Myths and Legends, Episode 432: Japanese Folklore – "Sword it Out"

Hosted by Jason Weiser
Release Date: April 8, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jason Weiser returns to Japanese folklore, focusing on a raucous Edo-period legend: the tumultuous journey of Juyemon, a samurai whose impulsive violence sparks exile, encounters with pirates, accidental entrepreneurship as a toothpaste salesman, convoluted love triangles, and an eventual journey toward self-awareness (and maybe redemption). The episode covers themes of honor, luck, growth, and what it means to truly change.

Weiser’s retelling infuses humor, contemporary references, and sharp insight into samurai culture and social hierarchies, all while maintaining the excitement and oddities of the source material. The "Creature of the Week" spotlights the kappa, a fascinating and infamous yokai from Japanese lore.

Key Storyline & Discussion Points

1. A Samurai's Fall from Grace

• Bar Brawl Gone Deadly

  • Juyemon, a samurai prone to drinking and violence, kills a fellow retainer in a drunken quarrel. (02:00)
  • He faces the expected punishment—ritual suicide (seppuku)—but his daimyo likes him and secretly offers exile instead. (05:30)
  • “Yeah, pretty safe,” Juyemon says when asked if he’d rather not commit seppuku. (06:32)

• Exile and Family ‘Support’

  • Juyemon begs for money from family and coworkers, who are happy to assist as long as he promptly leaves town—lest they get caught in revenge crossfire. (08:45)
  • He flees at night, aiming for Osaka to disappear and reinvent himself.

2. Pirate Problems and the Luck of Juyemon

• The Suspicious Boat Ride

  • Juyemon, trying to flee, takes a questionable last-minute passenger boat (14:00).
  • The crew’s intentions soon become clear: "They would also say cryptic things like, 'I can't wait to kill and rob you.'" (15:20–16:00)

• Fight for Survival

  • Ambushed on the ship, Juyemon uses martial prowess—and some luck—to fend off pirates, even after momentarily losing his swords. (18:30)
  • A particularly memorable scrap involves a pirate brandishing a “big fishing hook”—finally vindicated after years of mockery.
    • “Fishhook Guy, that's who laughed as he swung his hook and caught the back of Juemon's robes…” (23:50)

• Daring Escape

  • Juemon kills Fishhook Guy, leaps overboard, and is fortuitously rescued by Osaka’s governor. This turn of luck allows Juemon to start anew in the city. (25:12)

3. The Toothpaste Salesman, Scandalous Marriage, and Murderous Plots

• Reinvention as a Merchant

  • Juemon becomes a prosperous toothpaste, perfume, and comb salesman, earning respect and even marrying a notable geisha, Ohiaku, at the governor’s encouragement. (26:15)

• Domestic Deceit

  • The marriage is hollow—Ohiaku is unfaithful, engaging in an affair with sumo wrestler Tosugawa.
  • Juemon’s reaction is unexpectedly laissez-faire: “Far be it from me to care what becomes of a woman with such a stinky heart, as the source says.” (31:30)

• Murder Attempts Foiled by… Diarrhea?

  • A scheme is hatched by Ohiaku and Tosugawa to poison Juemon. He discovers their plan after stumbling upon a note:
    • “Poison best when mixed with ramen, so it's not really detectable. Good luck killing the toothpaste salesman. The woman you love is married to—keep in touch.” (36:00)

• Final Confrontation

  • Juemon orchestrates a tense dinner, forcing all parties to sit before their (potentially poisoned) ramen.
  • When things escalate, he uses restraint—at first—then lethally defends himself when attacked by both Ohiaku and Tosugawa. (38:00)
  • "With tricks like the poison in that little move, it would have defiled my sword to have killed such an ungrateful hound with it. Luckily, I have your dagger." (40:51)

4. Monster Battles and Social Commentary

• Board Games & Bravery

  • Juemon befriends the governor’s son, Tonoshin, tasked with "fighting oni" (demons) in the woods as a school bravado ritual. (44:00)
  • The “oni” turn out to be other boys in disguise, planning to beat Tonoshin, but Juemon, standing in, bests them all with non-lethal force and returns “honor” to Tonoshin. (46:00)

• Insight on Social Structure

  • Discussion about Neo-Confucian roles in society and throwing money at problems:
    • “You mean, instead of facing my fears and growing, I can just throw my dad's money at my problems and never have to deal with them?” – Tonoshin (45:11)

