Mystical places of Japan. Scary and strange stories from Japan. the most terrible places on the planet and in Japan, capable of scaring you no less than Sadako herself
A country Rising Sun- it's not just skyscrapers, high tech And ancient culture with interesting customs and unique traditions. It is also a country of mystical secrets, terrifying superstitions and anomalous zones. One of those that Japan can “boast” of is the Aokigahara suicide forest, which regularly falls into the rankings of the most scary places planets.
Aokigahara National Park
The infamous forest is located at the foot of Mount Fuji near the Japanese capital. This is a fairly young natural formation, which appeared twelve centuries ago after the destructive eruption of Fuji in the middle of the 9th century. The frozen magma formed a plateau, which was gradually covered with a layer of soil and overgrown with trees and shrubs. Translated from Japanese, Aokigahara means “plain of blue trees.” The second name of the forest is Jukai (“sea of trees”).
The mysterious, unearthly beauty of the forest is given by the unusual roots of plants, which, unable to break through the petrified lava, come to the surface and form bizarre intricacies. The plateau on which the forest grows is riddled with faults, cracks and cavities, forming numerous karst sinkholes and caves.
Officially, the Aokigahara Forest is a national park with all the necessary attributes - picnic clearings, parking areas and hiking trails. IN national park There are a few famous caves, dense coniferous forests and boxwood thickets, the purest Mountain air and amazing views of the main Japanese peak - Mount Fuji.
The forest gained notoriety back in time immemorial. There is a legend that the poor took seriously ill people, old people and small children who were a burden to the family into the forest, and left them there to certain death. Since then, the restless souls of innocently dead people have been wandering through the forest and lying in wait for lonely travelers in the hope of avenging their suffering.
According to Shintoism, only the souls of those who die a natural death can reunite with their ancestors after life. Those people who suffered a violent death or committed suicide are doomed to eternal wandering in search of peace in the form of disembodied ghosts - yurei. Eyewitnesses say that they have encountered these transparent ghosts in the forest with unnaturally long upper limbs and hellish flames in empty eye sockets.
The forest still asks riddles today. It’s really easy to get lost in the dense thickets, but it’s very difficult to get back. Orientation by compass will not help here - in this anomalous zone his arrow performs tricks, randomly changing its position.
Unfortunately, it was not the majestic nature or even the ghosts that made Aokigahara one of the most famous and sad sights in Japan. This place ranks second in the lists of the most popular places for committing suicides after the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA.
Japan is a country where the culture of so-called revered suicides developed in ancient times. Methods of suicide have a long history and tradition:
- seppuku - samurai ritual suicide;
- tokkotai - military volunteer suicide bombers;
- shinju - simultaneous suicide of lovers;
- self-mummification of monks of some Buddhist schools;
- mass and family suicides.
In modern times, voluntary death continues to be a popular way to solve any problems - job loss, divorce, retirement, unhappy love, atonement for family, company, sports team.
As for Aokigahara, it is unknown why this particular forest became so attractive to those who decided to commit suicide. Maybe the forest really has strong negative energy, or the magnetic anomaly has a certain effect on consciousness, or maybe the bad reputation of the forest attracts people with an unbalanced psyche. Not the least role is played by books and films, the heroes of which go on their last journey along the paths of Aokigahara. In 1993, a manual for suicides was published, where Aokigahara is recommended as perfect place for suicide.
If a curious tourist nevertheless dares to turn off the path, he will easily find terrible traces of the misfortunes that have occurred - the remains of barrier tape left by the police, packaging of medicines, bags, mobile phones. Authorities organize annual raids to search for bodies.
Active measures are being taken to save potential suicides - signs with a helpline are posted on all trails, video surveillance and patrols are conducted, stores in nearby villages do not sell medicines, ropes and other items that could serve as a weapon for suicide, local residents report the appearance of suspicious people to the police. But despite this, the number of suicides increases every year and reaches 100 people a year.
Japan, where the suicide forest is located, occupies one of the leading positions among the countries of the world not only in terms of development and living standards, but also in the number of suicides committed by its citizens. The Japanese are often called a “suicide nation.” The reason, perhaps, lies not only in historical background, but also in the subtleties of the Japanese mentality, the important role of society, which requires humility, hard work and obedience from people and sometimes places unbearable demands on them.
Due to its strangeness, Japan and its people have become very popular in many countries. Due to the long isolation, the culture of this place seems incomprehensible and amazing to us, and the Japanese seem eccentric. Naturally, they themselves don’t think so and nothing strange They don’t see it in themselves.
Today we will tell you the chilling legends of Japan, which are far from intended for the fragile child’s psyche - even adults cannot listen to them without shuddering. We will not ignore the favorite characters of Japanese horror films - dead girls with black hair; also, these legends cannot do without darkness and water. You can find all this in the stories below.
This story in all sorts of interpretations can be found in legends of all times and peoples. It is simple and instructive, it says that any evil will always be punished. And the hunter is not always the victim - very often the situation changes radically and terribly.
