We all know the legends of Bloody Mary, Slender Man, or the phantom hitchhiker. But beyond these Western tales, other civilizations also have their own, no less frightening stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. Among them, the Japanese have a rather pronounced taste for mystery and the supernatural.
#7 Room 404, the cursed number
In Japan, the number 4 is pronounced shi, a polysemous word that also means "death." For this reason, many building owners avoid using the number 404. The fact is that the rooms that have been named thus have been the subject of reports associated with very strange phenomena.
Guests have reported strange noises, motionless figures at the foot of the bed, doors that slam by themselves, or mirrors that break for no reason. Some have even reportedly woken up with marks on their bodies.
#6 Tomino no Jigoku, the forbidden poem
Tomino no Jigoku can be translated as "Tomino's Hell". Written by Sayjo Yaso in 1919, the poem tells of a young boy named Tomino's journey through the circles of hell, in an inexorable descent into suffering. The words he uses are heavy, violent, and deeply melancholic.
But what's most terrifying is the belief that reading this poem aloud brings about a curse. Several Internet users report having been struck by accidents, illnesses, or nightmares after reading it aloud. The poem is available online.
#5 The Ring, the cursed cassette
The film The Ring was actually inspired by a Japanese urban legend according to which a cursed video cassette would cause the death of anyone who watched it. After the screening, the victim would receive a silent phone call announcing their death in 7 days.
The legend dates back to the VHS era. The video reportedly contains blurry images, a woman with long black hair, and strange sounds. Later, this style would become the signature of the film The Ring.
With time and the evolution of technology, the legend has survived by taking new forms. For example, some today speak of cursed YouTube links or videos on the dark web.
#4 Aka Manto, the man in the red coat
What would you say if you suddenly found yourself facing a masked, elegant man wearing a red coat in the restroom and he asked you: "Do you want red or blue paper?"?
This man has a name among the Japanese: Aka Manto! He particularly targets adults. If you say "red," you will be hacked to death with a blade and your blood will spurt out like a cape. If you answer "blue," then you will be suffocated until you turn blue. Trying to say another color or refusing to answer wouldn't change anything, as it will still kill you.
However, some say you should answer with "I don't want anything" or run away as soon as you hear the question.
#3 Hanako-san, the girl who haunts the toilets
Hanako-san is said to have been a young girl who died in a bombing raid during World War II, in tragic circumstances. Other versions claim that she was killed or pushed by her own classmates.
And since then, her spirit is said to haunt the restrooms of Japanese schools, more specifically the third toilet on the third floor. To make her appear, you simply knock on the door three times and ask: "Hanako-san, are you there"?
A timid voice will answer "Yes...." And if you ever open the door, a bloodied young girl will drag you into the restroom, never to come out again.
#2 Teke Teke, the spirit of the girl cut in two
Teke Teke is said to be the ghost of a schoolgirl who was cut in two by a train after falling onto the tracks. Its origins come from the noise it makes dragging itself along the ground with its elbows: Teke... Teke...
Deprived of its legs, it wanders through tunnels, train stations, and even residential areas at night. But despite its condition, it moves very quickly and can quickly catch up with you. If it catches you, it will cut you in two with a scythe to condemn you to the same fate.
#1 Kushisake-onna, the woman with the melting mouth
Kushisake-onna literally means "the woman with the melting mouth". She is undoubtedly one of the most terrifying figures in Japanese urban folklore. There was a time, in fact, when schools in Japan organized escorts to escort students home because of this belief.
Kushisake-onna is said to be the vengeful spirit of a woman who was once beautiful, but whose face was horribly mutilated. It is said that this was the work of her husband, jealous of her beauty.
Since then, she prowls the night wearing a mask. She approaches passersby and asks them "Am I beautiful?" A positive answer is not enough to calm her. She then removes her mask and reveals a grotesque, gaping, bloody German. She then asks you the same question. If you answer "No," she kills you. If you say "Yes," she mutilates you to make you as "beautiful" as she is.
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