5. Return of the Pirates—And the Sword

• A Past Haunts the Present

  • The governor asks Juemon to help resolve a romantic entanglement involving his son and Koshiku, a courtesan.
  • Juemon follows a trail to a wine merchant, who turns out to be Akagoshi Kuroyemon, the pirate chief who once tried to kill him and stole his sword. (54:10)
  • The tension mounts, but Juemon opts not to take immediate revenge, leaving the sword behind "of his own free will" and signaling a turning point for his character. (57:00)

• Elaborate Sting—And Chaos

  • The arrest of the pirate chief is a farce, with disguised secret police bungling their operation. Juemon, seeing the coming chaos, steps away. (59:30)
  • In a thrilling final showdown, Juemon surprises the pirate chief on a canal boat, regaining his sword and ending the pirate reign:
    • "Ju Yemon landed with his arms out and his knees bended to steady himself on the wide, flat bottomed boat...He got the police mace...across the temple and dropped unconscious into the bottom of the boat. Juemon knelt and picked up his katana and his scabbard." (01:05:45)

6. Reputation, Redemption, and Return

• Justice (and Likely Headlines)

  • All participants in the courthouse drama—including the pirate chief, his brother, and Koshiku—are apprehended or executed. Juyemon’s heroism spreads; his name becomes legendary. (01:08:00)
  • The notoriety allows him to return home and be pardoned for his original crime.

• Personal Growth and Reflection

  • Jason Weiser reflects on Juyemon’s character arc:
    • “He started out as a hothead who gets so out of control he kills people without even realizing it…But he even grows from there…He holds back with the teens and no one gets seriously hurt. Works with the law…choosing to not even go as far as he did before he was recalled.” (01:10:05)
  • The end mirrors the beginning—where early on, Juyemon loses his sword as a mark of downfall; at the conclusion, he regains it, having become a different man. (01:12:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Laissez-Faire Infidelity:

  • “Look, I'm going to be gone in about a year. I can go back to my own clan and then you two can marry or whatever. Far be it from me to care what becomes of a woman with such a stinky heart as the source says.” – Juyemon (31:30)

• Pirate Ship Lucille Bluth Moment:

  • “He said he was unaccustomed to dickering. He would sail with them for one coin. If the sailor was surprised…basically channeling Lucille Bluth's 'it's one boat ride, Michael. What can it cost? $10,000?’” (13:50)

• Luck as a Superpower:

  • “He's lucky. Think about it…he hadn't seen a commoner passenger vessel in ever. And he certainly didn't sail commercial.” (25:00)

• Board Game Epiphany:

  • "You mean, instead of facing my fears and growing, I can just throw my dad's money at my problems and never have to deal with them?" – Tonoshin (45:11)

• Character Arc Summary:

  • “He had to accept and face this and how can I use this as an opportunity to grow?...Just maybe if you're going through something, hold off on beating up teenagers in Halloween costumes next time.” – Jason Weiser (01:12:30)

Important Timestamps

• Bar Fight and Exile: 00:45 – 08:45
• Pirate Ship Ambush: 13:50 – 25:12
• Toothpaste Salesman & Marriage: 26:15 – 31:30
• Infidelity and Poison Plot: 32:00 – 41:00
• Confronting Oni (Disguised Schoolboys): 44:00 – 47:00
• Pirate Chief Returns, Sword is Lost: 54:10 – 57:00
• Chaos of the Arrest, Canal Showdown: 59:30 – 01:07:00
• Reflections and Resolution: 01:10:00 – end

Creature of the Week: The Kappa

• Description:

  • Kappa, literally “river child,” is a yokai (supernatural creature) from Japanese folklore—turtle-like, with webbed flippers and a signature water-filled head divot. Infamous for pulling victims into the water to drown and eat their entrails (and, bizarrely, for their fascination with anuses and flatulence). (01:15:00)

• Redemption Arc:

  • From a feared monster to a quirky, even kid-friendly mascot, thanks to mid-20th-century manga and a successful PR makeover—now appearing as Cap’n in Animal Crossing.
    • “They rehabbed their image starting in the 1950s…they became the 1959 mascot of Tokyo Citizens Day…” (01:18:20)

Final Thoughts & Analysis

Jason Weiser concludes by considering Juyemon’s journey not as one of grand external change, but as a nuanced internal transformation. Despite his return to where he began, Juyemon is not the man he once was—he has developed empathy, chooses restraint, and finds the strength to leave the sword (and his old ways) behind, all before finally reclaiming it with a renewed sense of self.

The episode strikes a deft balance between comedy, historical exploration, and earnest introspection, with Weiser drawing connections between ancient tales and modern life—and plenty of snark and pop culture references along the way.

For more information, book updates, and bonus content, visit mythpodcast.com.