In one of the many districts of Tokyo, a gang of four brutal criminals was operating. Among them was a very handsome and stately guy who met girls and allegedly invited them to his hotel for a romantic evening. And already in the room the handsome man’s accomplices were waiting for the poor victim and pounced on her. On that fateful day, the guy met the girl and then everything went according to the script. But, apparently, the scenario had a bad ending for the gang - when the hotel workers got tired of waiting for the guests to leave, they opened the room and found the torn bodies of the criminals there.
2. Satoru-kun
Based on this legend, telephone games are a very dangerous thing. And not only because anyone, even a maniac, could be hiding in the interlocutor. Films were even made based on such modern stories. You can read this story right now. And you will never want to play with your phone again.
There is a being in the world named Satoru, he can give you the answer to any possible question. To call him, you just need to have a cell phone and a 10 yen coin in your pocket (naturally, everything should happen in Japan, therefore the money is Japanese). Find a pay phone, use a coin to call your own mobile phone. When the connection is established, say into the phone “Satoru-kun, if you are here, then please come to me.” (Surely you need to speak Japanese too).
Throughout the day, this creature will call your number and tell you where it is until it is behind your back. When Satoru says “I'm behind you,” you immediately ask the question you want answered. But don't look back - if you look back or don't remember the question, the creature will take you with it.
A similar story is told about a certain Anser, only he punishes differently.
In order to find out the answers to your questions, collect ten telephones and start calling simultaneously from the first to the second, from the second to the third, etc. From the 10th, call the first. When all the phones are connected, Anser will answer you. (Which phone, we don’t know). He will answer questions from 9 people. But the tenth one will be less lucky - Anser will ask him his question. If he does not answer, then the cruel monster will take some part from his body, since Anser is a freak child, initially consisting only of his head and assembling his body in parts.
3. Do you need your legs?
This legend would be funny if it weren't so cruel. From it you can learn to be attentive to the questions of random people - perhaps your answers will be taken too literally.
And the most important thing is that in this story there is no correct answer - if you say no, you will be left without legs, and if you answer yes, you will have a third leg.
One day, a boy walking home from school was accosted by an eccentric old woman, repeating one phrase:
- Don't you need legs?
The boy tried to ignore the old witch, but she did not lag behind. Then he shouted “no!” to make the grandmother fall behind. Hearing the child’s cry, a crowd of people came running and saw him lying legless on the asphalt.
The most mysterious mystery in Japanese legends is a doll named Okiku. According to stories, when the owner of the toy died, the doll began to grow hair similar to the hair of a child and growing quite quickly.
This doll was given to his little sister in 1918 by a 17-year-old boy named Eikichi Suzuki. And his sister, as you might have guessed, was called Okiku. A guy bought a doll at a maritime exhibition in Sapporo (this is resort town on the island of Hokkaido). The girl really loved this gift and played with it every day. But at three years old the girl died of a cold. Relatives placed the doll on the altar at home and prayed near it every day in memory of the little girl. One day they noticed that the doll’s hair had become longer and concluded that the girl’s spirit had settled in her favorite toy.
5. Kaori-san.
The preface to this story is very creepy. But the sequel is even worse than the preface. What's funny is that if the second part of the story scares only small children, then almost all teenage girls from Japan believe in the preface.
Having entered high school, one girl decided to celebrate this in a very original way - to pierce her ears. To save money, she did not go to a specialized place, but did it at home herself, inserting her first earrings into the pierced lobes.
After a couple of days, my ears became swollen and my earlobes began to itch terribly. Looking at them in the mirror, Kaori-san saw a strange white thread sticking out of one ear. And suddenly the world of the girl who tried to pull the thread was covered in darkness. And the reason was not the light being turned off - this thread turned out to be the optic nerve and the girl went blind.
But that is not all. Having gone crazy from the constant darkness, Kaori went to bite off the ears of her seeing friends and acquaintances. She did the same to high school student A-san, who carelessly went for a walk alone. When she answered affirmatively to a persistent question strange girls with pubescent heads: “Are your ears pierced?” the crazy woman attacked A-san and bit off her earlobes with earrings and ran away.
6. Sennichimae
In history we're talking about about the Osaka area where it happened scary tragedy back in 1972. Then more than 170 people burned during the fire. In general, the spirits of the dead often appear in horror films. But during the day they rarely walk the streets. So...
An ordinary employee of an ordinary company was driving home in rainy weather. When the man came out of the subway and opened his umbrella, he noticed strange passers-by walking down the street without umbrellas and with frozen looks. In bewilderment, the man constantly dodged the individuals trying to collide with him. Suddenly a taxi driver called him over, and although the man did not need a taxi, he persuaded him to get into the car. It wasn’t that difficult - the passer-by really didn’t like the strange street and the people who filled it. And the taxi driver, pale as snow, said:
- When I drove past and saw you walking along an empty street and dodging who knows what, I realized that I needed to save you.
