Yotsuya Kaidan and Japanese Ghosts

November 16, 2011October 8, 2024 Alex Matsuo

I will start off by saying that the Japanese people really know how to tell a good ghost story. Merely listening to a Japanese ghost story sends shivers down my spine and makes the hair on the back of my neck raise on end. Being a quarter Japanese, I’ve had a fascination with this part of my heritage, and I’ve been wanting to learn more about the Japanese culture. I’ve decided that for my next project, I’d like to adapt a popular Japanese ghost story for the stage in a contemporary Western theatre style, but also pay homage to the kabuki style in which it originated. I love kabuki theatre as a whole. I can’t really explain why except that I love the artistic form and how it communicates character and story on stage.

If you need a visual on “kabuki 101”, here is a handy YouTube video:

While on my journey into looking into more kabuki plays, I ran into this Japanese horror story by Tsuruya Nanboku IV, written in 1825, called Yotsuya Kaidan. He tells the tragic story of Oiwa and Tamiya lemon. This is my attempt for a brief summary, without revealing too much (and depending on which version you read), lemon and Oiwa are married. lemon is unsatisfied with his life with Oiwa and their baby. Oume, another woman, is in love with lemon. lemon desires the wealth of Oume and wants to marry her instead. To get Oiwa out of the picture, she (or lemon depending on the version) sends a disfigurement cream to Oiwa, which disfigures half of her face and makes her hair fall out. lemon decides to leave Oiwa and forces a masseur named Takuetsu to rape Oiwa so that he has a legal reason to divorce Oiwa and marry Oume. Oiwa tries to fend Takuetsu off with a sword and accidentally punctures her own throat and dies, cursing lemon’s name. In other versions, lemon gives the posion to Oiwa, but not enough to kill her and the poison slowly kills Oiwa in a violently gruesome way. Her face becomes disfigured, her hair falls out, her eye droops and in her madness, falls on one of lemon’s swords. lemon returns home, and dumps his wife’s body in the river and the death is deemed a suicide.

lemon and Oume marry. Oiwa comes back and haunts lemon and makes him lose his mind and a lot of people are brutally murdered. Throughout the rest of the play, Oiwa haunts lemon with her demonic laugh. In life, Oiwa was a model woman of nobility, humility and virtue. But in death, she is a vengeful spirit known as an onryō. Why is this story still so popular today? At the time of its production, the Bunsei period of a time of repressed women and there was tension all around. Oiwa was a character that the audience could relate to in terms of being out of control and unable to have any power in their circumstances. Also, the play consisted of special affects that audiences had never seen before. Disfiguring makeup and hair falling out along with violence was a good combination for a well attended play. Even after Nanboku died, Yotsuya Kaidan remains popular today with numerous adaptations, including film. There is even a curse associated with this story. And the curse is what attracts me to this impending project I have brought upon myself. This story also brings me to think of the Greek tragedy, Medea, which is one of my favorite pieces of classical work.

The curse is associated with bad luck, injuries and death. Much like the curse of Macbeth, the curse Yotsuya Kaidan was blamed for the death of an actress, stage lights falling and injuring actors, deaths of directors, etc. In order to avoid the curse, one must visit Oiwa’s grave and pay their respects. I know what you’re thinking, “Wait a minute, this is a true story?” To answer simply; yes and no. Yotsuya Kaidan is based on two murders that took place in the 1600’s. There is a grave that is believed to hold the remains of Oiwa, whose death is marked as February 22, 1636. If you visit her grave out of curiosity, it is said that your right eye will begin to droop just like Oiwa’s did from the poison.

Now, Nanboku has a knowledge of paranormal folklore in Japanese culture. He wrote Oiwa as an onryō. An onryō is a spirit that seeks vengeance. Onryō spirits mainly consist of women (especially in kabuki theatre) who are powerless in the physical living world, but after they die, they become powerful. Onryōs are revenge spirits to right the wrongs that happened while they were alive. The traditional of the Japanese spirit world consists of the world of the living and the world of the dead. I’m still fresh in my research, but from my understanding thus far; when you die, you go to Yomi, which is an underworld guarded by horrifying spirits and you rot for eternity. In contrast to Yomi, Takamagahara is the shinto view of heaven. I’ll elaborate more on another posting more dedicated to Japanese mythology because now I’m starting to ramble. Where was I? Oh yes. An onryō becomes so powerful that they can cross the boundaries between the two worlds.

What will my adaptation be like? As of right now, I’m just writing. I’m currently looking for the earlier translation of this piece that I can find since I don’t speak Japanese and reading the original would be a moot point. It’s still in the baby stages. Hopefully I will have a tangible piece of work ready for readings by spring 2012.

