This week on Myths and Legends, there are two stories from Japan.

On the first, you'll see why you should live life to the fullest and dance like nobody's watching,

or like a bunch of demons are watching.

On the second, you'll see why your new pet might just have a nicer house than you.

The creature this week is either a malicious vampire or a sad cow.

Both of which want to eat you.

This is Myths and Legends, Episode 214. Take your lumps.

This is a podcast where I tell stories from mythology and folklore.

Some are incredibly popular stories you might think you know, but with surprising origins.

Others are stories that might be new to you, but are definitely worth listening.

So, like I said at the top of the episode, we're back in Japanese folklore.

There is not a lot to go into for this episode.

It's set in Japan sometime in the middle ages.

That's all you really need to know.

With this first story, we'll jump in with a sad woodcutter,

whose night just went from bad to deadly.

The old man shivered in the hollow tree.

The rain had stopped an hour ago, but he couldn't leave now.

The air outside the tree wreaked of wine and echoed with laughter.

Lights shined through the cracks, projecting on the opposite side of the inside of the tree.

When the old man first heard the shouting and laughing, he feared the worst.

And by the time he thought to move, he didn't dare leave the tree,

...