7. Hanako-san and Mr. Shadow
Just like the Japanese water world is closely associated with the world of the dead, many legends are told about toilets and their mysterious inhabitants. We will tell you the most popular and common ones.
Come to school in the middle of the night, find the north building and stand between the third and fourth floors. Don't forget to bring various goodies and a candle from home. Place all this behind your back and, turning to the shadow you cast, chant: “Mr. Shadow, listen to my request, please.”
Then this gentleman will appear from the shadows and fulfill your desire. But only if the candle does not go out. If it stops burning, then the cruel master will take away part of your body (which part is, probably, at his discretion).
Another absurdity from this series:
When you go to the toilet, you will be asked whether to give you red or blue paper. The choice is small and sad - if you say that it is red, you will be torn to pieces, spattering everything around with your own blood. If your choice falls on blue paper, then all your blood will be sucked out to the last drop. There is another not very pleasant option, but it will keep you alive. You can say "yellow" and the booth will be filled to the brim with shits. True, you risk choking on feces, but those who know how to swim will definitely survive and then the unpleasant smell will not be able to darken their festive mood.
There is another similar variation, only in it all the actions take place at night.
In the fourth stall of the boys' toilet there lives a voice that belongs to someone unknown. If you go there at night, he will ask: “Red cloak or blue cloak?” Unfortunately, there is no option with a yellow cloak. When you choose the red cloak, the owner of the creepy voice will stick a knife in your back. With blue, accordingly, you will lose your blood.
Rumor has it that one skeptical boy decided to prove that this story was a fiction. He never returned that night, and in the morning he was found with a knife stuck in his back, and blood covering his body like a cloak.
There is also such a game with Hanako-san:
1).If you drum on the door of the third booth three times and say: “Hanako-san, let’s play!”, you will hear in response “Yesss!” and a girl will come out in a red skirt with a bob hairstyle.
2.) Someone should go into the second booth, and his partner should stay outside. The one outside must knock on the booth door four times, and the one inside the booth must knock twice. Then, in a chorus of three or more voices, you need to say: “Let’s play, Hanako-san. What do you want - tag and rubber bands?” The voice will say, "Okay, let's play tag."
And then... A girl in a white blouse will come to the one in the booth and touch him on the shoulder. Surely, older boys are not at all interested in this game.
8. Scary story about a cow's head
Komatsu Sakyo once wrote a scary story about a cow's head. This legend originates from it, which is told like a true story, which has already become urban folklore.
In general, the story dates back to the Kan-ei period (1624-1643). The story itself is nowhere to be found, only phrases like: “Today I was told a heartbreaking, creepy story about a cow’s head, but I can’t write it because it’s too scary.”
Because of this, the story is not in any book; it was always transmitted orally. And we won’t publish it here - it’s really too terrible and blood-curdling. It's just hair-raising... We'd better tell you what happened when it was voiced.
One day on the bus the teacher primary school told scary stories. The naughty children sat quietly that day - they were really scared. The teacher, proud of his storytelling skills, decided that he would finally tell the most terrible story, of course, about a cow’s head. As soon as he started the story, the children began to ask Sensei in horror to stop. Many became whiter than chalk, many began to cry... But the teacher did not shut up, and his eyes became empty, like the eye sockets of death. It was both him and not him.
And only when the bus stopped did the teacher come to his senses and look around. He realized that something was wrong. The driver was scared to death and covered in sweat. He simply couldn't go any further. Looking around, the teacher saw that all the children were in a deep faint, and foam was coming out of their mouths. He never told this story again.
9. Woman with a slit mouth
You may have even seen a film based on this legend. The story, of course, is tritely simple, but I just wish I could find out who came up with this terrible nonsense about an ugly woman mutilating children. And what kind of mental illness did that person have?
There is also an option about a lady simply disfigured by an atomic explosion, but this is an interpretation of the first story.
This horror story became so popular because police found similar entries in case files, newspaper reports and television reports. If you believe the legend, then an incredible beauty with a bandage on her face wanders the streets of the country. When she meets a child, she asks whether she is beautiful. If the child does not answer immediately, she removes the bandage, revealing a gap instead of a mouth, scary sharp teeth and a snake tongue. After that she will ask: “And now?” If the child answers in the negative, she will cut off his head. And if it’s positive, he’ll make the same mouth for him. They say that in order to be saved, you need to ask her first about something or give an evasive answer.
Well, actually, another option on the same topic
Allegedly taken from the notebook of the narrator's great-grandfather and written in 1953.
He went to Osaka, and there they told him the story of the atomic girl. And if a person hears the story, then three days later he will meet this girl, who is all covered with scars and scars after the explosion of the atomic bomb. And on the third night a girl comes to him (and it sounds romantic) and asks: “Am I beautiful or not.” And the narrator’s great-grandfather answers: “I think you’re pretty!” “Where am I from?” the girl asks again. "I think you're from Kashima or Ise" (these are the places where the explosions took place atomic bombs). The girl confirmed the correctness of the answer and left. The narrator's great-grandfather wrote that he was very scared - after all, the wrong answer would have sent him to the next world.
