Buzz
Legends have always been a significant part of human history, serving both as entertainment and warnings. Japanese folklore, in particular, has been a wellspring for films, books, and even sibling scares. But like many stories, there’s often a grain of truth hidden beneath. These particular myths have a bit more truth than expected, blending fiction with reality.
10. The Red Room
The Red Room is a chilling Japanese legend, also known as 'The Red Room Curse.' Curses are undeniably terrifying, and this one is no exception. Initially, it started as a video accessible with a simple web search, but it was soon removed. The removal only sparked greater curiosity, prompting people to search for any trace of the video or a re-upload.
The more someone researched the legend, a persistent pop-up ad would appear on their screen, which couldn’t be closed. The ad would feature a child's voice repeatedly asking, 'Do you like...?' and would then ominously complete the sentence with 'The Red Room?' The result? A haunting sensation of something lurking behind them, followed by their discovery—dead, with the walls of their room painted red in their own blood. Whether the curse drives them to take their own life or something else is responsible remains unclear. What truly frightens me about this legend? The fact that I delved into it extensively for this article, the legend itself, or that it all began with a pop-up ad.
The Red Room Curse is a notorious part of the Sasebo Slashing incident, which occurred in June 2004. In this case, a child, known as 'Girl A' in the investigation, gruesomely slashed the neck of her classmate, Satomi, in an elementary school. Satomi was brutally attacked with a box cutter, her arms and throat severed. After Satomi succumbed to her injuries, 'Girl A' left her to die on the classroom floor. Covered in blood and still holding the knife, she approached the teacher and coldly declared, 'I have done a very bad deed.'
'Girl A' had been displaying unusual behavior for some time leading up to the incident, often spending extended periods online. Upon reviewing her internet activity, investigators discovered that she had recently viewed the Red Room video before the crime, linking the urban legend to a terrifying reality.
9. The Old Inunaki Tunnel
Standing in front of the Inunaki Tunnel, you can hear the anguished screams of those who met their end within its dark walls. The tunnel, located in the town of Miyawaka, Fukuoka Prefecture, is the site of several brutal murders. It is also rumored to lead to the Inunaki Village, a cursed place filled with cannibalistic villagers who await anyone foolish enough to trespass.
The tunnel gained infamy for a particular murder on December 7, 1988, when the charred body of Umeyama Kouichi was discovered. Kouichi had been attacked by five gang members trying to steal his car. When he refused to hand it over, they beat him, abducted him, and he managed to escape. Unfortunately, his injuries were too severe, and he collapsed while trying to reach passing traffic. He was recaptured and met his tragic end at the hands of his attackers.
Fueled by their anger at Umeyama's refusal to die, the gang dragged him into the trunk of his car and brutally assaulted him with wrenches, cranks, and any other metal tools they could find. Despite the savage attack, Umeyama's will to live endured. Realizing they had no choice but to kill him, the group decided to dispose of his body by throwing it into the Rikimaru Dam. Fearing his body might float, they instead opted to burn it beyond recognition. They left him in the trunk and drove to the notorious Inunaki Tunnel, where they doused his head with gasoline as he screamed in agony.
The group, aware of the sinister reputation of the Inunaki Tunnel, hesitated for a moment, allowing Umeyama to break free once again. He fled into the nearby forest, but the gang called after him, assuring him that they would not harm him if he returned. Weak from blood loss, Umeyama stumbled back out of the woods, only to be captured once more. He begged for his life as the gang beat his head with stones, the blood splattering several feet away. Despite this, Umeyama continued to survive. Eventually, they set him on fire, but not before he managed to get up and stagger almost to the tunnel's entrance, where he finally collapsed.
Afterward, the group of boys went to a bar, boasting to the patrons, 'We just killed someone! Set them on fire!' Later that day, Umeyama's body was discovered, and all five gang members were arrested. The leader of the group attempted to appeal his life sentence, claiming there was 'no clear intention to kill,' but his appeal was rejected.
However, Umeyama's murder is only one of several that have occurred at the infamous Inunaki Tunnel. The tunnel has been sealed off with cement blocks to prevent visitors, but it was still used in the 2020 Japanese horror film Howling Village.
8. Inunaki Village
Inunaki Village lies beyond the infamous Inunaki Tunnel. To reach it, one must first pass through the tunnel's entrance. After emerging, a narrow side road through the wilderness of Mount Inunaki will eventually lead you to the village. As you draw closer, the road becomes increasingly treacherous, often so much so that travelers are forced to abandon their cars.
