4 Japanese Urban Legends

4 Japanese Urban Legends – I chose this topic because I thought it was interesting

Hanako Myth

Japan has its own Bloody Mary urban legend. Toire no Hanako-san, or Hanako of the toilet. If the brave (or stupid) enters a restroom on the third floor, knock on the third stall three times and ask, “Hanako, are you there?”, you may get a reply.

The door will slowly creak open to reveal little Hanako in a red skirt. Her hair is done up in a traditional-styled bun. Then she grabs her victim and drags them into the toilet, never to be seen again.

In other versions, Hanako will ask children if they need a friend. Regardless of their answer, Hanako will drag the children under the stall and to their doom.

Hanako’s origins are unclear, although Matthew Myers says her story is as recent as the 1950s. Most people say she is the ghost of a child who hid in her school’s bathroom and died in a bombing raid during World War II.

It’s likely just another case of school bathrooms being a lot creepier than they have any right to be.

Aka Manto

Aka Manto meets victims when they are most vulnerable: on the toilet. He wears a white mask and a long red cape. There are many variations to the legend. He holds red and blue toilet paper in some stories, but he’s only in his cape in others. However, he always asks the victim to choose a color: red or blue?