10. Tek-tek
Americans call this horror film "Clack-Clack". And the story is about a woman who was hit by a train and found herself cut in half. It’s no wonder that after this the lady became angry with the whole world and began to take revenge on him. Here's a classic story, and in pairs there's another one similar to it.
Kashima Reiko, cut in half by a train, wanders through the night, moving on her elbows and making a gloomy "tek-tek" sound. And if she meets someone on her way, she will not stop until she catches up and kills him, turning him into the same freak. And she will do this manipulation with a scythe. They say that this woman especially loves children playing at dusk.
Here's another version of the story:
The young man decided to go skiing on a weekday so that there would be fewer people around. He was right - he was driving past the roadside forest alone. And then the man heard obvious cries for help from this very forest. Approaching him, he saw a woman who had fallen waist-deep into the snow and begged him for help. When he took her hands and began to pull her out of the snow, she was incredibly light. Looking at where her legs should be, the man saw that the lady was missing the lower half of her torso. And there was no hole under it. And then the woman grinned...
Japan is a country with an unusual, amazing, mysterious culture and rich history. It combines the incredible development of technology and, albeit modified over the twentieth century, but still preserving the most important features of traditional cultural heritage and social foundations.
Naturally, among others, such a state is full of its own legends about all sorts of terrible phenomena of a mystical nature. And the places where they were observed or are observed to this day. In this article we will tell you about some of them.
For example, about a hospital for tuberculosis patients, famous throughout the country, located in the city of Kaizuka. At first, the building itself was designed and built as a school, but in 1958 it was turned into a hospital for tuberculosis patients.
The watchmen and some local residents, and today a number of tourists, talk about ghosts that are seen and heard within these walls.
Another hospital inhabited by ghosts is located in the city of Kasumigaura. At first it was a naval base. Later, the building was transferred to the use of the Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
Unfortunately, over time it was abandoned and it almost collapsed. There is no exact data about the existence of a ghost here, but strange phenomena have been observed several times. And popular rumor strengthened them, especially since the building was used several times for filming horror films.
On the island of Hokkaido, the Jomonon Tunnel serves as a connecting part of the road between Tokoro and Munbetsu counties. The tunnel is 507 meters long. During its construction, many workers died there and were buried right inside.
After this, it is not surprising that paranormal activity is observed there from time to time. In particular, some travelers have seen ghosts.
We should also remember about Tashiro Island. It also has a second name - Cat Island. This place is populated simply huge number cats. All cat lovers should definitely visit there.
It is known that since ancient times cats were considered associated with mysticism. And many feel this when they find themselves on a cat island. Sometimes the behavior of cats here is extremely unusual, and supernatural manifestations are not uncommon.
There are many rumors about the mysticism of the village of Nagoro, but almost no established supernatural manifestations have been recorded. And yet the atmosphere in the village is frightening. Of course, this mostly deserted village doesn’t look like that at all. After all, there are hundreds of stuffed animals on the streets, behind counters and in houses. This place is a tourist attraction that tickles the nerves of everyone who visits there.
For Japan, the concept of a curse is somewhat different from its classical European counterpart, although in essence they are similar. What's interesting is that there are many damned places in this country.
For example, Mount Kuseyama is considered cursed; anyone who steps on it will soon die. Surprisingly, the mountain and surrounding areas have not been purchased. They say that there have been a number of accidents with those who tried to visit it, so buyers are simply afraid.
A similar situation is observed with Mount Ikhai. Only when entering it or cutting down forests there, it is not the violator himself who dies, but one of his family members. The same thing happens to the owners and workers of the Kuse and Yammai fields.
It would take a very long time to list cursed places, as well as to remember all kinds of deities who amuse themselves by punishing people using such methods. And if some of the stories are clearly fiction. Others seem to have a very real basis.
There are more than enough scary places in Japan besides those listed, so we will probably talk about a number of them in separate articles.
An essential part of summer in Japan are kaidans (Japanese ghost stories). There are probably those who would like to visit a real Japanese haunted house. In this article I will tell you about the scariest places in Japan that you absolutely should not visit. Will you be able to sleep after reading this article?
Hospital for tuberculosis patients in Kaizuka City (Osaka Prefecture)
Kaizuka City Tuberculosis Hospital is one of the most famous places in Osaka Prefecture, where ghosts live. The building was originally built for a school (in 1948), so there is a swimming pool and showers inside. In 1958, it began to serve as a hospital for tuberculosis patients. There are still medical supplies in the building. Since there have been many deaths of patients in the hospital, it is said that the building is haunted by many ghosts.
Old X-rays can be seen scattered on the floor.
But the worst thing is not the scattered things, but the fact that you can feel the warmth of the people who were once here...
