Can you share some obscure Japanese ghost stories?
The Teke - Teke is another. It's the story of a girl who was cut in half on the railroad tracks. Now she haunts railway crossings. She drags herself around with her hands, making a 'teke - teke' sound as her upper body moves along the ground. If you see her and run, she'll chase you at an incredibly fast speed.
One obscure Japanese ghost story is about the Kuchisake - Onna. She is a female ghost with a slit mouth. Legend has it that she was a vain woman, and her jealous husband cut her mouth from ear to ear. Now she wanders, wearing a mask, and asks people if they think she is beautiful. If they answer no, she kills them. If they answer yes, she removes her mask and asks again, and if they are horrified, she kills them.
What are the origins of some obscure Japanese ghost stories?
Many of the obscure Japanese ghost stories have their roots in Japanese folklore and superstitions. For example, the story of the Kuchisake - Onna might have originated from the fear of vanity and the consequences of excessive pride. In traditional Japanese society, there were strict norms about appearance and behavior, and this story could be a cautionary tale about those. The Teke - Teke story may be related to the fear of railway accidents, which were quite dangerous in the past. The Aka - Manto's origin could be related to the mystery and fear associated with public toilets, which were often dark and spooky places in old Japan.
Can you share some obscure funny stories?
Sure. There was a man who thought his cat could predict the weather. Every time the cat sat by the window and stared outside for a long time, he believed it was going to rain. One day, the cat just stared outside all day. He took his umbrella everywhere. But it turned out the cat was just watching a bird that had made a nest nearby.
Can you share some real Japanese ghost stories?
There's also the story of Yuki -onna, the Snow Woman. She is often depicted as a beautiful woman in white who appears in snowstorms. If a man encounters her and she spares his life, he must promise not to tell anyone about her. But if he breaks that promise, she will come back and take his life. This story is often used to warn people about the dangers of the snowy mountains and also about keeping one's word.
Can you share some famous Japanese school ghost stories?
The Hanako - San story is quite well - known. It's about a girl named Hanako who haunts school bathrooms. Kids would often dare each other to call out her name three times in the bathroom. Another is the story of the Teke - Teke, a girl who was cut in half by a train and now haunts railway tracks near schools.
Can you share some Japanese real life ghost stories?
One famous Japanese real - life ghost story is about the Aokigahara Forest. It's known as the 'Suicide Forest'. People say that there are strange apparitions there. Many who have entered the forest claim to have felt an overwhelming sense of dread and some say they've seen shadowy figures. It's believed that the spirits of those who died there linger.
Can you share some obscure funny short stories?
Sure. Here's one. A man went to the doctor and said, 'Doctor, I keep thinking I'm a deck of cards.' The doctor replied, 'I'll deal with you later.'
Can you share the scariest Japanese urban ghost stories?
The story of Teke - Teke is also very frightening. A girl cut in half by a train, dragging herself around making that eerie 'teke - teke' noise. It gives you the chills especially when you think about being near railway tracks at night and suddenly hearing that sound. It plays on the fear of unexpected and grotesque apparitions.
True Scary Japanese Ghost Stories: Can You Share Some Examples?
One well - known story is about Okiku. She was a maid who was falsely accused of breaking a plate, and in her despair, she threw herself into a well. After that, people heard the sound of plates being counted at night, always stopping at nine, which was the number of the plate she was accused of breaking. Another is the story of the Kuchisake - Onna, the slit - mouthed woman. She is said to have a large slit from ear to ear on her face and asks people if they think she's pretty. If you answer 'yes', she'll slit your face to make it like hers. If you answer 'no', she'll kill you.
Can you share some unique elements in Japanese legend ghost stories?
One unique element is the way the ghosts interact with humans. In some stories, ghosts can possess humans, like in some tales where a vengeful spirit takes over a person's body to carry out their revenge. There's also a strong sense of fate and karma in these stories. If someone has done wrong in the past, they are more likely to encounter a ghost or be haunted. This is different from some Western ghost stories where the focus might be more on the ghost as a separate entity rather than being linked to the human's actions in such a way.
Can you share different types of Japanese samurai ghost stories?
Sure. There are revenge - based stories. A samurai who was killed by his enemy might come back as a ghost to seek vengeance. Another type is the protective ghost story. Like the spirit of a samurai guarding his old family estate or the place he once served.