Chilluminati Podcast Episode 304: Cryptids of Japan
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Jun 22, 2025 Dive into the mystical world of Japanese cryptids! Discover the squeaking Tsuchinoko and its viral lore. Unravel the mystery of the shy Hibagon, Japan's version of Bigfoot, and ponder what it would be like to share a hot spring with it. Meet the eerie Lake Kussharo Monster and the elusive Ningen, a human-like sea creature. Hear tales of the Jinmenken, a human-faced dog, and the ghostly Bake Kujira, a whale that brings misfortune. Each cryptid has a unique story that weaves together folklore and the bizarre!
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Whimsy Hides Real Danger
- The Tsuchinoko blends whimsy and danger: it squeaks, drinks alcohol, lies, yet may be venomous and lethal.
- Folklore flares into modern
Pizza‑Headed Forest Mystery
- Witnesses in the 1970s described the Hibagon as a squat, five-foot, triangular-headed, hairy creature seen near fields and forests.
- Villagers plaster-cast large footprints and photographed a blurry shape behind a persimmon tree as evidence.
Local Nessie Echoes Practical Explanations
- The Kusharo monster recurred in 1970s Hokkaido with multi‑witness hump and head reports that echoed Loch Ness lore.
- Scientific explanations include giant salamanders, fish schools, or visual misreads of waves and logs.