Skip to main content
Unodio LogoUnodio Logo
Audiobooks
⌘K
U
Unodio

Experience the future of studio-quality audio. From immersive originals to a curated library of audiobooks and podcasts.

Studio Quality Audio

Specialized Hubs

  • Kids & Family
  • Toddler Bedtime Stories
  • Classic Literature
  • Adult Audiobooks
  • Sci-Fi & Fantasy
  • Romance Novels
  • Self-Help & Mindset
  • Free Mystery & Crime

Explore Library

  • All Audiobooks
  • Bedtime Stories
  • Podcasts
  • New Releases
  • Top Charts
  • Author Directory
  • Explore All Categories

Categories

  • Kids & Family
  • Classic Fiction
  • Science Fiction
  • Mystery & Thriller
  • Romance & Drama
  • History & Biography
  • Philosophy & Mind

Company & Support

  • Our Story
  • Journal & Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Support Center
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Refund Policy

© 2026 UNODIO INC.

PRIVACYTERMSREFUNDCONTACT
System Operational
Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan by Richard Gordon Smith — audiobook cover art

Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan

Richard Gordon Smith
GENREhistory
LANGUAGEEnglish
LISTENED32
RATING4.8
RELEASED2026

Details

✍️

Author

Richard Gordon Smith

🌐

Language

English

📚

Genre

history

About this Audiobook

by Richard Gordon Smith

📖 Synopsis & Plot Overview

Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan by Richard Gordon Smith is a captivating audiobook that delves into the mystical world of Japanese folklore, exploring the intricate relationships between mortals and the spirit world. This enchanting collection of tales is expertly narrated by a diverse group of talented voices, including Stefan Von Blon, Lynda Marie Neilson, and David McKay, among others.

🔍 Key Themes & Narrative Depth

The stories within this audiobook are a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Japan, weaving together themes of love, hate, war, and peace. From the supernatural to the mundane, these ancient tales will transport listeners to a world of wonder and awe, where the boundaries between reality and myth blur. With its unique blend of fantasy and historical fiction, this audiobook is sure to captivate fans of mythology and folklore from around the world.

One of the most compelling aspects of Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan is its ability to balance the familiar with the unknown. While some stories may evoke a sense of déjà vu, others will be entirely new to listeners, offering a fresh perspective on the human experience. This audiobook is a must-listen for anyone interested in exploring the diverse and fascinating world of Japanese folklore, with its complex characters, moral lessons, and timeless themes.

🎙️ Listening Experience

The listening experience is further enhanced by the talented narrators, who bring the stories to life with their expressive voices and impeccable pacing. With its masterful blend of entertainment and education, Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan is an audiobook that will appeal to a wide range of listeners, from fans of historical fiction to those interested in mythology and folklore. Join the journey and discover the magic of Japan's ancient tales with Unodio, your premier destination for immersive audiobooks.

