The tale of Kasane exists in two powerful forms: one as a generational curse haunting a single bloodline, and another, older version where a ghost's vengeance is not against one murderer, but against an entire village that was complicit in her death through their prejudice and silence.

In this episode, we explore one of Japan's most haunting tales: the curse of Kasane-ga-fuchi. This podcast delves into the two distinct narratives that share this name. The first is a famous generational tragedy of a samurai's sin, where a murdered moneylender's curse is passed down through his killer's bloodline, dooming his descendants to madness and violence. The second is an older, folkloric version where the ghost of a murdered woman seeks revenge not just on her killer, but on the entire village that stood by and did nothing, exposing a deep-seated social cruelty. This podcast examines the historical context of the Edo period that shaped these stories, from the social anxieties between the samurai and merchant classes to the rise of the ghost story as popular entertainment. We will also discuss the pivotal role of master storyteller San'yūtei Enchō, who modernized the tale for a new era. Finally, the episode looks at the story's enduring legacy, including its many film adaptations and its brilliant reinvention in the modern psychological manga, Kasane.