Japanese urban legends are stories passed down from generation to generation, often rooted in Japanese culture and tradition, they have inspired many horror films and have captivated people. imagination of people around the world. In this blog post, we'll explore Japan's most famous urban legends, their history, and their impact on Japanese culture.
THE LEGEND OF KUCHISAKE-ONNA
The legend of Kuchisake-Onna is one of Japan's most popular and frightening urban legends. Kuchisake-Onna means “the woman with the split mouth” in Japanese. According to legend, it is a very beautiful woman who wears a surgical mask, she asks her victims: "Am I beautiful?", if the person answers "yes", she removes her mask and reveals a mouth cut in two. She then asks: "And now, am I still beautiful?" If the person answers "no", they are immediately killed with scissors.
It is a legend that dates back to the Edo period, it took place from 1603 to 1868. According to some versions, Kuchisake-Onna was the wife of a samurai who had been deceived and mutilated by her jealous husband. Other versions of the legend suggest that she committed suicide by cutting her mouth in two after being deceived.
The legend of Kuchisake-Onna saw a resurgence of interest in the 1970s, as people began reporting sightings of the slit-mouthed woman throughout Japan. Some schools have even banned students from going out alone after dark for fear they might encounter Kuchisake-Onna.
This legend has also inspired many horror films and manga. The Japanese continue to tell this scary story to scare children and adults.
THE LEGEND OF HANAKO-SAN
The Legend of Hanako-San is a Japanese urban legend that tells the story of a young girl named Hanako who haunts elementary school toilets. According to legend, if you enter the girls' bathroom at school and knock on the third door three times, you can call Hanako-San. She will then appear, wearing a red and white dress and sporting black hair.
Some say Hanako-San was a young girl who was murdered in a school bathroom by a soldier during World War II, others say she committed suicide in the school bathroom by killing herself. hanging with a rope.
When you call Hanako-San , she may respond by saying "Yes" or "No". If she answers "Yes", she will come out of the toilet and attack you. If she answers "No", she won't come out, but some say she can still haunt and curse you.
Many Japanese children believe in this urban legend and are afraid to enter the school bathroom. Some parents and teachers have even tried to dispel the legend to prevent children from being frightened, however, the legend continues to be passed down from generation to generation and has become an important part of Japanese popular culture >.
THE LEGEND OF TSUCHINOKO
According to legend, the Tsuchinoko is a very venomous creature and considered a dangerous monster. It is often described as having a reddish or orange color, as well as bright yellow eyes. Its physical peculiarity is its ability to inflate, so that it becomes wider than its normal length, this peculiarity allows it to move faster and to better defend itself against predators.
The Tsuchinoko is known for its skill at hiding and camouflage, making it difficult to spot, however, if captured it is said to be able to speak and even predict the future. According to some stories, the Tsuchinoko can move on two legs, which makes it even scarier.
The legend of Tsuchinoko is very popular in Japan, particularly in the Kansai region, where it is often associated with local culture. It is sometimes considered a mystical creature that brings good fortune to those who capture one, however, those who harm or kill a Tsuchinoko may suffer a curse.
Due to its unique appearance and rarity, the Tsuchinoko has become a prime target for monster hunters and cryptozoology researchers. Although there is no concrete proof of the existence of Tsuchinoko, this has not stopped many researchers and explorers from attempting to capture this legendary creature.
THE LEGEND OF TEKE TEKE
The legend of Teke Teke is a very popular horror story in Japan. According to legend, a young girl named Kashima Reiko was cut in half by a train while trying to pick up her cell phone from the tracks. After her death, she was transformed into a vengeful spirit called Teke Teke.
Kashima Reiko's spirit appears as a woman who crawls on her arms, using her hands to pull her mutilated body behind her. She is usually depicted as wearing a schoolgirl skirt and a surgical mask over her face.
Teke Teke wanders the streets late at night and preys on those in his path. It is said that if she catches you she will cut you in half like she was, rumors claim that if you hear the sound of her nails scraping the ground behind you it is already too late and she is already on your heels.
There are different versions of this urban legend, but all of them have in common that it is extremely difficult to escape from Teke Teke. The Japanese have created films and manga about this legend which has become one of the country's most famous horror stories .
THE LEGEND OF THE ELEVATOR TO HELL
The legend of the elevator to hell is one of the most popular urban legends in Japan . According to this legend, if you enter an elevator alone and press the buttons in a specific order, the elevator will take you straight to hell.
The sequence of buttons to press varies between versions of the legend, but often includes pressing the basement button followed by a specific floor number. Once the sequence of buttons is pressed, the elevator will take the user to a spooky, unfamiliar floor where they might encounter ghosts or evil spirits.
There have been many stories of people who have tried this legend and experienced paranormal events or mysteriously disappeared. Although this may seem like a simple urban legend, it was enough to scare many people in Japan.
We come to the end of this article, to conclude, we can say that Japanese urban legends have an important place in Japanese popular culture and fascinate many people around the world. These scary stories are often used to warn children of potential dangers or to encourage healthy lifestyle habits. Japanese urban legends vary greatly, but they all share one common aspect: they are capable of instilling fear and anxiety in listeners. They also remind us that beliefs and superstitions are an integral part of our society, even in the modern era. If you have the opportunity to visit Japan, you may be able to hear stories of local urban legends first-hand, in the meantime, you can delve into the fascinating stories of these legendary creatures and immerse yourself in the unique culture of Japan.
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