit in the Acknowledgments about this being a re-imagined snippet of autobiography by fellow author Evan J. Peterson.

A punk rock band hires a new thereminist for their first big gig. The guy, Creeter, is arguably a theremin genius, but also a skittish, geeky character wearing a silver spacesuit. The narrator, a member of the band, has the idea of feeding Creeter pot brownies to mellow him down a bit before the show. It ends in tragedy on stage.

The Carp-Faced Boy

Remarkable story: tense, eerie, inventive, immersive, totally deserving to give the name to the whole collection.

Granpa Tetsu is the respected elder of his modest village. He's proud of his health and, above all, of his teeth. But his life starts going downhill when his daughter comes back to the parental home with her monstrous child, a carp-faced boy. Only Tetsu seems to find the child repulsive, to the point of starting to see him as a lurking danger. Is the old man becoming senile, or, perhaps, his grandson is really a force of evil?

By the way, the titular carp-faced boy made a cameo appearance in the tale "Go-Away Monkey" (unless it's another carp-faced boy, of course). I find this is a nice touch and keep wondering how the events of the two tales panned out. Did the mother of the carp-faced boy flee to her parent's home because of the mess in Okappa's village? Or does The Carp-Faced Boy happen in the same village as Go-Away Monkey, before the arrival of the man with the monkey?

On the infamous human-faced fish, which inspired the character of the carp-faced boy: Human-Faced Fish (jinmengyo) (Ep. 30)

At one point, the carp-faced boy begins stacking stones, and grandpa Tetsu comments "Only people trying to flee Purgatory stack stones." Here's what's he's talking about: Ojizo: The Little Guy Saving You and Yours From the Torments of Hell (Ep. 26)

The villager Otsubo is said to have been enchanted by a shape-shifting fox, one of the most beloved animals in Japanese folklore. Here are some episodes talking about Japanese foxes (or kitsune): The Killing Stone: Sessho Seki (Ep. 96)
and Adorable Tanuki: Fluffy, Shape-Shifting, and Lucky! (Ep. 72) (talks mostly about tanuki, another interesting animal, but it tangentially gives info on foxes)

Also, the fox transformed into a blue Oni. Episodes on the Oni are linked above.

Nakanishi the carver-dentist claims that his sake is special because it's brewed with water so pure kappa go play in it. Here's an episode all about these aquatic monsters: The Kappa's Fart (Ep. 48) and a free audio story about kappa (with other interesting info): Story Time: "The Kappa's Abyss" (Ep. 75)

At the very end of the story, it looks like Granpa Tetsu may be experiencing something similar to the kanashibari phenomenon, explained here: Kanashibari and the Pillow Flipper (Makura Gaeshi) (Ep. 46)

The Mother of All Devils

Thirteen years-old orphan Yoichi becomes an acolyte at the Buddhist temple with a secret mission: saving Kishibojin, the beautiful goddess protector of mothers and children, held chained and trapped in a desolate hut among the mountains by the monks. Pregnant Chihiru and her husband Taka track down the witch Kishibojin's hut, seeking her protection for their soon-to-be-born. They find before their eyes only a pitiful crone, cruelly forced to live in solitude and filth. Spoiler: The true Kishibojin is neither the glamourous goddess Yoichi pines for, nor the frail old lady that moves the heart of Chihiru.

On the origin of the titular character: Kishibojin: The Mother of All Devils (Ep. 5)

Pinwheels and Spider Lilies

Another story with a great atmosphere, dominated by the imposing figure of the yamamba, or mountain witch.

Akito lost his job and was kicked out of his house by his wife on the same night. Now, he works as the keeper of a Buddhist cemetery, trying to turn out a new leaf. But a terrible mountain witch appears in front of him night after night proposing him to trade small objects for his heart's desires. This is the chance to rebuild his family, or maybe to come to terms with his own sins.

On the ominous significance of spider lilies Mai picks up (listen to understand why that's meaningful foreshadowing): Japanese Superstitions II: Spider Lilies and Ghostly Trees (Ep. 41)

The mountain witch is "dressed in the layered silks of an oiran". It means she's dressed like this: Oiran: The Glamorous and Wretched Life of a High Courtesan (Ep. 61)

Episodes on the Obon festival linked above.

In-depth description of depictions of souls burning in Buddhist hell is linked above.

[Plingsben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished in time for Halloween. Superb timing on my part. Thersa Matsuura does an amazing job at mixing Japanese folk tales with traditional American horror. This short story collection has a unique way of killing of old people in wonderfully grotesque ways. If you are someone like me who is-with much guilt-avoiding horror I would point to this as a good entry point. Make sure to listen to Thersa Matsuura's podcast Uncanny Japan, she's an amazing narrator.

[Janeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection led me through so many emotions: longing, guilt, laughter, fear, unease, and many more, in a way that was entirely seamless and unforced. Thersa Matsuura has truly mastered the art of the short story-- she wastes no time in crafting beautifully haunting worlds and heartbreakingly human characters.

[Jonathan Wildman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and Thrilling!

Every story is an exciting ride into the fantastic, strange and/or spooky side of Japan. We can only hope that this author publishes more works. Unlike anything I've ever read in the genre. 6 stars.

[Krystle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her voice

As a huge fan of Theresa Matsuras podcast Uncanny Japan I cannot speak more highly of her short stories. Her voice carries through and transports you to another realm.
Love it.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stories. Creepy, spooky, gory, kooky fun!
Visions from the carp -faced boy were stuck in my head for days.
I've been having trouble getting back into reading and weird short stories were exactly what I needed.

[Rob Usdin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing collection of dark and interesting stories with the added twist of Japan.

[Rosalind · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of genuinely spooky, creepy stories. Would definitely read again.

[Christopher Hood · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a full review see https://hoodcp.wordpress.com/2022/12/...

[Patrick Sherriff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Musicals and horror. I don't do either. At least, I didn't think I did. Ultimately, I just can't make the leap of faith to be scared by ghosts and supernatural beasties, in much the same way that I can't take it when folk start singing and dancing in the middle of an otherwise perfectly believable scene in a diner. But after reading Matsuura's well-crafted stories, I'm having to face the fact that, ahem, I might be wrong. Yes, there are Japanese-flavoured supernatural beasties in these stories: demons, witches, and monkey gods, but they are not in the stories to scare us. They are there to exact justice. Twisted, darkly humorous, unmelodic justice, but justice nonetheless. You don't make a bargain with a tree witch and expect everything to come up roses, or buy an alien for ¥500 and not expect some payback, do you? And there's more going on in these stories too. There are glimpses of Japan's rural past, explorations of traditional morality, and modern immorality. Pervading all the stories is a deep understanding of Japanese and human nature, for better or for worse. The bottom line? Beautifully written, darkly humorous and deliciously Japanese. Musicals still suck though.

Download my starter library for free here - http://eepurl.com/bFkt0X