The village's entrance is marked by a sign reading: 'The Japanese constitution is not in effect past here.' If you continue past this sign and venture a little further, you'll encounter what seems like an abandoned settlement with dark, decaying houses. But don't be fooled—these houses are far from empty.
Once the initial eerie silence sets in, a villager might suddenly appear before you, welcoming you—or they might materialize behind you with no warning at all. Either way, you'll be captured, as the villagers are incredibly eager to meet newcomers and are determined to keep them around, especially for dinner.
The notion of cannibalistic villagers hiding in a secluded forest isn't exactly rare or hard to imagine, but Inunaki Village remains part of urban legend.
However, it’s not just a myth. Inunaki Village truly existed from 1691 to 1889, only to be believed to have merged with surrounding areas, eventually becoming Miyawaka Village. Though the original village site now lies beneath a dam, one might wonder if they simply relocated a bit further away. Who can say for sure?
7. Okiku the Doll
Okiku is a 16-inch (40 cm) doll, dressed in a traditional kimono, with long black hair that mysteriously grows from time to time. Not spooky enough yet? Well, there’s more.
The doll was purchased by the 17-year-old brother of a young girl named Okiku, who was only two years old at the time. The girl loved the doll, and it stayed with her until her untimely death from illness in 1919. The family, grieving her loss, placed the doll by her shrine on the family altar. It wasn’t long before they noticed that the doll’s hair began to grow. Other strange events began to unfold around the doll, including flickering lights, mysterious noises, and unsettling voices, which escalated as the anniversary of Okiku’s death approached.
The family, with the help of the town’s shaman, concluded that the doll had become the spirit of Okiku herself. They kept it well-preserved until they had to move away. Fearing the doll’s proximity to Okiku’s grave might keep her spirit alive, they bid it farewell and entrusted it to the Mennenji Temple. Despite the move, the doll’s hair continued to grow, and the temple has been trimming it ever since. The priest claims that Okiku communicates when her hair should be cut through dreams.
You can visit the doll at the temple whenever you wish, but I hope you aren’t afraid of dolls.
6. Doryodo Temple
Doryodo Temple started to lose visitors around 1908 when the Yokohama Railway diverted foot traffic. This decline in visitors contributed to a rise in crime, which led to the tragic burglary and murder of an elderly woman at the temple in 1963. The thief took the last of the temple's money, and it eventually fell into ruin. Those who still visit claim that you can hear the old woman's sorrowful sobs in the surrounding forest to this day.
But the temple's grim history didn’t end with that crime.
In 1973, a university professor at Rikkyō Daigaku University began an affair with one of his students. However, the professor was married with two children. His wife grew suspicious and, in her desperation, threatened to take her own life unless he confessed his infidelity. To preserve his reputation, the professor decided that the only solution was to murder his young lover.
He invited the student to his home, where he strangled her to death and disposed of her body near the temple. Later, the professor returned home and carried out a horrific family murder-suicide, killing his wife and children. While the family’s bodies were found quickly, the girl’s body wasn’t discovered until seven months later. Once found, visitors to the temple began to hear her voice calling out, “I’m here!” repeatedly. The eerie events surrounding the temple eventually led to its urban legend as “The Temple of Doom,” attracting ghost hunters and thrill-seekers alike.
5. Hanako-San
One of Japan’s most well-known legends is the story of Hanako-san, the ghost of a young girl said to haunt school bathrooms. The origins of this eerie tale trace back to the 1950s.
According to the legend, Hanako-san was a young girl who perished during World War II. She was hiding in a school bathroom during an air raid when a bomb struck the building, taking her life in an instant. Since that fateful day, her ghost has been wandering the school bathrooms, awaiting someone who will call her name. If someone dares ask if she is there, Hanako-san is said to respond with a ghostly hand or her eerie presence, either as herself or as a lizard who might devour you.
The truth behind the story dates back to World War II. Many schools, including elementary schools, were repurposed as shelters during air raids. On August 9, 1945, when the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, countless students and teachers met their tragic end in these very schools. Bathrooms, often among the safest places, failed to shield Hanako-san from the blast, and it is believed her spirit still lingers in these now-ruined spaces.