I will close this blog with an anime adaptation of Yotsuya Kaidan that explains the curse in full detail and presents the conclusion of the story as well. It’s a bit graphic and might scare you in the end. The reason why I’m including this video is because it makes two strong statements. Nanboku begs Oiwa to stop the curse and instead put the curse upon him since he is the one who created the story. And finally, Nanboku states the Yotsuya Kaidan is cursed because people want it to be cursed. It’s amazing how powerful thought and beliefs can be. Thanks for reading!

My Experience in Haunted Gettysburg

November 14, 2011 Alex Matsuo

This weekend, I was fortunate enough to attend a field trip to Gettysburg, hosted by the Paranormal Research Society. It was a weekend of much learning about experiencing activity in one of the most haunted places in the United States. The last time I was in Gettysburg was in the year 2000 for my eighth grade trip. So I was excited to go back to this historical landmark and hopefully have some paranormal experiences and investigate.

This trip also marked the first time I’ve participated in the Ganzfeld experiment. For the last few months, I’ve been doing research to learn more about it and send anything I find to Sergey at PRS. While I was excited to finally be able to participate, I was also a tad nervous. I didn’t just do it once. I participated four times. My last Ganzfeld session consisted me being a sender, which I will go into in a moment.

Jennie Wade House – For those of you who don’t know, Jennie Wade was the only citizen of Gettysburg who was killed during the battle. The house where she was shot is still preserved with the actual bullet holes still present and her wooden bread board hanging next to the stove. This was where I did the Ganzfeld experiment the first time. Adam Sedlock briefed me on what was going to happen and I put on the white shades, the headphones and faced the red light. I heard banging during the experience, heard voices, felt like someone was walking around me, felt something play with my hair and I felt like I was in the presence of chaos.

Tillie Pierce House – This was where I participated in the Ganzfeld Experiment three more times. The second time I participated, there were two people involved this time. One being a “sender” of an image and the other being a “receiver” wearing the shades, headphones and facing the red light. While I didn’t receive an image, I felt an overwhelming sense of sadness afterward. After the first two experiences, I was hesitant to participate again and I initially declined a third opportunity to do it again. However, after making contact with a presence in the house, I was asked to do the Ganzfeld experiment again. This time, knowing what I was looking for, I agreed. It was a positive and enriching experience. The fourth time I did it, I was the sender along with another person. I have to say, it was harder being a sender than it was to be the receiver.

I believe that’s as much as I can go into since this was an experiment conducted by PRS. It was overall a great experience. I have many more stories from Gettysburg, and I’m still in the process of putting them into words. I must say that it is amazing how much the battle impacted Gettysburg and permanently imprinted a presence in that town.

Do Spirits “Notice” You?

October 27, 2011 Alex Matsuo

I received a great question on the Facebook page from Sara D., who asked,

From my own personal research, I have found many share the view that by actively participating in the paranormal (ie: investigating, ganzfeld experiment) or the occult (ie seances, ouija boards) you open yourself up more spiritually and make it easier for spirits to “notice” you. Others say that it doesn’t happen and you shouldn’t worry about it. So, what is it? Be concerned or not?

What is my answer to this? Yes. there should be a concern and a respect for these methods and devices because they have the potential to be powerful tools. First I will address investigating. Investigating the paranormal is entering into a new lifestyle in general. Your awareness of the unknown is heightened. Now are spirits really following you, or are you senses heightened to the point where anything that moves is a shadow/ghost/spirit? You know it’s there, and I know for me, I seem to keep an extra eye open and I notice my surroundings in greater detail than I did before I began investigating. I believe that when you start investigating, especially going against more malevolent beings, it is possible that they will notice you and know who you are. When you approach an investigation and you ask for communication with spirits, they know who you are. I know investigators (including myself) who do protection rituals and make it very clear that they cannot harm me or follow me.

Now the Ganzfeld Experiment…such a fascinating element of parapsychology. Does the Ganzfeld Experiment open yourself up to experience things you couldn’t in your everyday life? I believe so and no. Does it permanently leave you vulnerable to psychic and spiritual phenomenon? It has the potential. Does participating in this leave a permanent bullseye for any spirit to notice you and possibly go after you? I doubt it, but I would certainly love to talk to someone about it who knows more than I do

Now when it comes to things like seances and ouija boards, that is another ballgame. Or is it? When investigating, you are asking for communication. And with seances and ouija boards you are requesting communication. It’s a fine line, but I believe there is a difference. Seances come in many forms. Seance comes from the French term, “sitting” or “seat” and rose in popularity when Spiritualism broke out. There is something to be said sitting in a circle with other people trying to communicate with spirits, especially through a medium. And with ouija boards, I have a great respect for them but I would probably never use one. I’ve heard and experienced too many negative things tied with a ouija board, especially when it comes to the disposal of one (always bury, never burn). Ouija boards are typically associated with bringing in an inhuman spirit. What else is funny is that ouija boards are sold in toy stores and made by Milton Bradley. There are also ouija board necklaces being sold. I was actually offended when I saw this. Paranormal investigating or “ghost hunting” is already seen as a novelty as it is. Technically you don’t even need to buy a ouija board, you can draw a board on a piece of paper or napkin and go from there. It’s that simple. Ouija boards are made by toy companies, what happened to the respect of the possibility that these things can do potential harm? Wearing a necklace with a ouija board shouldn’t be a fashion accessory or seen as cute. That could open you up for potentially negative activity as well.

