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Japanese urban legends have the power to send chills down your spine, making your skin crawl as you hear these stories passed down through generations via oral tradition. The top 10 urban legends in Japan presented below will provide you with a glimpse into the mystique of the Japanese culture.
Urban legends in Japan, known as (日本の都市伝説 – Nihon no toshi densetsu), are narratives passed orally across the country. These stories predominantly revolve around eerie and supernatural themes, often rooted in ambiguous or fictional content. Urban legends captivate readers with their mysterious and intriguing tales, woven by the storytellers.
1. Kuchisake Onna – The Woman with the Slit Mouth
Kuchisake Onna (口裂け女 – Slit-Mouthed Woman) in Japanese translates to 'the woman with a slashed mouth.' This stands as one of Japan's most renowned urban legends of all time.
The terrifying tale of this woman is said to have roots dating back to the Heian period. Legend has it that Kuchisake Onna possessed an enchanting beauty, catching the eye of a noble Samurai who took her as his wife.
However, this woman was arrogant and promiscuous, often engaging in romantic affairs outside of her marriage. Learning of this, the Samurai, consumed by rage, used his sword to slash her mouth wide open, yelling, 'Is there still anyone praising her beauty now?'
After her death, the vengeful spirit of this woman roams with a grotesquely slit mouth. Armed with giant scissors, she approaches people, devilishly laughs, and asks, 'Am I beautiful?' (Watashi, kirei?)
No matter how you respond, you will meet your end with the sharp edge of her scissors. This is because the word 'Beautiful' (Kirei) in Japanese homophones with 'Cut off!' (Kire). Her rusty scissors will slowly part your lips, making you resemble her.
However, this isn't her only approach. In other versions, Kuchisake Onna approaches people on the street and simply devours them. Or, if she touches your shoulder, when you turn around, she will strike directly at your throat.
If you happen to encounter Kuchisake Onna, try this method to escape her clutches:
Carry Bekko Ame candy, a hard sugar candy from Japan. Kuchisake Onna has a penchant for this candy. Toss the candy to her, and take advantage of the opportunity to make your getaway.
When asked by Kuchisake Onna, 'Am I beautiful?' Don't give a straightforward 'No' or 'Yes.' Instead, respond somewhat ambiguously like 'Average,' 'Just okay!' This will confuse her, giving you the chance to run away.
2. Tomino's Hell
This is a widely-known tale in Japan about a poem titled 'Tomino's Hell.' It is said that you should only read this poem in your mind, never aloud. If you accidentally read it out loud, you must take responsibility for your actions.
Tomino is an urban legend in Japan surrounding a poem that claims to bring death to anyone who recites it aloud. In this world, there are things you should never speak loudly, and 'Tomino's Hell' is one of them. According to legend, if you read this poem aloud, calamity will befall you. At the very least, you will suffer severe illness or injury. Worse yet, you may have to trade it for your life.
The Poem - Tomino's Hell
Coughing blood, the elder sister; spewing flames, the younger one.
Tomino, so endearing, spews out precious jewelry.
Tomino dies alone and descends into hell.
Hell, pitch black, devoid of flowers.
Is Tomino's sister the whip there?
Countless scars, a cause for concern.
Swinging the whip, striking, and beating,
The path to hell has only one way.
Beg for guidance into the eternal darkness of hell,
From golden sheep, from melodious birds.
How much remains in the leather pouch?
Prepare for the endless journey into hell.
Spring comes to the forest and valley,
Seven times in the dark valley of hell.
In a cage, a melodious bird; in a basket, a sheep,
In Tomino's adorable eyes, tears only.
Cry, songbird, for the forest and the rain,
Express your love for your little sister.
Your cries echo throughout hell,
And a blood-stained flower blooms.
Through seven mountains and valleys of hell,
Tomino, adorable, walks alone.
To welcome you to hell,
The glaring light from the sharp mountain peak.
Piercing through the still-fresh corpses,
As a greeting from Tomino, so endearing.
3. Kashima Reiko – The Legless Woman
Kashima Reiko is a famous urban legend in Japan, a ghost of a legless woman who haunts school restrooms.
It is rumored that after hearing this story, she will appear around you within a month. So, if you don't want to encounter her, I advise against reading further.
Kashima Reiko is a woman living in Hokkaido, Japan. One night, she was attacked by a group of thugs. They brutally assaulted and abused her, leaving the pitiful girl abandoned for the night.
Reiko tried her best to cry for help, but no one heard. Using her last bit of strength, she dragged herself, hoping to find someone who could assist her. However, as Reiko crawled onto the railroad tracks, she collapsed, unconscious. The last train arrived and ran over her, severing her body in two at the waist.
Since then, the ghost of Kashima Reiko roams the world seeking revenge while searching for her lost legs. She is often spotted in school bathrooms, but Reiko can also appear in your home bathroom at midnight.
If, unfortunately, you encounter her in the bathroom, she will ask you a question. If you can't answer or answer incorrectly, Reiko will tear your legs apart.
If she asks you, 'Where are my legs?' the answer should be, 'On the Meishin Highway.'
She will then ask, 'Who told you?' You must respond, 'Kashima Reiko told me.'
Sometimes, she may ask a tricky question, 'Do you know my name?' Don't foolishly answer 'Kashima' unless you want to die. The correct answer is 'Mask Dead Demon.' Ka-Shi-Ma is an abbreviation for Ka = Kamen (Mask), Shi = Shinin (Dead), Ma = Ma (Demon).
