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, Toshidem Theater, Bitesize 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. Toshiden 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 stories of cursed items, bizarre events, and vengeful spirits.

All things that shouldn't be, and yet, seem to.

First up, a student takes the train to school every day and always sees the same people.

Yet for some reason, there's one seat that nobody ever uses, no matter how crowded it is.

Why? Find out in... Empty seat.

Just recently I had my first scary experience, so this is my first post here.

I take the train to school every day, and I always sit in a particular train car because

it's the easiest for my transfer.

I always get on that same car day after day, and I always see the same people there too.

There's the old guy who reads his newspaper, the couple that get on together.

The person listening to music so loud it blairs out of his headphones.

That exhausted guy who probably worked all night.

I have no idea who any of these people are, and yet it's like

I get a glimpse into their daily lives, and I feel somewhat close to them, you know?

...