Then we decided to leave this corridor. At this point N said, “I just heard someone say “Hey!”.” I thought: “I think I heard something too, but because of the sound of the footsteps I couldn’t make out.” However, all 11 team members confirmed that they heard "Hey!" We hurried to the cars and quickly left the place.
(from one researcher's blog)
2. Jomon Tunnel (Hokkaido)
The Jomon Tunnel is located in the eastern part of Hokkaido. It connects Tokoro County and Munbetsu County. The length of the tunnel is 507 meters. In 1914, during construction work due to very difficult working conditions and lack of food, many workers died right in the tunnel and their corpses were buried right there. In 1968, this tunnel also became famous because human bones were discovered in a wall destroyed by an earthquake.
3. Forest in the village of Shizukuishi (Iwate Prefecture)
Over the forest in the village of Shizukuishi on July 30, 1971, an ANA (All Nippon Airways) plane collided with a military fighter. The accident killed 162 people. People still bring flowers to the monument.
4. Shitodono Rock Iwaya (Kanagawa Prefecture)
It is known that the rock of Shitodono Iwaya was where Minamoto no Yorimoto took refuge when he was defeated in the war. Here it is a large number of statues of Jizo (bodhisattva). During the daytime it is quite an ordinary tourist attraction, but when night falls the atmosphere changes dramatically. Among the Jizo statues there are statues with far from kind facial expressions. They say that a person who sees the headless statue of Jizo will soon be visited by death.
5. Hospital in Kasumigaura City (Ibaraki Prefecture)
Initially, this place was a naval base, but then the building became one of the buildings of the Tokyo Medical and Dental University. Now the building has turned into ruins. There is no particular reason for the appearance of ghosts here, but fans of horror films know that this building has often become a filming location.
So what do you think?
What do you think of the places presented? They say that you should never visit them, surely there are people who already want to go there? Remember: you may experience such fear that your hair will stand on end; You take full responsibility for possible consequences.
I love Japan. I just love her. And their horror films in all forms are especially close to my heart. So I decided to post my thoughts, reflections and rants on the topic of urban legends of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Urban legends of Japan. Part I
When walking along quiet Japanese streets, be very careful. There can be danger around every corner. If a beautiful woman with a bandage on her face calls out to you and asks: “Am I beautiful?”, do not even think about answering her. Walking along the school corridors, you can hear children crying. But don’t rush to run to help. And if your other half wears a red scarf without taking it off, under no circumstances force you to take it off. Don't want to listen? Well, we warned you. But don't underestimate Japan's urban legends...
“You can have a thousand academic degrees,
but man by nature always believed
and will believe in the existence of something,
not amenable to rational explanation"
Koji Suzuki "Ring" / "Ring"
Japan another country
Japan is a country with a different mentality. It developed along a completely different path, strikingly different from Europe. For a long time the country was closed; access for foreigners was strictly limited. Peculiar natural conditions, social norms and rules, traditions and mythology combined into an interesting, but alien mixture for Europeans. On this basis, a unique layer of culture arose - urban legends.
What are these urban legends? These are actually scary stories based on the mythology and culture of the country. Remember how, as children, we scared each other with stories about a red sheet, a green hand and a black coffin on wheels? So, the Japanese also like to scare their friend with all sorts of horror stories. Only their stories will be more terrible and capable of scaring not only schoolchildren, but also impressionable adults.
Typically, the main characters in Japanese urban legends are onryo spirits - vengeful spirits who have returned from the dead to punish the offender. We are familiar with these ghosts primarily from popular Japanese horror films. Everyone knows Sadoko Yamamura, the girl from the movie “The Ring.” By the way, in the book by Koji Suzuki, on which the movie was based, Sadoko was an adult girl - a classic image of an onryo.
Kaidan or kwaidan is a traditional folklore genre in Japan, designed to frighten the listener with stories of encounters with the supernatural. Undoubtedly, he had a huge influence on the formation of urban legends in Japan. This literary trend created fertile ground for the emergence of modern urban folklore. Moreover, many classic horror stories have been translated into a modern twist, turning them into urban legends.
Traditionally, Japanese culture itself is rich in a variety of horror stories: ghosts, monsters, and strange creatures inhabit Japan. Therefore, it is no wonder that Tek-Tek, the Woman with a Slit Mouth and other terrible monsters roam around the cities.
In addition, after the fall of the Tokugawa military-samurai regime (Edo period), stories from Europe poured into the Land of the Rising Sun along with foreigners. They, of course, also influenced the formation of Japanese urban folklore. To many modern Japanese scary stories we can recall similar legends from the USA, Germany or other countries.
For convenience, Japanese urban legends can be divided into several categories.
Revenge
One of the main themes of Japanese horror stories is revenge. The ghosts of the dead take revenge on their offenders, their descendants, children, neighbors, friends and even those who happen to be in their way. “Wrong time, wrong place” is a very relevant expression in relation to legends telling of reckoning.
