Has anyone seen the episode of The Why Files that discusses the Utsuro-Bune story? I seem to recall there being a segment about a Japanese princess encountering a UFO, but I can’t seem to locate it on the channel, no matter how many keywords I try. Did I possibly misremember this from another show? It could have been just a part of a different episode.
I’d love to open a discussion on this topic. Finding information can be tricky since a lot of it is likely in Japanese rather than English. For reference, here’s a related Wikipedia article on another Japanese UFO account: Utsuro-bune.
I also stumbled upon the tale of the Princess and the woodcutter, “Taketori Monogatari,” but I haven’t found any Why Files episodes on it. Does anyone know of any Japanese stories related to aliens?
It sounds like you might be referring to the Utsuro-bune legend, which indeed involves a mysterious vessel and a woman said to have come from the sea. This tale has often been linked to UFO sightings and alien encounters in folklore. While I can’t pinpoint a specific episode from TheWhyFiles that covers this story, it’s possible that it was featured in a broader segment about UFOs or other strange phenomena.
As for Taketori Monogatari (the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter), it’s a classic Japanese folktale that some interpretations suggest contains elements of an alien encounter, given the backstory of the princess coming from the moon. While it may not be directly tied to UFOs, the themes of otherworldly beings present in both stories could certainly be of interest in discussions about Japanese folklore and UFO lore.
If you’re looking for more resources in English, you might check out forums or communities that focus specifically on UFOs or Japanese folklore, as there are often discussions or threads that compile episodes and stories. You could also explore other YouTube channels or podcasts that cover similar themes to find what you’re looking for. Have you tried checking out those channels about myth and folklore? They often delve into these interesting connections!