Is there a safe way to use a ouija board? I’m sure. But you need protection which leads me into my next point. Protecting yourself is very important. There is a fine line between not protecting yourself and building a wall so thick that you cut yourself off from any activity. Where do we draw the line? It’s hard to distinguish.

In closing, when you decide to investigate the paranormal, you need to make sure you do what you can to stay safe while still allowing yourself to experience activity (at least for me, for purposes of collecting evidence and documentation). And protecting yourself not only during an investigation but during your normal everyday life. I started investigating when I was 14. Looking back, it was probably not the safest thing to do, especially investigating solo as a teen with only the internet as my guide. But it taught me so much about myself, the paranormal and how to protect myself and conduct myself on an investigation. I’m still not an expert. I read as much as I can and watch other teams as they do investigations. What I want to close this post with, is that you should always be in the pursuit of knowledge. Keep reading, keep watching, and never stop learning.

Reading Real Books

October 22, 2011 Alex Matsuo

I have yet to purchase a Kindle or anything that would force me to read from a screen. There is something about holding a book in your hand, touching the pages, holding the book at weird angles in the pursuit of comfort, the smell of old books…the list goes on.

I’m sure eventually I will succumb to the fast pace of technology and buy a Kindle. A good example would be if I were traveling for a long period of time and I didn’t want to carry a million books in my bag. That makes sense and is logical. But with the recent closure of Borders, I’ve been thinking, is this the downfall of books as we know it? I certainly hope not. Only because technology will fail us eventually and we won’t have a resource for some of the world’s greatest literature. Plus, Kindle prices are that much different from buying the tangible book so…I don’t know…buy the actual book?

I’m a traditionalist I suppose. I don’t want to cross over into the Kindle world yet. I want to hang on to my paperback and hardcover books, curl up with a cup of tea, wrapped in blankets and read the night away.

Actor, Playwright, Director, Researcher…Superhero

August 25, 2011 Alex Matsuo

Well, not really. I just seem to have a lot of my plate but for no reason. It is self-inflicted.

You know you’re a nerd when you go to the library and you have to refill the meter twice and pray that you don’t get a ticket for going over the 1-hour parking limit. I checked out some books for the group project for the introduction to the paranormal class I took from Ryan Buell. I’m also going to be taking his demonology course in October, so I checked out some books to help myself prepare for the next few months.

I also went to Borders and found some really interesting books on Shakespeare. Ironically, I came up with my own research topic for Shakespeare-related materials and I got the idea while working on my group project for Ryan’s class. I’ve decided that I’m going to read Will’s text and see how many times ghosts appear and take note of anything paranormal in his plays. I’m a bit excited, so I’m going to go ahead and get started on it…I’m not sure if it would be a good dissertation topic, but then again I’ll never know.

Speaking of dissertation…

I’m trying to decide whether the PhD or the MFA route is right for me at this moment. Technically, I can go for both at different times of my life. But I found an MFA program that fits me where I am right now. The application process is a lot of work, but I think it’s manageable. It’s at Goddard College and it’s a low-residence MFA program so that you can focus on your own creative work and mold your own program.

Anyway, I’m off to the library again. Adios!

Suzan-Lori Parks

August 23, 2011 Alex Matsuo

One of my favorite quotes is, “You’re only yourself when no ones watching!” Well, who said it? I’ve met celebrities, well-knowns, etc. I’ve never really been star struck, maybe the occasional, “Oh wow…that’s Alan Rickman teaching me how to be an actor” (true story). But never really been “star struck”.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv2ahmcZdxM]

Well, that changed for me this year. Her name? Suzan-Lori Parks. She has been a source of inspiration for me for a few years now. I had two opportunities to see Suzan-Lori Parks in person this year. The first time was during her “Watch Me Work” session in NYC and the second time was when she came to SDSU and spoke. And every time I saw her, I got so excited, giddy and overwhelmed. I remembered my eyes stinging as if my eyes were welling up with happy tears. Okay, I’ll admit it, I got so excited I started crying a tad. I even had the chance to take her photos…but until I have permission to release them…they shall remain hidden. My camera has captured true genius. I also had one of my biggest breakthroughs in her presence during her “Watch Me Work” session and I had the chance to talk to her about Japanese Eyes/American Heart. She loved the idea, the topic and my passion for it. When I received encouragement from her, it was my confirmation.

