Japan has a wealth of creepy ghost stories, but this one is particularly chilling. Today’s topic is Kuchisake-Onna, the Slit-Mouthed Woman. This ghost legend crosses over into the realm of urban legend and may have some basis in fact.
The original story of Kuchisake-Onna comes from the Heian period of Japan’s history, roughly 1200-800 years ago. A beautiful woman, either wife or concubine to a samurai, was extraordinarily vain. She cheated on the samurai. When he discovered her treachery, he slit open her mouth from ear to ear, giving her a Glasgow smile, and asked her, “Who will think you are beautiful now?”
While the original tale is clearly a cautionary story to remain faithful, the story takes a creepy turn when the ghost of the Kuchisake-Onna began appearing in Japan in the 1970s. The story goes that a woman would appear to people travelling alone at night. The woman wore a surgical mask, not terribly uncommon in Japan, and would ask if the traveler thought she was pretty (“Watashi kirei?“). If they said no, she would kill them immediately or at least slash their faces the same as hers, usually with a long pair of scissors.
If the hapless victim said yes, she would remove the mask and ask, “how about now?” (“Kore demo?“) revealing her bloody, gaping wounds. If the person said no at this second point, she would again kill them, slashing open their mouth. If, however, the person said yes again, they still would not be safe. She would follow them home and kill them on the threshold of their house. The only way to survive the encounter with this ghoulish creature is to answer yes the first time and “so-so” or “average” the second time, which caused the Kuchisake-Onna to pause and ponder the response, giving the victim a chance to escape. Without this distraction, the victim cannot escape the ghost as she simply reappears before them if they try to run.
As mentioned, the Kuchisake-Onna began making steady appearances in the 1970s, and in 1979 she was supposedly chasing children. Surprisingly enough, there is some basis for this. In 2007, a coroner found records that in the late 1970s there was a woman who chased children. She was struck by a car and killed while in the midst of such a chase, and she did have a torn mouth similar to the story. This woman was likely the cause of the panic in the late ’70s.
The legend, however, has not died. It resurfaced in the early 2000s, and is still prevalent today, though the means of escape is now telling the ghost you have a previous appointment to attend to, at which point she’ll excuse her poor manners and depart. The legend has even spread to South Korea, where she appears with a blood red face mask.
The story has been used as a basis for a number of manga and novels, as well as a series of J-horror films. The Kuchisake-Onna is often mixed with the yūrei, depicted with similar long black hair which conceals her horrible smile.
What are some good movies invovling a kuchisake onna?
Well, there’s actually a movie called Kuchisake-Onna, and it has a sequel and prequel. It came out in 1996. The first is sub-titled in English and called Slit-Mouthed Woman and can be found on Netflix. Another is Carved, which is also about the Kuchisake-Onna, but has a nifty twist where she jumps bodies. It came out in 2007 and is also on Netflix.
u dont have a life ……….go kill urself….do sth for humanity….
Thank u 😊
Omg after I read this someone started walking outside and knocked on my door. Opened it and I was a MAN with a mask who ask. ‘will you marry me’ in Japanese. I told him I didn’t know him. And he took of his mask to reveal a beautiful face. I must’ve passed out after that because I remember waking up by my front door with it slightly opened.
Suguhara No Ichina orichi(Japan) Icheol gan Saieol(Korea)
Umm what did you say?
carved
There is a movie called ‘Carved’ but I have never watched it
Ho-ly fuuuuuuuuuuuuccccccck
ooooooowwwwwwwwww you UGLY AND SKOODY
I love learning about urban legends, and the kuchisake-onna is probably one of the creepiest.
go to scaryforkids.com then……..
noire have you heard of la llarona a urban ledgend from elsalvador
all i can say my friend ivy is scared to go back to salva dor la llarona is REALLY creepy than kuchisake onna if u actually get into it im not joke
You should try look up article and such of hachishakusama. I swear to god… Any movement or sound I heard made me flinch or freezed like somebody was holding a gun to my head!
She is very pretty
I love Kuchisake Onna Movies: Carved The Slit Mouth Woman And Carved The Scissors Massacre Anime: Kuchisake Onna Denetsubu
Kuchisake Onna 👸: Watashi Kirei
Me👼:Yes
Kuchisake Onna👸: Kore Tawagoto Demo
are u dead?
scaryyyyyyyyyyyyyyy………i am incredibly in love with Scary urban legends and i’m always reading about them in the net………….you can learn about urban legends in the site scaryforkids.com
Why are you in a net?
You can buy a relatively cheap one or you buy one that
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to operate. Every time my parents will ask me if I brushed my teeth
before going to bed I would always say yes even if I didn’t.
Throughout that movie, they’re traveling from place to place, but is that really safe. fake ones. Who even knows if it will happen.
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nice
I thought: if they said no the first time, they’ll be killed with scissors… If they said ‘no’ the second time they’ll be cut in half. If they still answered ‘yes’ then she would slit their mouths like hers.
Are there any records relating to the autopsy or the 2004 case?
What if you pretend to speak a different language???????😲(
why u trying to be a smart ass?
i’ll slit ur mouth cunt
ti leei re o mankas?
dn me gamate kalytera….
But what if you say something like “True beauty comes from inside” ????
Considering that her curse comes from her vanity, I don’t think that would be a good idea…
Its a pretty cool urban legend but just the hole slender man and Jeff the killer side of it ruined it for me and the fact that people compare her to Jeff is annoying
Tbh, She is beautiful both ways.
Wow terifying
Horrible story… definitely not pretty at all
She’s pretty, but not when she opens her mouth
ikr!?!
Is it a true story?
it is true. I mean every story is the same it doesn’t change
CAN I MARRY HER???
…if she wants to.
What if you hug her?
Well it’s interesting. It’s also interesting how I look while reading this with a sh3t face.
I’d really just say; ” Give me a kiss, and we’ll see. ” if I was male. haha.
Does she only appears in Japan or in other countries???
Wat if we r wid our frnds will she appear ???
i believe in that there is the story of the la lorna it creepy
Perhaps you should do an article on the nothing woman (Mu-onna) next, if you haven’t already.
That’s a pretty cool story
I am from Japan but I moved to england 3 yrs ago… And I saw her, I gave her candy and then she was destracted , so I ran as fast as I could, she followed me home but I locked the door, window and I shut the blinds she asked “am I pretty”? I said,”your normal looking. She took off her mask and she said am I now? I said not a word, as I threw the candy. I was REALLY SCARED.
Oh my god.
looks creepy thankfully i don’t live in japan there are worse urban legends where i am from
Oh my god…How come?? She must day after being struck by a car!! Kuchisake onna is the worst
I meant dead*
Don’t kill yourself anyone
The story is cool and very interesting
wait, what if you flirt with her, or at least try anything romantic with her, no I’m not looking for her to date but to see if she would be confused or at least flattered, or how about how in when you try to scare her or creep her out, or maybe just redirect the question usually like “idk am i pretty? then ill answer your question”.
koochi
*laughs to sadness*
Any book sources about Kuchisake-Onna?
I think she’s really pretty both ways. 😊🩸❤️
One of my favorite legends
bro… this is just the most scariest story i have ever witnessed-
nah if i ever seen her i would say ”here look in a mirror and you’ll see..”
news candar
How to escape kushisaki-onna if u meet her?
suck my ass bitches