Sometimes the injustice is so great and the thirst for revenge is so strong that the soul cannot find peace. She remains attached to a place that is meaningful to her. Typically this is the place where the person died. It’s good if punishment overtakes the offender. But more often than not, it is innocent citizens who get the nuts.
Everyone knows the 2003 film “The Grudge” directed by Shimizu Takashima and its American remake. A curse born from the enraged mind of a dying man cannot disappear without a trace. The image of an innocently ruined soul appears again and again to everyone who tries to comprehend the secrets of its fate. No one can be saved by coming into contact with the all-consuming rage. Similar stories exist in all corners of Japan. Sometimes having a real basis because of the tragedies that have happened.
There are also legends where others take revenge for the victim. The boy was bullied by his classmates. Often it came to assault. The child’s grandmother knew that her grandson was being bullied, but she could not do anything. And one day the boy was beaten so badly that he died. The woman immediately told the police that her grandson was killed at school. But school officials said it was an accident and the case was closed. The woman achieved nothing. “I don’t want to hear this,” she said and cut off her ears. The old woman was admitted to the hospital, and since then nothing has been heard from her.
A few weeks later, an elderly woman wearing a purple kimono began to appear at the school gates (the color purple is associated with death in Japan). She tore out the livers of those children she spoke to. To drive it away, you need to say “purple,” which means “rest in peace.” Therefore, always be on alert, in case your grandmother turns to you with a request to take her across the road.
Another one urban legend tells the story of a gang of robbers operating in the Shibuya area of Tokyo. One of them, a handsome guy, met and flirted with girls, then brought them to the hotel, where his comrades were waiting. One day, as usual, the handsome man invited the girl to the hotel. And as usual, his comrades ambushed...
The evening of the next day came, and the guests still did not leave the room. The hotel employees became worried and entered the room. There lay four corpses, torn to pieces...
This terrible story, found in different variations in almost all countries, also contains a certain amount of educational moment - retribution for actions can overtake anywhere and anytime, hidden in the most harmless, at first glance, things. Sometimes the hunter can turn into the hunted.
School inhabitants
A separate group of urban legends are legends about ghostly inhabitants of schools. The place where Japanese schoolchildren spend their time is full of secrets and mysteries. The school toilet is especially mysterious and enigmatic. Yes Yes. You heard right. It's the toilet. There are a great many legends about those who wait for schoolchildren in cabins.
If you don’t have enough thrills and life without adrenaline makes no sense, then come at two o’clock in the morning to the northern building of the school, on the stairs between the third and fourth floors. Bring a candle and something tasty with you. Place the treat behind you and chant to your shadow, “Mr. Shadow, Mister Shadow, please listen to my request.” And then tell him your wish.
If everything goes as it should, Mr. Shadow will come out of your shadow and fulfill your request. But be careful! If the candle goes out, Mr. Shadow will get angry and take away some part of your body. Moreover, he will not ask which organ will be least useful to you in life.
After staying a little longer in the toilet and successfully surviving the arrival of Mr. Shadow, you will hear a voice: “Do you want red or blue paper?” Here, too, you need to gather your willpower and think about what to answer to a caring ghost who is worried about whether you have everything you need to go to the toilet. If you say “red,” then death is inevitable, and the whole body will be covered in blood. If you say “blue”, all your blood will be sucked out. Whatever one may say, one is not better than the other. But there is a way to stay alive - say “yellow paper”. Then the toilet stall will fill up... Well, you understand. As a consolation, let's say that this is not fatal...
Some schools may ask you, “Do you want a red cape or a blue cape?” But now you know how to respond to a malicious ghost. And then go straight to the shower.
For researchers and simply lovers of the paranormal, the Japanese school toilet should become a place of pilgrimage. In fact, you don't need to make any effort, just knock three times on the door of the third stall of the women's restroom on the third floor and say: “Hanako-san, let's play!” In response, you will immediately hear: “Yes...” and you will be able to see the ghost of Hanako-san in person.
An alternative way to call a girl from the toilet requires more effort. You'll have to persuade one of your friends to join you, because you can't do it alone. You will have to push your friend into the second toilet stall from the entrance, and you yourself will remain outside. While propping up the door so as not to let your friend escape from the stall, knock four times on the door. A friend locked inside and doomed to meet a ghost must answer with a double knock, but if he simply kicks the door and demands to be let out immediately, then count his knocks as two. The rest will pass for noise. Then you need to call: “Hanako-san, let's play! Do you want a rubber band or a tag?”
A bored ghost will immediately respond: “Okay. Let's tag." And then the one inside will be touched on the shoulder by a girl.
Of course, you can take a seat in the booth yourself, but the effect will not be the same. Besides, you can always say that you have already called Hanako, just at another school. Now explore the external manifestations of ghostly emanations that influence fluctuations in air flow. Well, or else, come up with something. The main thing is to be more intricate, otherwise your friend won’t believe you and will beat you.