4. Tomino’s Hell
Tomino’s Hell is a haunting poem about a young boy named Tomino who descends into the depths of hell. The poem takes the form of a letter Tomino writes to his mother, where he recounts the terrifying horrors he faces in hell, including demonic beings and a river of blood.
This poem rose to prominence in the 1980s when it was featured in Saijo Yaso’s collection *Sakin*. Over time, it has evolved into a widely known urban legend both in Japan and globally, with many believing that the poem carries a curse.
Various versions of the legend exist, but the most prevalent belief is that the poem is cursed and brings bad luck to those who recite it aloud. Some individuals have reported hearing strange sounds, encountering ghostly apparitions, or experiencing illnesses, car accidents, malevolent presences, or even death after reading the poem aloud.
3. Aka Manto
Aka Manto, also known as the 'Red Cape,' is a terrifying and captivating legend embedded in Japanese folklore. The story speaks of a vengeful spirit that haunts public restrooms, particularly those in schools and urban areas. Aka Manto’s origins are deeply tied to ancient ghost stories and superstitions that have shaped Japan’s dark tales. This legend continues to intrigue and unsettle those who dare to uncover its eerie history.
According to the legend, Aka Manto manifests as a shadowy figure cloaked in red with a white mask covering its face. The spirit waits in the last stall of a restroom, posing a chilling question to those who enter. The question revolves around a choice between a red or blue cape. Choosing the red cape usually brings a horrific end, while the blue cape offers a different, yet equally horrifying, fate. However, no matter the choice, Aka Manto is said to always claim its victim in some manner.
Numerous variations of the Aka Manto story exist, but the most well-known version involves two police officers who investigate strange reports of a man in the women’s restroom after one student overhears a man’s voice asking, 'Shall we put on the red vest?'
The male officer stood watch outside while the female officer entered the stall. Soon, she heard the same question from the mysterious voice. Eager to end the ordeal, she replied, 'Okay, put it on!' Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream echoed, followed by a loud thud. The male officer rushed in, only to be horrified by what he found. The female officer had been decapitated, her police vest soaked in red, with blood splattered everywhere.
Aka Manto serves as a warning tale, urging caution when faced with seemingly innocent choices and the dark consequences they may bring. It taps into deep fears of the unknown, the supernatural, and the sense of vulnerability felt in public spaces. Over time, the legend has been reshaped through various retellings, cementing its place as a cornerstone of Japanese horror. Aka Manto’s unsettling legacy continues to haunt audiences, reminding them to be vigilant, even in the most ordinary of settings.
2. Oiwa
The tale of Oiwa, also known as 'The Lantern Ghost,' is a chilling Japanese legend that dates back to the early 1800s. It revolves around Oiwa, a woman married to Tamiya Iemon, a samurai who, in his desire to marry a younger, wealthier woman, sought to rid himself of Oiwa.
To accomplish this, Iemon conspired with the granddaughter to poison Oiwa using a face cream, which he believed would cause her death. However, the plan backfires, leaving Oiwa not dead but severely disfigured, with a drooping eye and her hair falling out, while she remains in intense pain.
The next events differ depending on the version. In one, Iemon kills her with his own hands. In another, Oiwa accidentally ends her life with a sword after Iemon sends a friend to assault her, all to force a legal divorce. Regardless of the version, Oiwa dies, and her body is discarded in a river. Her vengeful spirit haunts Iemon, appearing from a paper lantern, driving him to madness. Her ghost forces him to behead his new bride, making him believe she was Oiwa on their wedding day, while continually tormenting him.
Although the legend of Oiwa is rooted in folklore, it draws inspiration from real events. One case involved a samurai who murdered his wife after committing infidelity, while another tells of a samurai who discovered his wife’s unfaithfulness and nailed the cheating couple to wooden planks before casting them into the Kanda River.
1. The Alice Killings
The Alice Killings is a chilling urban legend that emerged in Japan in the early 2000s. The story involves an anonymous serial killer who brutally attacked victims between 1999 and 2005. Each crime scene featured a haunting calling card—an actual playing card—and the word 'Alice' scrawled in the victim’s blood.
While the legend portrays unsolved murders, the real-life case that inspired it was carried out by Alfredo Galán Sotillo in Spain between 1978 and 2003. Much like the fictional killer, Sotillo left behind playing cards at the crime scenes. He was eventually apprehended in 2003 and sentenced to 142 years in prison.
Had his murder spree been as brief as the legend suggests, perhaps Sotillo would have evaded capture as well.
