Illustrated Japanese horror artwork from The Midnight Compendium Japanese Urban Legends — The Midnight Compendium, illustrated book cover
The Midnight Compendium

Japanese Urban Legends.
Take the nightmares home.

Twenty-eight illustrated stories of urban legends, cursed places and crimes that hardened into ghost stories.

Explore the folklore, places and history behind the fear, with illustrations that draw you into each story.

28 stories 107 illustrated pages PDF + web edition
¥1,500Digital edition · one-time purchase

Secure Stripe checkout · PDF + web edition · No subscription

What waits inside

Three doors. Twenty-eight stories.

I · 10 stories

Unknown Urban Legends

A story so frightening that hearing it is said to kill. A poem you must never read aloud. A television channel that finds you at 3 a.m. These are the stories locals whisper about.

II · 10 stories

Cursed Places

Sealed tunnels, abandoned islands, named wells and mountains where the dead are said to gather. Real locations presented with the history behind their reputations.

III · 8 stories

Monsters Among Us

True cases of people whose crimes became ghost stories. Told factually and without theatrics. Quietly, this is the darkest part of the collection.

One purchase. Two ways to read.

Open it before the lights go out.

  • The full illustrated 107-page PDF, personalized with your checkout email
  • An interactive web edition for phone, tablet or laptop
  • Download access using the email you use at checkout
  • Story one available free before you pay a yen
Chapter III deals with real crimes and real victims. It is written factually and without gore for shock’s sake, but some stories are hard to read. Recommended for readers 16+.
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Before you open it

Questions, answered.

Everything you need to know before bringing the stories home.

How do I get the book after paying?

After your payment is processed, open Claim Your Copy and enter the same email you used at checkout. You can download your personalized PDF or open the web edition. If your copy is not ready immediately, try again shortly or contact us.

Can I read it on my phone?

Yes. The PDF opens on any device, and the web edition runs in a phone, tablet or laptop browser.

Is it actually scary?

The legends are told the way we tell them on tour. Chapter II reads more like a documentary, while Chapter III is the darkest part of the collection.

Can I get a refund?

It is a digital book, so all sales are final. Story one is free to read before buying so you can see whether it is for you.