- 3 Apr 2024
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- 292
Spill!What is your favorite Japanese urban legend?
- Thread starter MarieCherry
- Start date
Spill!
- 21 May 2003
- 14,310
- 4,404
In the American legend of Superman , an old couple find a baby in a rocket ship and raise him. In the Japanese story "Momotaro" , the old couple find a big peach with a baby inside.
Achilles 1-1
Destined Among Shadows: The Indama Chronicles.
- 21 Aug 2024
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- 589
Kuchisake-onna!
- 18 Jan 2005
- 11,682
- 3,643
The legend of "Kisaragi Station" is a well-known Japanese internet urban legend that first appeared on the forum 2channel (2ch) in 2004.
It began with a series of real-time posts by a user named "Hasumi," who claimed to have boarded a train late at night in Shizuoka Prefecture. After several stops, she noticed that the train had not stopped for an unusually long time. Finally, it arrived at an unfamiliar station called Kisaragi (鬼隠し駅 / "the station of being hidden by spirits")—a place that did not appear on any maps.
Hasumi described the eerie atmosphere: the platform was deserted, no station staff were present, and the station nameplate simply read "Kisaragi." She tried to contact friends and family by phone, but signals became weak, and her calls were confusing and fragmented. Some forum users advised her to leave the station, while others warned her to stay.
Hasumi reported hearing distant drums and bells, suggesting a festival or ritual taking place nearby. She eventually decided to walk along the tracks to escape, but her messages became increasingly disjointed and unsettling. In her final posts, she mentioned being approached by a strange old man and later getting into a stranger's car. After that, she was never heard from again.
Since then, Kisaragi Station has become one of Japan's most famous internet ghost stories. Many theories exist—some say it is a glitch in reality, others believe it is a ghostly realm or a parallel world. Despite its fictional origin, people still claim to search for Kisaragi Station, adding to its mystique.
It began with a series of real-time posts by a user named "Hasumi," who claimed to have boarded a train late at night in Shizuoka Prefecture. After several stops, she noticed that the train had not stopped for an unusually long time. Finally, it arrived at an unfamiliar station called Kisaragi (鬼隠し駅 / "the station of being hidden by spirits")—a place that did not appear on any maps.
Hasumi described the eerie atmosphere: the platform was deserted, no station staff were present, and the station nameplate simply read "Kisaragi." She tried to contact friends and family by phone, but signals became weak, and her calls were confusing and fragmented. Some forum users advised her to leave the station, while others warned her to stay.
Hasumi reported hearing distant drums and bells, suggesting a festival or ritual taking place nearby. She eventually decided to walk along the tracks to escape, but her messages became increasingly disjointed and unsettling. In her final posts, she mentioned being approached by a strange old man and later getting into a stranger's car. After that, she was never heard from again.
Since then, Kisaragi Station has become one of Japan's most famous internet ghost stories. Many theories exist—some say it is a glitch in reality, others believe it is a ghostly realm or a parallel world. Despite its fictional origin, people still claim to search for Kisaragi Station, adding to its mystique.
- 18 Jan 2005
- 11,682
- 3,643
The Urban Legend of Hasshaku-sama
Hasshaku-sama is one of Japan's most chilling modern urban legends. Her name literally means "Eight Shaku Lady"—a reference to her unnaturally tall height of about 2.4 meters (eight shaku).
Appearance
She usually appears as a tall woman dressed in a white dress, with long black or sometimes white hair. At first glance she may look beautiful, but her presence is deeply unsettling.
The Voice
The most terrifying trait of Hasshaku-sama is her eerie voice. Witnesses hear her calling with a strange laugh-like sound:
"Po… po… po…"
Anyone who hears this is marked as her target.
The Legend
The most famous tale tells of a young man who went to visit his grandparents in the countryside. While walking in the yard, he suddenly heard the strange "po… po… po…" and saw a tall woman towering above a fence.
When he told his grandfather, the old man turned pale. Hasshaku-sama had appeared. The villagers quickly prepared a ritual of protection with the help of priests and charms, instructing the young man to stay in a sealed room overnight.
That night, the "po… po… po…" grew louder. The sound circled the house, and at one point the woman's hand even rattled the window. Somehow, thanks to the protective rituals, he survived until morning.
The next day, his family rushed him out of the village and warned him never to return. Hasshaku-sama never forgives once she chooses her victim.
Characteristics
She mostly haunts rural areas.
She often targets young men.
Once you see her, escape is nearly impossible unless you leave the area forever.
Hasshaku-sama has since become a modern horror icon in Japan, often compared to legends like the Slit-Mouthed Woman or Teke Teke.
Hasshaku-sama is one of Japan's most chilling modern urban legends. Her name literally means "Eight Shaku Lady"—a reference to her unnaturally tall height of about 2.4 meters (eight shaku).
Appearance
She usually appears as a tall woman dressed in a white dress, with long black or sometimes white hair. At first glance she may look beautiful, but her presence is deeply unsettling.
The Voice
The most terrifying trait of Hasshaku-sama is her eerie voice. Witnesses hear her calling with a strange laugh-like sound:
"Po… po… po…"
Anyone who hears this is marked as her target.
The Legend
The most famous tale tells of a young man who went to visit his grandparents in the countryside. While walking in the yard, he suddenly heard the strange "po… po… po…" and saw a tall woman towering above a fence.
When he told his grandfather, the old man turned pale. Hasshaku-sama had appeared. The villagers quickly prepared a ritual of protection with the help of priests and charms, instructing the young man to stay in a sealed room overnight.
That night, the "po… po… po…" grew louder. The sound circled the house, and at one point the woman's hand even rattled the window. Somehow, thanks to the protective rituals, he survived until morning.
The next day, his family rushed him out of the village and warned him never to return. Hasshaku-sama never forgives once she chooses her victim.
