Japanese urban legends

As in all countries, Japan has many urban legends that run in schools or in the conversations of teenagers. Some are very old, others more contemporary but they continue to intrigue or frighten with their vengeful spirits or haunted places.

Kuchisake-onna (口裂け女), the woman with the split mouth

Legend has it that a woman walks the streets with a surgical mask that hides half of her face. She then approaches a passer-by asking him: “Am I beautiful? (わたしきれい? watashi kirei?). If the person answers no, it is killed on the spot. However, if she answers yes, the young woman removes her mask revealing a mouth split up to the ears and then asks again: “Even like that? ". If the person answers no, he is killed on the spot. If she answers yes, she takes him to her house, then kills him afterwards (according to some legends, she can also give a blood ruby ​​and leave the person alive and if it is a woman, disfigure her so that she becomes turn a kuchisake-onna). In any case, the person who crosses the young woman cannot survive, according to the myth, because she runs faster than a human. However, in recent years, some solutions have been found to escape him: answering questions with a "You're average" or "Too-too" (まあ まあ, maa maa). This urban legend is inspired by a story, dating from the Heian or Edo era, of a young woman married to a samurai. She was so beautiful that a large number of men wanted her. She ends up cheating on her husband. Full of rage, he took his saber to cut her mouth to the ears and would have said "Who will find you beautiful now? ".

Aokigahara, the forest of suicides at the foot of Mount Fuji

Aokigahara or also Jukai (青木ヶ原 literally "the sea of ​​trees") is a forest spread over 35 km² known for the many suicides that take place there every year. It is renowned for its calm and especially for the ease with which it is easy to get lost, as its vegetation is so dense. The legend explains that no one entering the forest comes out, some places not letting in daylight. Several visitors to the site have seen bits of clothing, food or nooses hanging from the trees. Others have even seen corpses. In short… it would be the most haunted place in Japan.

Inunaki village, the lost city

Apparently located in Fukuoka prefecture, this village has a reputation for being a place out of time, where Japanese laws do not apply. Thus, certain practices such as cannibalism, incest or killings and murders are commonplace. A large sign indicates these rules at the entrance to the place, which would be very difficult, if not impossible, to find. According to legend, visitors to this village would not have returned from their visit. Historically, the city was the main supplier of coal during World War II, but once the war was over, it lost some of its splendour. The Japanese government then decided to build a dam, forcing the inhabitants to leave for other cities. This village would therefore have suffered from urbanization and most of its inhabitants also had to leave it to find work. Rumors also tell that no electrical device works in this cursed place.

O-Kiku Ningyou

It's the story of a 3-year-old girl who has a doll that she really cares about. Unfortunately, the little girl dies of an illness and her parents decide to entrust the doll to a monastery. The monks, some time later, notice that her hair has grown. Surprised, they ask to analyze them and discover that they are human hair. One of the monks then cuts them off and a few days later they grow back again. Legend has it that the soul of the little girl is still locked in the doll and that every year a ceremony is held in her honor during which her hair is cut.

Kiyotaki Tunnel

Located not far from Kyoto, this place is also said to be one of the most haunted places in Japan. This tunnel, built in 1927 to connect Arashiyama to Sagakiyotaki, would have been built by workers in very difficult conditions, close to slavery. Many of them would have died in excruciating pain due to accidents or inhumane treatment. As a result, the place would be the refuge of many ghosts and spirits. The tunnel is also 444 meters long, an evil number in Japan because its pronunciation is similar to the word "death". Rumors advise to avoid the tunnel at night or risk feeling nausea and headaches, or even fainting. It would also be possible to hear the cry of a lady echoing not far from the tunnel and to see, while crossing it, a woman dressed in white running and jumping on cars.

Aka mento

Legend has it that a spirit would kill people in public toilets in schools or towns. When a person walks in, they would have two different colored rolls of paper, one red and the other blue. The spirit then asks, “Do you want a red cape or a blue cape? ". If the person answers red, he dies killed and dismembered. If she responds blue, she dies by strangulation. In short, no way to escape. Well, almost, since the contemporary version adds two solutions: answer him "I don't need paper" or ask for another color.