--- product_id: 50000901 title: "The Dark Side of Japan: Ancient Black Magic, Folklore, Ritual" price: "AR$69395" currency: ARS in_stock: true reviews_count: 12 url: https://www.desertcart.com.ar/products/50000901-the-dark-side-of-japan-ancient-black-magic-folklore-ritual store_origin: AR region: Argentina --- # Deep dive into Japanese folklore & demons 219 pages of rich content Next day UK dispatch The Dark Side of Japan: Ancient Black Magic, Folklore, Ritual **Price:** AR$69395 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 👹 Dive into Japan’s dark legends before everyone else does! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Dark Side of Japan: Ancient Black Magic, Folklore, Ritual - **How much does it cost?** AR$69395 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.ar](https://www.desertcart.com.ar/products/50000901-the-dark-side-of-japan-ancient-black-magic-folklore-ritual) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Modern Meets Mythic:** Connect ancient superstitions with contemporary beliefs and rituals still alive today. - • **Unlock Ancient Secrets:** Explore centuries-old Japanese black magic, rituals, and folklore that few dare to uncover. - • **Collector’s Must-Have:** Stunning nostalgic artwork and a unique take on Kuji Kiri make this a standout addition to any bookshelf. - • **Scholarly Yet Accessible:** A perfect blend of academic rigor and captivating storytelling for the curious professional. - • **Diverse Cultural Insights:** From kappa monsters to Victorian-era mythology volumes, experience a broad spectrum of Japan’s dark heritage. ## Overview The Dark Side of Japan is a 219-page exploration of Japan’s ancient black magic, folklore, and rituals, blending Victorian-era research with modern academic insights. Dispatched next working day from the UK, this book offers a rare, accessible look at supernatural myths, protection spells, and cultural mysteries, enriched by evocative artwork and a fresh introduction to the elusive Kuji Kiri practice. ## Description Uncover the chilling secrets of Japan's dark past with tales of black magic, monsters, and forgotten folklore. Delve into the shadowy depths of Japanese culture, where ancient documents reveal a world of superstitions, death rituals, and protection spells. Antony Cummins unveils the terrifying kappa, goblin-like creatures that drown their victims, and other hellish concepts that still linger in the forgotten legends of old Japan. Explore the now-forgotten Victorian volumes on Japanese mythology and recent academic research, transformed into modern stories that let you enter the world of the supernatural. The Dark Side of Japan is your guide to: Ancient black magic practices Monsters and demons of Japanese folklore Protection spells and rituals The dark interpretations of life and death Enter a world where the line between reality and nightmare blurs, and discover the secrets that have been hidden for centuries. Perfect for readers fascinated by Japanese culture, mythology, and the supernatural. Review: "If you only knew the power of 'The Dark Side'....." - This book is well rounded and well written; it is perhaps so well rounded that it's title is perhaps just a tad misleading. This is not to say the book doesn't deal with the titular 'Dark Side' of Japan, but rather that it includes much, much more! From ghosts, to goblins, to all manner of things that go bump in the night, this book surely delivers on it's 'Dark' promise; but it is by no means limited solely to the malevolent and arcane. Packed within it's mere 219 pages the author explores not only the darker elements of Japan's rich folkloric traditions, but further introduces the reader to a wide ranging and broad scope of theosophical cultural elements ranging from the mystic to the mundane. The surprises don't stop there either! This book will certainly find a much broader readership appeal than might be expected by merely a superficial reading of the title and/or back cover. As stated, the book resoundingly delivers on it's promise to entice and educate those interested in arcane magic, ancient ritual, superstition, and the like, but the author also offers an incredible amount of historical information that would make this book right at home in the libraries of dedicated historians. Those with more of an eye to things modern than antiquated won't be disappointed either as the book explores many modern beliefs, superstitions, and more. Despite the seemingly one dimensional title, this book truly seems to have something for everyone! From early Japanese warfare for the military enthusiast, to love spells for the romantic at heart, each page offers a new surprise that further leads the reader (with a willing reckless abandon) further down to the very depths of 'The Dark Side'. Even the books incredible artwork by the ever talented Mr. David Osborne has a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of the artistic stylings of early editions of Dungeons & Dragons manuals and compendia! Particularly rare and refreshing is the author's treatment of the oft lauded, but seldom explained (particularly in the English language) 'Kuji Kiri'. This is a subject that has, despite having garnered tremendous interest for decades, been scant covered with any real depth or clarity. While this volume is too small and diversified to give this subject the in depth treatment it so richly deserves, the author's brief and basic introduction on the topic of 'Kuji' is a bold step in right direction and sets the stage for (what I can only hope will be) future volumes which are more streamlined in their focus and allow for a long overdue and exploratory analysis of this obscure element of Asiatic history. If I were to make any criticism of this book it would be that it isn't available in hardcover, which (in my own humble opinion) is deserves to be! In the fast paced world of today, hardbound books seem to be emerging more and more in limited release, save for academic journals, but alas! this book resounds with the academic integrity of a more dedicated (or perhaps declared) scholarly tome, whilst being far more 'readable' to the 'everyman'. It reads like at times like an old storyteller, recanting chilling tales of the truly horrific around a campfire, but never seems uninformed nor condescending to the reader. In short this book is both a delight of entertainment and a masterpiece of education! -J. Farthing November 2017 Review: I've had interest in the topics that are explored within this book and this was a very nice and well-presented selection - I found this book to be extremely informative! I've had interest in the topics that are explored within this book and this was a very nice and well-presented selection. The author presented the subject matter in such a way that kept me glued from cover to cover. There are other books available that cover this subject matter but I feel that The Dark Side of Japan presents a much more thorough and well-defined view of folklore, mysticism and more. I highly recommend this book to anyone regardless of their area of interest! ## Features - Orders are despatched from our UK warehouse next working day. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #1,496,259 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #378 in History of Ethnic & Tribal Religions #511 in History of New Age & Mythology #750 in Folk & Tribal Practices | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 186 Reviews | ## Images ![The Dark Side of Japan: Ancient Black Magic, Folklore, Ritual - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51d+kDh2z6L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "If you only knew the power of 'The Dark Side'....." *by N***E on November 7, 2017* This book is well rounded and well written; it is perhaps so well rounded that it's title is perhaps just a tad misleading. This is not to say the book doesn't deal with the titular 'Dark Side' of Japan, but rather that it includes much, much more! From ghosts, to goblins, to all manner of things that go bump in the night, this book surely delivers on it's 'Dark' promise; but it is by no means limited solely to the malevolent and arcane. Packed within it's mere 219 pages the author explores not only the darker elements of Japan's rich folkloric traditions, but further introduces the reader to a wide ranging and broad scope of theosophical cultural elements ranging from the mystic to the mundane. The surprises don't stop there either! This book will certainly find a much broader readership appeal than might be expected by merely a superficial reading of the title and/or back cover. As stated, the book resoundingly delivers on it's promise to entice and educate those interested in arcane magic, ancient ritual, superstition, and the like, but the author also offers an incredible amount of historical information that would make this book right at home in the libraries of dedicated historians. Those with more of an eye to things modern than antiquated won't be disappointed either as the book explores many modern beliefs, superstitions, and more. Despite the seemingly one dimensional title, this book truly seems to have something for everyone! From early Japanese warfare for the military enthusiast, to love spells for the romantic at heart, each page offers a new surprise that further leads the reader (with a willing reckless abandon) further down to the very depths of 'The Dark Side'. Even the books incredible artwork by the ever talented Mr. David Osborne has a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of the artistic stylings of early editions of Dungeons & Dragons manuals and compendia! Particularly rare and refreshing is the author's treatment of the oft lauded, but seldom explained (particularly in the English language) 'Kuji Kiri'. This is a subject that has, despite having garnered tremendous interest for decades, been scant covered with any real depth or clarity. While this volume is too small and diversified to give this subject the in depth treatment it so richly deserves, the author's brief and basic introduction on the topic of 'Kuji' is a bold step in right direction and sets the stage for (what I can only hope will be) future volumes which are more streamlined in their focus and allow for a long overdue and exploratory analysis of this obscure element of Asiatic history. If I were to make any criticism of this book it would be that it isn't available in hardcover, which (in my own humble opinion) is deserves to be! In the fast paced world of today, hardbound books seem to be emerging more and more in limited release, save for academic journals, but alas! this book resounds with the academic integrity of a more dedicated (or perhaps declared) scholarly tome, whilst being far more 'readable' to the 'everyman'. It reads like at times like an old storyteller, recanting chilling tales of the truly horrific around a campfire, but never seems uninformed nor condescending to the reader. In short this book is both a delight of entertainment and a masterpiece of education! -J. Farthing November 2017 ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I've had interest in the topics that are explored within this book and this was a very nice and well-presented selection *by D***E on November 19, 2017* I found this book to be extremely informative! I've had interest in the topics that are explored within this book and this was a very nice and well-presented selection. The author presented the subject matter in such a way that kept me glued from cover to cover. There are other books available that cover this subject matter but I feel that The Dark Side of Japan presents a much more thorough and well-defined view of folklore, mysticism and more. I highly recommend this book to anyone regardless of their area of interest! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Definitely a different side of Japan that many are unaware of. *by J***R on March 31, 2026* Not only informative, but also very entertaining and easy to read with lots of great, historical images and art throughout! ## Frequently Bought Together - The Dark Side of Japan: Ancient Black Magic, Folklore, Ritual - Samurai Death Cult: The Dark Side of Bushido --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.com.ar/products/50000901-the-dark-side-of-japan-ancient-black-magic-folklore-ritual](https://www.desertcart.com.ar/products/50000901-the-dark-side-of-japan-ancient-black-magic-folklore-ritual) --- *Product available on Desertcart Argentina* *Store origin: AR* *Last updated: 2026-09-18*