Characteristics
She mostly haunts rural areas.
She often targets young men.
Once you see her, escape is nearly impossible unless you leave the area forever.
Hasshaku-sama has since become a modern horror icon in Japan, often compared to legends like the Slit-Mouthed Woman or Teke Teke.
Last edited:
Ukigumo
後輩
- 15 Mar 2025
- 1,383
- 2,690
Hanakō san (トイレの花子 (はなこ)さん) Deserted, after hours schools, tend to be pretty creepy so I can see the appeal of this one.
I can heartily recommend these books if you like this kind of thing.
I can heartily recommend these books if you like this kind of thing.
Achilles 1-1
Destined Among Shadows: The Indama Chronicles.
- 21 Aug 2024
- 1,041
- 589
Teke Teke, or Kashima Reiko, is a vengeful spirit who died after her legs were severed by a train.
Because she has no legs, she drags her self with her arms, or sometimes propped up on her elbows. Allegedly, after an individual learns of her story, they have one month left, unless, they spread her story to someone else. (Cough, Sadako Yamamura much? Cough) Kashima Reiko is said to haunt bathroom stalls, asking individuals where her legs are. An unsatisfactory answer! Congratulations, you get to enjoy the experienced of being wrapped in half. Telling her that her legs are on the Meishin Expressway, or saying the phrase "Kamen shinin ma" will typically result in survival.
Because she has no legs, she drags her self with her arms, or sometimes propped up on her elbows. Allegedly, after an individual learns of her story, they have one month left, unless, they spread her story to someone else. (Cough, Sadako Yamamura much? Cough) Kashima Reiko is said to haunt bathroom stalls, asking individuals where her legs are. An unsatisfactory answer! Congratulations, you get to enjoy the experienced of being wrapped in half. Telling her that her legs are on the Meishin Expressway, or saying the phrase "Kamen shinin ma" will typically result in survival.
- 18 Jan 2005
- 11,682
- 3,643
There are several urban legends surrounding mobile phones in Japan. When mobile phones began to become popular in the late 1990s and 2000s, many ghost stories and mysterious tales were born. Here are some of the most well-known ones.
1. Calls from the Dead
One of the most famous legends is that of receiving a phone call from someone who has passed away.
For example, after a funeral, a mobile phone might ring, and the display shows the name of the deceased. If the call is answered, a distorted or ghostly voice may whisper things like "It's cold" or "I want to go home."
This legend presents mobile phones as a bridge between the living and the dead, making it particularly eerie.
2. Ringing in "No Signal" Areas
Another popular story involves phones ringing in places where there should be no reception, such as deep in the mountains, in abandoned buildings, or inside tunnels.
When answered, the call may transmit strange noises or a child's voice before abruptly ending. Some versions claim that the ringing indicates the presence of spirits or supernatural entities at that location.
3. Numbers You Should Never Call
There are legends about phone numbers that are cursed or dangerous to dial.
For example, numbers with many "4"s (because in Japan, the number 4 is associated with death) are rumored to bring misfortune or even death if called.
This idea spread widely through chain emails and word of mouth, creating fear around certain sequences of digits.
4. Unknown Calls in the Middle of the Night
Another common urban legend involves receiving calls from unknown numbers late at night, often around midnight or 3 a.m.
When answered, there is silence, followed by strange malfunctions like the clock resetting, the camera turning on by itself, or other odd phone behaviors. In modern variations, the phone screen might even display a mysterious face.
5. Email and Social Media Ghost Stories
With the rise of smartphones and social media, new legends emerged.
These include receiving messages from deceased friends on LINE or other apps, seeing messages marked as "read" with no one having sent them, or mysterious photos appearing in one's gallery.
These stories adapt traditional ghost story motifs to modern technology, showing how the supernatural can intersect with our digital lives.
Overall, Japanese mobile phone urban legends often explore themes of communication with the unseen world and the uncanny side of technology, blending traditional ghost stories with modern fears.
1. Calls from the Dead
One of the most famous legends is that of receiving a phone call from someone who has passed away.
For example, after a funeral, a mobile phone might ring, and the display shows the name of the deceased. If the call is answered, a distorted or ghostly voice may whisper things like "It's cold" or "I want to go home."
This legend presents mobile phones as a bridge between the living and the dead, making it particularly eerie.
2. Ringing in "No Signal" Areas
Another popular story involves phones ringing in places where there should be no reception, such as deep in the mountains, in abandoned buildings, or inside tunnels.
When answered, the call may transmit strange noises or a child's voice before abruptly ending. Some versions claim that the ringing indicates the presence of spirits or supernatural entities at that location.
3. Numbers You Should Never Call
There are legends about phone numbers that are cursed or dangerous to dial.
For example, numbers with many "4"s (because in Japan, the number 4 is associated with death) are rumored to bring misfortune or even death if called.
This idea spread widely through chain emails and word of mouth, creating fear around certain sequences of digits.
4. Unknown Calls in the Middle of the Night
Another common urban legend involves receiving calls from unknown numbers late at night, often around midnight or 3 a.m.
When answered, there is silence, followed by strange malfunctions like the clock resetting, the camera turning on by itself, or other odd phone behaviors. In modern variations, the phone screen might even display a mysterious face.
5. Email and Social Media Ghost Stories
With the rise of smartphones and social media, new legends emerged.
These include receiving messages from deceased friends on LINE or other apps, seeing messages marked as "read" with no one having sent them, or mysterious photos appearing in one's gallery.
These stories adapt traditional ghost story motifs to modern technology, showing how the supernatural can intersect with our digital lives.
Overall, Japanese mobile phone urban legends often explore themes of communication with the unseen world and the uncanny side of technology, blending traditional ghost stories with modern fears.
