- The Vengeance of Oiwa--The terrifying spirit of a woman murdered by her husband who seeks retribution from beyond the grave
- The Curse of Okiku--A servant girl is murdered by her master and curses his family, with gruesome results
- The Snow Woman--A man is saved by a mysterious woman who swears him to secrecy
- Tales of the Kappa--Strange human-like sprites with green, scaly skin who live in water and are known to pull children and animals to their deaths
- And many, many more!
In his introduction, renowned translator William Scott Wilson explains the role these stories play in local Japanese culture and folklore, and their importance to understanding the Japanese psyche. Readers will learn which particular region, city, mountain or temple the stories originate from--in case you're brave enough to visit these haunts yourself!