8 Creepy Japanese Urban Legends

1.

Kuchisake-onna: Her name means "Slit-Mouthed Woman," and you'll know her by the surgical mask and trench coat she wears. Legends have it that she appears in front of children who are walking alone at night and asks, "Am I pretty?" If the child answers, "No," she will kill them with the scissors in her pocket. If the child answers, "Yes," she will take off her mask and ask, "How about now?" If the child says "No," she'll cut them in half. If the child answers, "Yes," she'll cut the child's mouth to look like hers. If you see her, you cannot run away or hide: She'll appear in front of you until you answer her questions.

2.

Tomino's Hell: It is rumored that whomever reads this poem aloud will will be killed (or possibly just get diarrhea). The poem is about Tomino, who dies and falls into hell. It is part of Saizo Yaso's 27th collection of poems, published in 1919.

3.

Teke Teke: The ghost a woman who was cut in half by a train now crawls on her hands and elbows. Her movement makes a scratching "take take" sound. She carries a scythe, and if someone doesn't run away fast enough (she moves surprisingly fast), she'll cut them in half to make them like her.

4.

The Red Room Curse: A pop-up will appear on a person's computer with an image of a simple red room. A recorded voice will ask, "Do you like--" and--if closed--the pop-up will continue to reopen until the voice completes its question: "Do you like the red room?" Those who see this pop-up, will soon be found dead, their walls and door painted red with their own blood.

5.

Aka Manto: A dead, masked man haunts the last stall in women's bathrooms. If a woman goes in alone, he might ask her if she prefers red paper or blue paper. The answer "red" will result in his killing her violently and drenching her in blood. The answer "blue paper" will result in his strangling or blood-letting her body so that her face turns blue. If she asks for a different color, his hands will reach from the toilet and drag her to hell. The only way to avoid death is to refuse his offers.

6.

Kunekune: A ghostly apparition that looks like a slender, paper mannequin will appear in fields or another empty, rural location. It will wiggle while anyone looks at it, and anyone who approaches it will go mad and die if they touch it. Slenderman may be based upon this story.

7.

Hitobashira (Human Pillars): In ancient Japan it was believed that sealing humans within the foundations of structures pleased the gods, who fortified those structures to last longer. It is believed that the ghosts of people within the pillars and walls of ancient buildings haunt those grounds upon which they were trapped.

8.

Gozu (Ox-head): There is legend of a story called "Cow Head" that will make the hearer die from fear or go mad. If you somehow find and realize you're reading the tale, you should stop and destroy it.