Scariest Japanese Urban Legends and their Stories
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This isn’t something that I usually post but I was interested in this topic myself so why not? We’re told many Ghost Stories in our life by movies, videos and other entertaining media. The Debate that Ghosts exist or not is another topic but still it’s a topic many people are interested in. In this Blog post I’m going to talk about Japanese Urban Legends and their stories so lets get started!
What are Urban Legends?
Before we get to know about Japanese Urban Legends we need to know about what are Urban Legends. Urban legends are a type of modern folklore or myth that circulate within a society or culture, often passed on by word of mouth or through digital media. They are stories or anecdotes that are presented as true, but lack verifiable evidence or proof. Urban legends often involve mysterious or supernatural events, and can be frightening or disturbing.
1. Kuchisake-Onna (口裂け女ーSlit-Mouthed Woman)
Kuchisake-Onna, also known as the Slit-Mouthed Woman, is a Japanese urban legend that dates back to the 1970s. According to the legend, Kuchisake-Onna is a woman who wears a surgical mask to cover her face. She is said to approach people on the street and ask them if they think she is beautiful.
If the person answers yes, Kuchisake-Onna will remove her mask to reveal a grotesque, mutilated mouth that stretches from ear to ear. She will then ask the person again if they think she is beautiful. If the person answers no or screams in terror, Kuchisake-Onna will attack them with a pair of scissors or a large knife.
Story
The legend has several variations, but most versions agree that Kuchisake-Onna was originally a beautiful woman who was disfigured by her jealous husband or a vengeful spirit. Some versions of the legend suggest that Kuchisake-Onna was a vengeful ghost who was killed by a samurai.
The legend of Kuchisake-Onna became widespread in Japan in the 1970s and 1980s. Many people reported seeing her on the streets, and rumors spread that she was a real person. Some schools even warned children not to walk home alone at night for fear of encountering Kuchisake-Onna.
Despite the widespread fear of Kuchisake-Onna, there are no confirmed reports of anyone actually being attacked by her. Some people believe that the legend was a way for parents to warn their children about the dangers of talking to strangers or walking alone at night. Others suggest that the legend may have been a way to express anxiety about changing gender roles and the increasing independence of women in Japanese society.
2. Teke Teke（テケテケ）
The legend states that if Teke Teke catches someone, she will cut them in half with a sharp scythe or a knife, just like what happened to her. Some versions of the legend suggest that Teke Teke is looking for revenge against those who bullied her, while others say that she is simply seeking company in her lonely, ghostly existence.
Story
Teke Teke is a Japanese urban legend about a girl who was cut in half by a train and now haunts the railways of Japan. According to the legend, the girl was walking on a railway bridge when she slipped and fell onto the tracks, where she was cut in half by a passing train. In some versions of the legend, the girl was pushed by a group of bullies.
After her death, the girl’s ghost is said to appear to people who are walking on or near railway tracks. She is usually depicted as the upper half of a girl with long black hair, dragging herself along the ground with her hands. Her name comes from the sound she makes as she drags herself along, which sounds like “teke teke”.
The legend of Teke Teke has become a popular urban legend in Japan and has been the subject of many horror movies, manga, and anime. It is often used as a cautionary tale to warn children of the dangers of playing on railway tracks and bridges. The story has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, with variations of the legend appearing in countries such as Korea and China.
3. Hanako-San（トイレの花子さん）
Hanako-San is a popular Japanese urban legend about a ghostly girl who haunts school bathrooms. The legend states that if you go to the third stall in the girls’ bathroom on the third floor of a school and knock on the door three times, Hanako-San will appear. Some versions of the legend say that you must ask Hanako-San a question or say her name three times, while others say that she will simply appear.
Hanako-San is usually depicted as a young girl with bobbed hair, wearing a red or white dress. Her face is either normal or disfigured, depending on the version of the legend. Some versions of the legend suggest that she may have been a victim of bullying or abuse, and that she appears in school bathrooms to seek revenge against those who mistreated her.
Story
According to the legend, Hanako-San is the ghost of a young girl who died during World War II when a bomb hit her school bathroom. In some versions of the legend, she is said to have been killed by a janitor who locked her in the bathroom.
The legend of Hanako-San has become a popular part of Japanese folklore and has been the subject of many horror movies, manga, and anime. It is often used as a cautionary tale to warn children not to go to the bathroom alone, and to be respectful of the spirits that may inhabit school buildings. Some schools have even named their bathrooms after Hanako-San as a way of acknowledging the legend and calming students’ fears.
4. Aka Manto (赤マントーRed Cape)
Aka Manto, also known as the Red Cape, is a Japanese urban legend about a ghost who haunts public restrooms. According to the legend, Aka Manto is a handsome man wearing a red cape who appears in the last stall of women’s or men’s restrooms. He asks the person using the restroom if they want red paper or blue paper.
If the person chooses red paper, Aka Manto will wrap them up in his red cape and cut them open, spilling blood everywhere. If the person chooses blue paper, he will suffocate them until their face turns blue. Some versions of the legend suggest that he may offer other colors of paper or even a gold cape, but no matter what the person chooses, they will meet a gruesome end.
Story
The origin of the Aka Manto legend is unclear, but it is believed to have been popularized in the 1930s or 1940s. Some versions of the legend suggest that Aka Manto was a vengeful spirit who was killed by villagers, while others say that he was a samurai or a soldier who committed suicide.