Chapters

01
Preface
Richard Gordon Smith
4:14history
02
The Golden Hairpin
Richard Gordon Smith
25:03history
03
The Spirit Of The Willow Tree
Richard Gordon Smith
16:34history
04
Ghost of the Violet Well
Richard Gordon Smith
12:56history
05
Ghost Story of the Flute's Tomb
Richard Gordon Smith
14:31history
06
A Haunted Temple in Inaba Province
Richard Gordon Smith
13:57history
07
A Carp Gives a Lesson in Perseverance
Richard Gordon Smith
8:16history
08
Legends Told by a Fisherman on Lake Biwa, At Zeze
Richard Gordon Smith
15:19history
09
A Miraculous Sword
Richard Gordon Smith
12:46history
10
'The Procession of Ghosts'
Richard Gordon Smith
8:57history
11
A Faithful Servant
Richard Gordon Smith
8:22history
12
Prince Hosokawa's Most Valuable Title Deeds
Richard Gordon Smith
8:22history
13
The Story of Kato Sayemon
Richard Gordon Smith
12:59history
14
Great Fire Caused by a Lady's Dress
Richard Gordon Smith
10:13history
15
History of Awoto Fujitsuna
Richard Gordon Smith
6:05history
16
A Life Saved by a Spider and Two Doves
Richard Gordon Smith
11:43history
17
Murakami Yoshiteru's Faithfulness
Richard Gordon Smith
9:54history
18
A Story of Oki Islands
Richard Gordon Smith
14:05history
19
Cape of the Woman's Sword
Richard Gordon Smith
11:11history
20
How Yogodayu Won A Battle
Richard Gordon Smith
7:59history
21
The Isolated or Desolated Island
Richard Gordon Smith
11:27history
22
Chikubu Island, Lake Biwa
Richard Gordon Smith
12:05history
23
Reincarnation
Richard Gordon Smith
7:08history
24
The Diving Woman of Oiso Bay
Richard Gordon Smith
14:31history
25
Theft And Recovery of a Golden Kwannon
Richard Gordon Smith
10:32history
26
Saigyo Hoshi's Rock
Richard Gordon Smith
12:56history
27
How Masakuni Regained His Sight
Richard Gordon Smith
9:46history
28
Sagami Bay
Richard Gordon Smith
9:17history
29
The King of Torijima
Richard Gordon Smith
15:44history
30
The Perpetual Life Giving Wine
Richard Gordon Smith
9:31history
31
The Hermit's Cave
Richard Gordon Smith
9:29history
32
Yosoji's Camellia Tree
Richard Gordon Smith
12:42history
33
Whales
Richard Gordon Smith
10:24history
34
The Holy Cherry Tree of Musubi no Kami Temple
Richard Gordon Smith
16:12history
35
A Story of Mount Kanzanrei
Richard Gordon Smith
12:48history
36
White Bone Mountain
Richard Gordon Smith
13:14history
37
A Stormy Night's Tragedy
Richard Gordon Smith
11:19history
38
The Kakemono Ghost of Aki Province
Richard Gordon Smith
13:22history
39
White Saké
Richard Gordon Smith
13:07history
40
The Blind Beauty
Richard Gordon Smith
18:18history
41
The Secret of Iidamachi Pond
Richard Gordon Smith
10:22history
42
The Spirit of Yenoki
Richard Gordon Smith
19:13history
43
The Spirit of the Lotus Lily
Richard Gordon Smith
15:11history
44
The Temple of the Awabi
Richard Gordon Smith
17:45history
45
Human Fireflies
Richard Gordon Smith
8:26history
46
The Chrysanthemum Hermit
Richard Gordon Smith
6:11history
47
The Princess Peony
Richard Gordon Smith
14:18history
48
The Memorial Cherry Tree
Richard Gordon Smith
13:00history
49
The 'Jirohei' Cherry Tree, Kyoto
Richard Gordon Smith
7:55history
50
The Snow Ghost
Richard Gordon Smith
9:28history
51
The Snow Tomb
Richard Gordon Smith
10:52history
52
The Dragon Shaped Plum Tree
Richard Gordon Smith
11:08history
53
The Chessboard Cherry Tree
Richard Gordon Smith
8:50history
54
The Precious Sword 'Natori no Hoto'
Richard Gordon Smith
10:32history
55
The White Serpent God
Richard Gordon Smith
12:36history
56
A Festival of the Awabi Fish
Richard Gordon Smith
11:11history
57
The Spirit of a Willow Tree Saves Family Honour
Richard Gordon Smith
12:56history
58
The Camphor Tree Tomb
Richard Gordon Smith
15:42history

Listener Reviews 323

Listener Rating
4.8
Based on 323 verified ratings
5
35%
4
0%
3
65%
2
0%
1
0%
Your Opinion

Sign in to rate and write a review

DF
Daniel F.
March 26, 2020
A slow start but completely worth it

The narration quality on this is impressive. Clear, well-paced, and the tone matches the content perfectly. Makes a big difference when you're listening for hours.

AR
Ananya R.
April 6, 2026
Perfect for my morning commute

I kept pausing to think about what I just heard. That's the mark of a good book for me — when it makes you stop and actually reflect. Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan did that consistently.

MT
Marcus T.
April 6, 2026
One of my favourite finds this year

Not a single chapter felt like filler. Richard Gordon Smith respects your time and delivers value throughout. Went in expecting decent, came out genuinely impressed.

YM
Yuki M.
April 6, 2026
Stopped everything to finish this

There are books you finish and forget. Then there are books like Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan that you keep going back to mentally. This is the second kind. Brilliant.

More History Audiobooks

16 Audiobooks
Ozymandias of Egypt

Ozymandias of Egypt

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Last of the Mohicans

Last of the Mohicans

James Fenimore Cooper

Caedmon's Hymn

Caedmon's Hymn

Caedmon

The Prince

The Prince

Niccolo Machiavelli

Épigramme

Épigramme

François Maynard

Secret Chambers and Hiding Places

Secret Chambers and Hiding Places

Allan Fea

Captain Blood

Captain Blood

Rafael Sabatini

The Prince

The Prince

Nicolo Machiavelli; translated by W. K. Marriott

Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost

John Milton

The Falcon on the Baltic

The Falcon on the Baltic

Edward Frederick Knight

The Black Tulip

The Black Tulip

Alexandre Dumas

One Hundred Verses from Old Japan

One Hundred Verses from Old Japan

Teika no Fujiwara

Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Mary Wollstonecraft

Twelve Years a Slave

Twelve Years a Slave

Solomon Northup

La Música Popular de las Tierras de Cantabria

La Música Popular de las Tierras de Cantabria

Unknown Author

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Vol. I

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Vol. I

Edward Gibbon

Explore Related Categories:🏛 History🎧 Podcasts🌙 Bedtime Stories🔪 Crime & Thriller🕵️ Mystery🪷 Buddhist Stories