Remember, after you hear this story, Kashima Reiko will appear before you within a month.
4. The Clown Statue
A young girl is tasked with babysitting the family's children while their parents attend a dinner party. After putting the kids to bed, the babysitter decides to watch TV in the living room while waiting for the homeowners to return.
Here, she feels somewhat uneasy as she senses a life-sized clown statue in the living room staring directly at her. The feeling of unease prompts her to call the homeowners and inquire if she can cover up the eerie clown statue.
Upon receiving the call from the babysitter, the couple is horrified and instructs her to immediately take the children outside and call the police. In their living room, there has never been a decorative statue of any kind...
The creepy clown with terrifying makeup is one of the most common spooky characters.
5. The Girl in the Gap
The Girl in the Gap is an urban legend from Japan with familiar elements found in horror films. Do you know those gaps around you, from under the bed, between the wardrobe, to the desk drawer? Never look there because if what you see is a pair of eyes staring back at you, you're as good as dead.
The first time a victim sees her, she will ask if they want to play hide and seek. In reality, there is no choice because even if you refuse, you still have to play the game with her, essentially never looking into the gaps again. If you glance at her a second time, she will pull you into the gap.
6. Hanako Chan – The Girl in the Bathroom
Hanako Chan is the most famous character among mysterious school stories in Japan from the 1970s. It's a tale of the ghost of a young girl haunting the school bathroom. She will haunt anyone brave enough to enter her domain and call her name.
As described by many “witnesses,” Hanako is a girl with short chin-length hair, a pale almost corpse-like complexion, and wearing a blood-red dress. Her haunt is bathroom stall number 3, the girls' restroom on the third floor of the school.
If you want to meet Hanako chan, go to bathroom stall number 3, counting from the entrance, on the third floor. Then knock on the door three times and call out loudly: “Hanako, Hanako, are you there?” (Anata wa, Hanako san, ga arimasu). If you hear a faint reply saying “I'm here” (Watashi wa koko ni iru yo), then be sure to run for your life.
If you dare to step forward and open the bathroom door to meet the girl, one of these scenarios will unfold:
After you enter, the door will automatically slam shut, trapping you inside. There will be no way to open it again.
You will catch a fleeting glimpse of the chilling figure of the girl. The haunting sight will linger, making you dread using school bathrooms for the rest of your life.
You will be dragged into the toilet, to a place unknown. And disappear without a trace.
If you've teased the girl and feel regretful, return to the spot after 4 PM and say: “Hanako Chan, I'm sorry.” Fortunately, she might forgive you and echo back, “It's okay.”
There are various theories about Hanako Chan's appearance. Some say she died during the US bombing. Others tell that she got trapped in the restroom during a school fire. Hanako Chan, till now, remains a courage-testing game for Japanese students.
7. Sony's Countdown Timer
There's a rumor that Sony Corporation installed a countdown timer on all its electronic products, causing them to malfunction right after the warranty period ends. As of now, the story of Sony's countdown timer remains unverified, but the phrase “countdown timer” is often used to refer to Sony products that may only work until the company releases new models.
8. Teke Teke – Ghost with the Upper Half
Teke Teke is a ghost from famous urban legends across Japan. With no lower body, this spirit moves by dragging its upper torso using its hands, creating a spine-chilling sound “teke teke” as its flesh scrapes against the pavement.
These ghosts are often unlucky women whose bodies were severed by a train. Like most urban legends, no one knows the exact story or when Teke Teke appears. In each locale, the Teke Teke story is recounted differently.
In some versions, the soul is said to be Kashima Reiko. She was assaulted, abandoned in a desolate place, and while crawling for help, fate turned grim. When she reached the railroad, a train passed, severing her legs.
Since then, the pitiful ghost Kashima Reiko wanders in search of her lost legs. This legless spirit often appears in bathrooms, urban areas, or train stations. She seeks out people to ask if they've seen her legs. If they can't answer, she'll tear their legs apart from their bodies.
If she follows you and asks, 'Where are my legs?', the escape from Kashima Reiko is to respond, 'On the Meishin expressway.'
She will then ask, 'How do you know?', and you should utter the phrase 'Kamen shinin ma' – 'Mask Dead Demon.'
According to legend, if you accidentally hear this story, within 3 days, the half-bodied woman will come looking for you. So, remember the answers and avoid dark alleys!
The 1932 Shirokiya grocery store fire incident
On December 16, 1932, a serious fire broke out at the Shirokiya grocery store in Tokyo, claiming the lives of 14 people. During the blaze, many female sales staff dressed in kimonos had to flee to the eighth floor of this eight-story building. According to traditional beliefs, women do not wear underwear when wearing kimonos. There were rumors that some refused to jump onto the safety net set up by firefighters below, fearing the exposure of their undergarments, leading to their tragic deaths in the fire. Following the incident, the store management reportedly mandated that sales staff wear undergarments along with kimonos. This dress code became increasingly popular thereafter.
Contrary to this belief, Professor Shoichi Inoue, an expert in Japanese Customs and Architecture, debunked the story of those women. According to Inoue, most people were rescued by firefighters, and the tale of those women was a fabrication. However, this story appeared in numerous books, some even published by the Fire Department. Furthermore, it is believed that the Shirokiya grocery store fire acted as a catalyst for the transformation of traditional customs, especially the trend of wearing Western-style underwear, though there is no concrete evidence to support this claim.
Aka Manto - The Red Cloak