The legend of Aka Manto has become a popular part of Japanese folklore and has been the subject of many horror movies, manga, and anime. It is often used as a cautionary tale to warn people not to talk to strangers, and to be careful when using public restrooms. Some people also believe that the legend may have originated as a warning about sexually transmitted diseases, as Aka Manto is sometimes depicted as wearing a mask to hide his face.
5. Hachishakusama（八尺様ーEight-Foot-Tall-Women）
Hachishakusama is a Japanese urban legend about a tall woman with eight feet (hence the name Hachishakusama, which means “eight-foot-tall woman” in Japanese) who preys on children. According to the legend, Hachishakusama appears as a beautiful woman with long black hair, dressed in a white kimono.
The legend states that Hachishakusama appears in rural areas, often near forests or mountains, and targets children who are playing alone. She uses her height to lure children away from their homes, and her long arms to snatch them up and carry them away.
Once she has taken a child, Hachishakusama will torment and scare them for several days before ultimately killing them. Some versions of the legend suggest that she may also possess children or turn them into her own kind.
Story
The origins of the Hachishakusama legend are unclear, but it is believed to have originated in the Miyazaki Prefecture of Japan. The legend has become popular in recent years and has been the subject of many horror stories, movies, and games.
The legend of Hachishakusama is often used as a cautionary tale to warn children not to talk to strangers or wander too far from home. It is also sometimes used to explain disappearances of children in rural areas, and has become a popular part of Japanese folklore.
6. Kiyotaki Tunnel（清滝トンネル）
The Kiyotaki Tunnel is a real-life location in Japan that is said to be haunted by the spirits of those who died during its construction. The tunnel is located in the mountains of Kyoto and was built in the early 1920s to connect the city of Kyoto to the town of Takao.
People who have driven through the tunnel at night have reported strange occurrences, such as hearing voices, feeling a presence, or seeing apparitions.
Story
According to local legend, during the construction of the tunnel, several workers were killed in accidents, or that a woman and her child were killed in a car accident in the tunnel and their spirits now haunt the tunnel.
One of the most famous stories associated with the Kiyotaki Tunnel involves a bus driver who was driving through the tunnel late at night. As he drove through the tunnel, he saw a woman standing in the middle of the road. The woman had long hair and was wearing a white dress. The driver slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting her, but when he got out of the bus to check on her, she had disappeared.
Other stories suggest that if you drive through the tunnel at night with your car windows open, you will hear the sound of someone tapping on the window. When you turn to look, you will see the ghostly face of one of the tunnel’s construction workers staring back at you.
7. The Curse of Sadako
The Curse of Sadako is a popular urban legend in Japan that originated from the popular horror movie series “Ring.” The story revolves around a cursed videotape that, once watched, leads to a phone call, and then seven days later, the viewer dies.
According to legend, the cursed videotape contains a series of disturbing images, culminating in a warning that the viewer will die in seven days. Anyone who watches the tape is cursed, and the only way to break the curse is to make a copy of the tape and show it to someone else.
Story
The story of Sadako begins with a young girl named Sadako Yamamura, who was born with psychic powers. She was kept locked up by her father, who used her powers for his own gain. One day, Sadako’s father pushed her down a well to keep her from revealing his secrets.
Sadako’s spirit was said to be so strong that it lingered, and she cursed the well, vowing to seek revenge on those who wronged her. Her curse was believed to be so powerful that it manifested in the form of a videotape.
8. Hashiru Yuurei (Running Ghosts)
Hashiru Yurei, or “Running Ghosts,” is a Japanese urban legend about ghosts that are said to appear in the form of people running in the middle of the night.
According to the legend, the Running Ghosts usually appear between the hours of midnight and 3 a.m., and they are often seen on deserted roads or in isolated areas. They are said to run silently, but their footsteps can be heard, and they can move faster than any human could.
The Running Ghosts are often depicted as being faceless or blurry, making it difficult to see their features clearly. They are also said to emit an eerie glow or be surrounded by a ghostly mist.
Story
The legend is based on the belief that when a person dies suddenly and tragically, their spirit may become restless and continue to run in the same way they did in life.
Some people believe that the Running Ghosts are harmless and simply continue to run because they are searching for something or trying to complete a task they were unable to finish in life. Others believe that the ghosts are vengeful and seek to harm those who cross their path.
9. Kappa
Kappa is a legendary creature from Japanese folklore, which is often described as a water sprite or a water demon. The Kappa is said to inhabit rivers and other bodies of water and is known for its mischievous and sometimes dangerous behavior.
The Kappa is often depicted as a humanoid creature with the head of a turtle, a beak-like mouth, and a bowl-shaped depression on the top of its head. This depression is filled with water, which gives the Kappa its strength and vitality. The creature has webbed hands and feet and a shell on its back, similar to that of a turtle.
Story
According to legend, the Kappa is a mischievous creature that enjoys playing pranks on humans, such as stealing crops or dragging people underwater. The Kappa is also known for its love of cucumber, and it is said that if a person encounters a Kappa, they can bribe it with cucumbers to avoid harm.
Despite their mischievous nature, Kappas are also believed to possess some knowledge of medicine and healing. It is said that if a person is captured by a Kappa, they can be released if they promise to teach the Kappa the secret of how to heal wounds.
In some versions of the legend, Kappas are portrayed as protectors of children, and they are said to punish those who harm or mistreat children. Kappas are also believed to be sensitive to politeness and respect, and it is said that they will bow back if a person bows to them in greeting.
That’s it for now, tell me which Urban Legend was the scariest and if you believe that Ghost exist or not. Thanks for Reading, Check out my other blogs.
