In Japanese stories, ghosts often have long, black hair that covers their faces. They usually wear white kimonos, which gives them a spooky appearance. For example, the Onryo is a type of vengeful ghost that is often associated with wronged women.
Ghosts in Japanese stories can possess various powers. Some can pass through walls or objects, just like they are not bound by the physical laws. They may also cause misfortunes to the living. Take the Yurei as an instance. It is a common type of ghost in Japanese folklore and is known for its ability to haunt people and places.
Many Japanese ghosts are linked to specific emotions or events. For instance, a person who died with a strong sense of revenge might come back as a ghost. These ghosts are often depicted as being very pale, with a cold and eerie presence. Their appearance and behavior are designed to evoke fear and a sense of the supernatural in the audience.
Many of them have a distinct appearance. Take 'Kuchisake - Onna' for instance. She has a slit - mouthed face which is very creepy. And they usually are associated with a certain place, like Okiku's ghost with the well.
They usually have cute and unique designs with big eyes and funny expressions.
One popular Japanese ghost story is 'Yuki - Onna', the Snow Woman. She is often depicted as a beautiful woman in white who appears in snowy landscapes. Legend has it that she might freeze people to death. Another is 'Kuchisake - Onna', the Slit - Mouthed Woman. She wears a surgical mask and asks people if they think she is pretty. If you answer no, she'll harm you.
The Teke - Teke is another famous Japanese ghost story. It is said to be a girl who was cut in half by a train and now she crawls around on her elbows. While these stories are spooky and have been passed down for generations, they are part of Japanese cultural heritage. But realistically, we should view them as fictional stories created to evoke emotions such as fear and mystery rather than actual events.
In Japanese stories, there is a strong sense of ritual and superstition related to ghosts. For example, there are certain ways to appease them or prevent their hauntings. In Western stories, while there are some superstitions, they are not as deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric as in Japanese stories. Moreover, Japanese ghosts often carry a sense of melancholy and sadness, which is not always as prominent in Western ghost stories.
Kind ghosts in stories are often helpful. For example, they may guide lost souls to safety or give warnings to people in danger. They usually don't have malicious intentions like scaring people for fun.
Well, some of the ghosts are vengeful. For example, the Hammer ghost was wronged during his life and now he seeks revenge on those who did him harm. He has a very aggressive nature. Then there are the more sorrowful ones like the Bound Woman. She was trapped in a bad situation in life and her ghost form shows her as a figure bound by the chains of her past, always looking sad and lost.
In the '2018 ghost stories', the ghosts may possess a sense of malevolence. They could be the source of unexplained noises like moaning or wailing in the dead of night. Some ghosts might be visible only to certain people, perhaps those who are more sensitive to the supernatural. They could also have the ability to create an atmosphere of dread and fear, making the hairs on the back of people's necks stand up just by their presence.
Ghosts in good stories are sometimes benevolent. They could be there to protect a place or a person. Like the ghost of an old caretaker who still looks after a building long after he has passed away. He might fix things that are broken or warn people of danger. Also, they are often associated with a certain place or event from the past, and their appearance is a reminder of that history.