If you don’t know who Suzan-Lori Parks is, stop. Google, check out The America Play or Topdog/Underdog, know who she is. Especially if you’re a theatre person. She is brilliant. So brilliant and a genius. Aside from family members, if you ask me who is my biggest inspiration and who has influenced me into the artist I am today, I will say Suzan-Lori Parks.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhnGEk5eODE]

Do You Know Any Japanese?

August 22, 2011 Alex Matsuo

There was a lot of excitement the past few days…the excitement is over and now it’s back to business. Whenever I have to explain my last name, people usually will ask me if I know any Japanese. I know very little. If I got off a plane in Tokyo tomorrow, I’d have the look of confusion and of course would not be able to get around without a translator. But the knowledge of the language and culture did not come from my Grandpa. It came from my curiosity to learn about my Grandpa’s culture, but only the Japanese part and not the Hawaiian part. He was born and raised in Hawaii so it was a bit mixed. My great-grandfather came to Hawaii from Japan while my great-grandmother was born in Hawaii. People will often look at me with some disappointment that I don’t know more. A part of me would want to shout from the rooftops and say, “It’s not my fault!” But really…does it matter? Why should I let this question bug me so much?

This is yet another question/issue/dilemma that I address in Japanese Eyes/American Heart. One of the characters has a line that says,

“He was Japanese in a time and place where it was not okay. Even if you completely Americanized yourself, you were still watched, suspected, never to be trusted.“ -(Japanese Eyes/American Heart, Act I, Scene 4)

And that’s why I don’t know any Japanese.

When I was younger, I attempted to learn from a Japanese singer named Seiji Tanaka because he made covers of American songs. It’s kind of amusing actually…his rendition of “Saturday Night” is my favorite…and I’ll end on a lighter note for this short posting:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AyfyWREFFY]

BTW, I’m accepting artwork submissions for the play’s poster. If you saw the first staged reading and wanted to make some artwork, contact me directly. A few people talked to me after the first staged reading and hopefully someone is still interested.

Random Side Note: I’ve just realized that I’ve met and worked with more well-known British actors than American actors. I wish the United States had the same vibe as British theatre…I remember seeing my Shakespeare teacher from BADA playing a major role in “Vanity Fair”. I’m tempted to send JE/AH across the pond and see what feedback I get since I have the connections.

It’s OK to be Takei

May 22, 2011 Alex Matsuo

I haven’t updated in a few days. It’s been very busy!

First, I got my Masters degree. It’s weird to think that, “Hey I’m done.” I’ve loved my time there and it is a huge part of who I am. What’s next? I don’t know. Hopefully a job in theatre? I’ve already built up my reading list, as I want to keep studying even though I’m no longer in an academic setting.

Then, I sang the National Anthem at a derby bout. It went better than I had expected. I got many compliments and it was the first time anyone in the league had heard me sing. I have to admit, it made me miss performing, a lot. It’s been a year since I’ve been on stage. It’s been a year since I’ve performed in anything. I miss it. But anyway, I also chopped off my hair. I think the look works…? Maybe? My goal dress also fits! It’s taken me a year to get into that thing, so that was a big accomplishment on its own.

Today, I woke up with a migraine. I was supposed to go to Disneyland, but with the migraine, I was just not up to it. It is a big deal for me to not be up for Disneyland. But alas, I took the day to just relax and work on photos and catch up on my reading.

As a part of my day off, I browsed Facebook and found a link to an article about the Tennessee bill. It contained a humorous video by one of my favorites, George Takei.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRkIWB3HIEs]

As I watched the video, I thought about the whole, “That’s so gay” slang. It has always bugged me. And when people use the word fag or worse to insult someone, even as a joke, is offensive to me and to those that I love. Plus, most people who use those words…well…how shall I elaborate without ticking someone off…have you seen what kind of people they are? They don’t usually refrain from using the N word either. They are most common to be trailer trash, douchebags, sluts, not have their lives together, losers…I can go on. Whatever happened to just live and let live? Accepting people for who they are? What if someone said, “Oh that is so Nicole”…ugh…I don’t know. It’s like these people can’t figure out another word to use. And usually these people are not only stupid (yeah I said it) but they lack any knowledge of common sense, they are immature, lowest of the low in their job which is usually a fast food restaurant or a trashy retail establishment and have no respect for other people.

I only wish I could respond to them in the same way that George Takei does. But all that I have is my little blog with less than a dozen views a day with barely any comments. Although I’ve probably written something that the trolls will thrive to respond to…and I look forward to reading the comments, if there are any.