Hanako-san is the most popular ghost in Japan, rumors about which have been circulating since the 50sXXcentury. In addition, there is a ghost girl in almost all Japanese schools. It’s no wonder that Hanako-san became the heroine of several films and anime.
There are a great many stories about how the soul of a poor girl was captured by the toilet. According to one version, Hanako-san was in poor health, and when her classmates locked her in the toilet, the girl’s heart stopped. According to another version, Hanako was attacked by a maniac. She ran away and hid in the school toilet, but it didn't help -
he found her there anyway... The third version talks about the family problems that the girl had to live with. Her father cheated on her mother, and she went crazy with jealousy. The crazy woman strangled the younger children, but Hanako managed to escape and hid in the school toilet. But the mother still found her eldest daughter... And according to the fourth legend, Hanako-san committed suicide because her long hair was cut off.
Damned places
Urban legends related to cursed houses, hospitals, parks and others popular places a dime a dozen. Every city has a couple of such attractions. They serve as a place of pilgrimage for lovers of the paranormal and an opportunity to test their courage. If you want to tickle your nerves, you can visit the cursed place and leave your name on the wall. But be careful, don't let the curse drag you into its web...
In 1972, a fire occurred in Sennichimae, a district of Osaka, in which one hundred and seventeen people died. There was talk that this place was now cursed.
One employee was late finishing a report for his boss. He hurried home and exited the subway in Sennichimae. It was raining heavily. So the man opened his umbrella and walked away, dodging the people rushing here and there. The man looked at the passers-by, and a chill ran along his spine: all the people were without umbrellas, pale and gloomy. The empty eyes expressed nothing, their gazes were fixed on one point.
Suddenly a taxi stopped not far from the man.
Come here! - the driver shouted.
But I don't need a taxi.
No matter, sit down!
The man wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible, so he obeyed. The taxi driver was as pale as a sheet. Taking a breath, he said:
I was driving along the route when I saw you walking along an empty street and dodging someone, as if from people passing by...
Age of technology
Computers, players, the Internet, mobile phones - we can no longer imagine life without all this. Technology has deeply entered our lives. And, of course, this could not but affect urban legends. Horror stories appeared related to television, the World Wide Web and mobile phones. Just remember the popular horror films “The Ring”, “One Missed Call” and others.
If there is a maniac on the other end of the line, this is not the worst thing that can happen to phone owners.
Do you know Satoru who can answer any question? No? Then we'll tell you now. To call him, you need a cell phone, a pay phone and a 10 yen coin. Place a coin in the machine, call your cell phone and say: “Satoru-kun, Satoru-kun, if you are here, come to me and please answer my question.”
Over the next twenty-four hours, Satoru-kun will call you on your cell phone. Every time he will say where he is. This place will be closer and closer to you. For the last time he will say: “I’m behind you...” Now you can ask the question for which you decided to risk your life. There will definitely be an answer to it. But if you turn around, wanting to look at the all-knowing alien, or cannot think of a question, Satoru-kun will kill you. And you won’t know the answer and will die ahead of time. Japanese ghosts are not to be trifled with.
Another variation on the theme of telephone calls is the legend of the Mysterious Anser. If communication with Satoru-kun is not enough for you or you want to try your luck again, then take ten mobile phones and call from the first to the second... and so on. To close the chain, send the last tenth call to the first phone - a circle is formed. When all the phones are connected to each other, you will be contacted by a man named Anser, who will answer nine people's questions. Well, Anser himself will ask the tenth member of the spirit-summoning team a question. If he doesn't get a response from the screen mobile phone a hand will come out and drag away some part of the interlocutor’s body. Anser is a freak of a child. He has only one head and in order to become a full-fledged person, he steals body parts and answers any questions along the way. If you are not confident in your erudition, it is better not to take risks. Or at least not being the owner of the tenth phone.
There are many legends surrounding the photographs. For example, you cannot stand in the center if three people are photographed. This threatens troubles and even death.
“To take a photograph is to take out the soul” - this opinion existed for a long time in Japan. It has taken root since the Edo era, when photography came to the Land of the Rising Sun. This attitude towards a new invention initially arose in many countries. Perhaps this is not easy. Who can say whether we lose part of our soul when we capture our image in the next photograph.
Deformities
Ugliness and beauty attract attention in equal measure. Even if you are running errands and don’t pay attention to the people rushing nearby, your gaze will still catch on a beauty passing by, or on a person missing one leg or arm.
The Japanese did not ignore this topic. Moreover, standing out from the crowd is not accepted here.
One of the most famous urban legends in Japan is the "Gap-Mouth Woman" or "Woman with the Slit Mouth." Based on this urban legend, a horror film of the same name was shot in 2007 by director Koshi Hiraishi. There is a variation of Slit Mouth - Atomic Girl, disfigured by the explosion and asking the children the same question.
