Hey guys, I'm your host Tara A. Devlin, and welcome to this week's episode of Kowabana, true Japanese scary stories from around the internet.

My latest book, Toshidenem Theater, Bight Size Japanese

Urban Legends Volume 1, is now out. If you've ever wanted a collection of short, bite-sized

stories you could zip through whenever you have a few minutes spare, then this is the book

for you. Bringing you all sorts of Japanese urban legends you may or may not have heard

of before, these creepy, odd and bizarre

little tales will keep you entertained and no doubt thinking about them for quite some time

to come. Toshidane Theatre is available on Amazon right now, so do check it out and help support

the show at the same time. This week, we're looking at a few stories on one of my favorite topics, shrines.

To start, a young man heads out to meet a friend, but on the way back notices something strange,

a black shrine gate.

What on earth is it, and why is there something even more terrifying behind it?

Find out in Black Shrine Gate.

First of all, I'd like to point out that I'm someone who doesn't believe in the supernatural.

However, I do believe that

there are things we still can't explain. Reality and circumstances equal strange,

not supernatural. This is the equation I believe in. So, let me tell you a little story

about something I once experienced.

It was right about this time of year.

With the morning's sun and the cry of the cicadas, I could feel the arrival of summer

on both my skin and in my ears.

I was supposed to meet my friend early that morning, so I got in the car and made my way

...