An urban legend is a modern folk tale or myth that is widely circulated and often presented as true, though it usually lacks factual evidence. These stories often involve sensational or frightening elements and are typically spread through word of mouth, social media, or email. Urban legends often reflect societal fears, cultural anxieties, or moral lessons, and they can vary in their level of plausibility. Here are top 6 urban legends of Japan for you.

Aka Manto

“Aka Manto” (also known as “Red Cape” or “Red Cloak“) is a popular urban legend in japan. The story typically involves a ghostly figure who appears in public restrooms, particularly in women’s bathrooms. The figure is said to be wearing a red cape or cloak and may ask the victim a question, often related to their choice of toilet paper color-red or blue. If, the person chooses red paper, Aka Manto will wrap them up in his red cape and cut them open, spilling blood everywhere. If the person chooses blue paper, he will suffocate them until their face turns blue. Some versions of the legend suggest that he may offer other colors of paper or even a gold cape, but no matter what the person chooses, they will meet a gruesome end.

The origin of the “Manto” is unclear, but it popularized in the 1930s or 1940s. Some say that he was a vengeful spirit who was killed by villagers, while others say that he was a samurai or a soldier who committed suicide. This charceter has been a subject of many horror movies, manga and anime.

Be cautious while choosing your color this time!

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Teke Teke

“Teke Teke” is a vengeful spirit. It is believed to have been popularized in the 1930s or 1940s. Legend states that she catches someone, she will cut them in half with a knife or sword, just like what happened to her. It is said that she was a witch who used to sacrifice the children for personal gain when villagers came to know about it they cut her from middle. Some say that she was bullied and now looking for revenge against them, another popular belief is that she is simply seeking company in her lonely, ghostly existence.

She has been the subject of many horror movies, manga, and anime. She is usually depicted as the upper half for a girl with long black hair, dragging herself along the ground with her hands. Her name comes from the sound she makes as she drags herself along, which sounds like “teke teke.”

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Kuchisake-Onna

Kuchisake-Onna, also known as the Slit-Mouthed Women got popular in 1970s. Kuchisake-Onna is a woman who wears a surgical mask to cover her face. She is said to approach people on the street and ask them if they think she is beautiful or not. If, the person answers yes, Kuchisake-Onna will remove her mask to reveal a grotesque, mutilated mouth that stretches from ear to ear. She will then ask the person again if they think she is beautiful. If the person answers no or screams in terror, Kuchisake will attack them with a pair of scissors or a large knife.

This story has several versions, but most version agree that Kuchisake was originally a beautiful woman who was disfigured by her jealous husband or a vengeful spirit. Some versions of the legend her beauty mesmerized a samurai when he asked her to get marry she refused and in return he cut her face.

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Okiku

This story is related to Hokkaido, When a girl named Eikichi Suzuki purchased a doll for his young sister, Kikuko, a traditional Japanese style doll. Unfoutunaetly, Kikuko died from cold, and the family kept the doll in a wardrobe in memory of her daughter and named it Okiku. Primarily, she was unnoticed but got attention when family noticed something weird about the doll over time-its hair was getting longer. Creepy right?

The family believed that the doll possessed the restless spirit of their deceased daughter and also looked after it until entrusting it in the care of Mannen-ji Temple. Where the growth of her did not stop. After even trimming its hair the doll’s hair has grown past its knees. The priests claim to have nightmares of Okiku and visitors say the doll’s mouth is slowly opening-and sprouting baby teeth.

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The cursed poem

Tomino’s Hell is a famed poem by Yaso Saijo. Written in 1919 after Saijo lost his family during World War 1, the verse tells the story of a child who descends into hell and includes frightening and disturbing imagery.

The beginning reads:

Elder sister vomited blood, younger sister vomited fire and the cute Tomino vomited glass beads. Tomino fell into Hell alone,.

Although Saijo left interpretation to the reader, It’s believed to be about a child who murdered their parents. In the poem, Tomino descends to the lowest levels of Buddhist hell, reserved for those who murder their parents. Others interpret the poem as about war or child abuse. Irrespective of its true meaning, people have claimed the poem causes headaches, illness and even death if the complete poem is read aloud. A movie named Tomino’s Hell, released in 1974 is based on this. The director later died due to liver disease, sparking rumors about the poem.

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The Red Room

It became popular in the internet’s dark corners after an 11-year-old girl in Sasebo, Nagasaki, stabbed her classmate to death at school. The killer was a fan of the Red Room animation.

The curse starts with a pop-up on a victim’s computer screen when alone in a room. It has a red background with black letters asking, Do you like -? (In Japanese) As the victim frantically tries to close the pop-up , more words appear until it reads: Do you like the red room?

The entire screen becomes red, and a list of past victims appears. Whether something supernatural comer or the victim is compelled to do the deed themselves is unknown. Regardless, they are killed, and their blood covers the walls of the room. Hence the “red room” curse.

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