Kuchisake Onna or the Mouth-Crack Woman is a very popular horror story, especially famous due to the fact that the police still find many similar messages in their archives. According to legend, an unusually beautiful woman wearing a gauze bandage walks the streets of Japan. If a child is walking down the street alone, then she can come up to him and ask: “Am I beautiful?” If he hesitates, Kuchisake tears off the bandage from his face. A huge scar crosses her beautiful face from ear to ear, a giant mouth filled with sharp teeth, and a tongue like a snake. After which the girl will ask the question again: “Am I beautiful now?” If the child answers “no,” then she will cut off his head with scissors, and if “yes,” then she will give him the same scar. Don't rush to answer! The only way to escape in this case is to give an evasive answer. For example, you can answer: “You look average” or “You look good.”
Another story that scares the Japanese to death is "Tek-Tek". This horror story tells the story of a woman who died under the wheels of a train.
Tek-Tek or Kashima Reiko is the ghost of a woman who was run over by a train and cut in half. Since then, she has been wandering at night, moving on her elbows, making the sound “tek-tek.” If a girl sees someone, she will chase him until she kills him. Reiko will cut her victim in half with a scythe and turn her into a monster just like her. According to legend, Tek-Tek hunts children who play at dusk.
With Tek-Tek, analogies can be drawn with the American children's horror story called “Clack-Clack,” which parents used to scare children who were out late at night. If you are a child, then do not stay out late late. It is still unpleasant when you are deprived of your legs.
As has already become clear, in Japan, before answering any question, you need to think carefully. Otherwise, it may lead to death. Who knows, maybe your words will be taken literally. So in the following urban legend, you can lose your legs if you answer without thinking.
One day the boy was walking home after school. An elderly woman approached him with a question. “Do you need legs?” - she asked. The boy, of course, said no. He has legs, why does he need another one?! His body was immediately pierced by unbearable pain. Passers-by came running to the child's screams. When they saw the boy, they were dumbfounded with fear - he had no legs.
The ghost described in the legend is terrible because it is impossible to immediately come up with the correct answer to his question. If you say “no” you will lose your legs, if you say “yes” you will get a third one. You can cheat by answering: “I don’t need it, but you can ask tago.” The ghost will turn its attention to the one whose name was called, and you will remain unharmed. Therefore, it is better to prepare the name of your enemy in advance so that you can immediately blurt it out if you are approached with a similar question.
Dolls
Long black hair, pale faces, sophisticated features, a mysterious smile. No, these are not beautiful Japanese women, these are porcelain dolls. Forever frozen images, embodiments of once living people. One of the Japanese urban legends tells of a mysterious doll, Okiku, whose hair suddenly began to grow after the death of its owner.
According to legend, the doll was originally purchased in 1918 by a seventeen-year-old boy named Eikichi Suzuki. He bought the toy on Tanuki-koji, a famous shopping street in Sapporo. It was a gift for Okiku's two-year-old sister. The girl really liked the toy, and she did not want to part with it even for a moment. Unfortunately, Okiku suddenly fell ill and died suddenly. The family placed the doll in the home altar and prayed to it every day in memory of Okiku, who left her family untimely.
Some time later, relatives began to notice that the doll's hair began to grow. The restless spirit of Okiku found refuge in a doll...
They say that if a child plays with one toy for a long time, it can come to life. There is some truth in this, because for a child a doll, a teddy bear or a wooden soldier is not just a friend, but a friend who will listen, understand and share grief and joy. So why shouldn't a toy have a soul? Especially if these are Japanese dolls.
One day a girl named Yuriko moved with her parents to another city. Before leaving, her mother told her to get rid of the Likki-chan doll. From early childhood, the toy was the girl’s most beloved and dearest, but she could not disobey her mother and still threw the doll away.
After some time, when Yuriko had almost gotten used to the new place and made friends at school, the phone rang.
It's me, Licca-chan. I'm in ***. “And I’m coming to you,” they whispered at the other end of the line.
*** is the place where the family used to live. The girl got scared and hung up. But after a while the phone rang again.
It's me, Licca-chan. “I’m fucked,” said the same voice.
*** - this was the closest station from the girl’s house.
This went on several times until Yuriko couldn’t stand it anymore and screamed:
Who are you? Tell me who you are!
But the phone rang and the caller hung up. The girl opened the curtain and looked out into the street. There was no one there. And then the phone rang.
It’s me, Licca-chan,” Yuriko heard. - I'm behind you...
The sales agency for these dolls launched the “Likki-chan Phone” service. On this phone you can hear the mysterious whisper of a living doll. Unfortunately, there is a recording playing there. But maybe that's just what they tell us...
No matter how things really turn out, choose gifts and souvenirs for your family and friends more carefully. You may accidentally purchase an unusual doll.
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This is only part of that huge layer of culture called urban legends. We touched a little on the mysterious and scary stories that exist among the population of Japan. But that is not all. To be continued...
Authors: Great Internet and HeiLin
P.S: The article is based on materials dug up on the Internet. If anyone is interested, it was published in the anime magazine "NYA!" -