"Isoda Michifumi's Journey Through History," broadcast on BS NTV, is a historical documentary program that unravels the "truth" and "romance" of history through Isoda's unique perspective and exquisite storytelling.

Why were yokai born, what did people fear, and what did they try to depict? The broadcast on July 8 (Wed) at 9 PM will be set at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies, where "yokai" will be interpreted from a historical perspective based on one of Japan's foremost collections of yokai research materials. While examining precious historical materials such as the "Hyakki Yako Emaki" (Night Parade of a Hundred Demons Scroll) and the "Dojo-ji Engi Emaki" (Scroll of the Legend of Dojo-ji Temple), the program will explain how yokai were not mere ghost stories, but beings that reflected people's views on life and death, satire on society, perceptions of women, and even Japanese culture itself. Historian Michifumi Isoda and cultural anthropologist and folklorist Manami Yasui will delve into the spiritual culture of the Japanese people that continues to this day.

[Highlight 1] Were Yokai "Scary Beings"? Yokai Culture Interpreted from Picture Scrolls

The program will feature a special public viewing of the precious "Hyakki Yako Emaki" owned by the International Research Center for Japanese Studies. It will unravel the reasons why yokai paraded and how, by the Edo period, yokai transformed from objects of fear into sources of entertainment and satire. By deciphering the details of the picture scrolls, the humor and social messages that the Japanese people entrusted to yokai will emerge.

[Highlight 2] Why Did Women Become Yokai? The Truth of "Yokai-fication" Born from History

Yamamba (mountain witch), Ubume (childbirth spirit)... The female yokai depicted in numerous picture scrolls strongly reflect the perceptions of women, fears surrounding childbirth, and values regarding jealousy and resentment held by society at the time. The program will explore the background of why women have been spoken of as yokai, delving into the historical values that have been passed down in Japanese society.

[Highlight 3] Yokai Were a Mirror Reflecting the Japanese Mind

At the end of the program, using yokai as an entry point, Michifumi Isoda will, from his unique perspective, consider how the Japanese people perceive "death" and have coexisted with nature. By comparing the different views on life and death among humans across civilizations, the program will depict the profound depth of the existence of yokai.

Program Overview

Program Title: Isoda Michifumi's Journey Through History: Truth or Fiction? The Reality of Depicted Yokai

Cast: Michifumi Isoda (Professor, International Research Center for Japanese Studies), Michiko Tanaka

Broadcast Date and Time: July 8, 2026 (Wed) 9:00 PM - 9:54 PM

Broadcaster: BS NTV

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  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: 番組情報