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This guy (or gal) is said to send people back to the correct time and space when they find themselves somewhere they shouldn’t be, but who exactly is he?

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This historical grave still stands today in the heart of Tokyo, but why has it never been moved? What happens when people try?

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Some legends claim this famous and beloved mascot has a horrifying truth hidden in her origins, but what’s really going on here?

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If you play this game you might suddenly find an extra person in your midst, but how did the idea for this game really come about, and what on earth does it actually summon?

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This mask is said to be one of the most dangerous masks in all existence, but what is it, where did it come from, and what will happen if you look upon it?

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This calendar was said to be so cursed that it was recalled en masse, never to be seen again. But did it really exist, and why was it cursed in the first place?

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This chain mail was all the rage in the early 2000s, but how did it come about, was there any truth to it, and how did it become the “standard” for many that followed?

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These days, kokeshi dolls have numerous urban legends associated with them, but how did this simple children’s toy garner such a dark and mysterious history?

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According to legend, this entire family was wiped out because of a bloody picture hidden in their house, but how much truth, if any, was there to this one?

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What is the true meaning behind this beloved nursery rhyme? Is there really a secret verse? And will she really come for you once you hear it?

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Be careful what you wish for. It’s said that words have power. What if urban legends have that same power? What if you created an urban legend, only to find out that it was real…

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A girl trapped in a school basement over the holidays. The janitor returns to find her corpse and nail marks on the back of the door from her attempts to escape. Did this really happen, and if so, where?

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He’s smaller than the length of a ruler and likes to hang around hidden from plain site. Who is the Tiny Old Man and where does he come from?

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Legend has it that an interesting secret lies in wait at Tsukuba University. In Japan’s final hour the very campus itself will transform into a giant robot to save the nation! Could such a thing really be possible?

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In a famous commercial for a consumer credit company, women dance around in skimpy clothing. Were they forced into it because they were in debt themselves? Was the commercial an example of what might happen if you too didn’t pay back your debts?

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A popular children’s song with a dark, hidden history. What’s the truth behind this game children still play today, and is it really as horrifying as it’s made out to be?

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One strikes at 3 o’clock. The other wears all purple. They both strike school toilets. What should you do if you run into one of these terrifying grannies?

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On April 25, 2005, a train derailed on the Fukuchiyama Line. Numerous human errors were found to be at fault, but a legend soon sprang up that perhaps there may have been some ghostly fault as well…

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There a certain website on the internet that you shouldn’t visit. If you do manage to find it, it will show you all sorts of dark and twisted images, but be careful. You might not be as alone as you think…

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There’s a tree in Hokkaido that’s said to cry whenever anyone attempts to cut it down. It’s haunted by the spirits of those who died on its branches or near its roots, and if you believe the rumours, it wants revenge.

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Aokigahara on sale now!

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There are numerous legends about Aokigahara, Japan’s suicide forest. Compasses don’t work. Murderers lurk in the trees. Once you enter you’ll never come out. Discover the truth right here.

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The myserious kudan, a yokai with the face of a human and the body of a cow, foretells a prophecy on its birth and then dies shortly thereafter. Is there any way to stop the calamity it brings? Find out right here.

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Sometimes an urban legend is so terrifying it strikes right at the heart of human consciousness, regardless of cultural or historical backgrounds. Here are a few American legends that made their way to Japanese shores, altered slightly to fit Japanese tastes.

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Idols. Beloved by the general public and adored by their fans. But what happens when that love goes too far? How far would some fans go to get even closer to their favourite idols?

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Kokkai-gijidomae Station is just like any other subway station in Tokyo. Or so they want you to believe. Legend has it that it’s actually a bomb shelter, and there are secret tunnels leading all over Tokyo…

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She’s getting closer. Chasing you no matter where you go. Just when you think you’ve finally reached safety, and all is well, you look up, and… The Watching Woman is always waiting. There is no escape.

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He rides around the city and the mountains looking for his missing head, but who exactly is the Headless Rider? What terrible tragedy led to his compulsion to keep searching the roads, looking for more heads to take?

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You’re taking out the trash when you notice a dog rummaging through it. You tell it to shoo, but when it turns around… it has a human face. Say hi to Jinmen Ken, or the Human-faced Dog.

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Did you know that in the early 80s there was a broadcasting accident so terrible that the show involved was cancelled and never spoken of again? They say it aired a live severed head on air… but what really happened?

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You’re driving in the mountains late one night. You’re all alone in the darkness. It’s nice and peaceful, but then suddenly a face appears outside your window. It’s a grinning old lady, and you realise she’s running alongside your speeding car…

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Sukima-onna, aka the Gap Woman. Once she infests your house, there's no getting rid of her. She'll watch you from every nook and cranny, literally. Who is she, and where did she come from? Find out right here.

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Have you ever played hide and seek by yourself? If you're brave enough, there are a set of rules you can follow to play the dreaded "Hitori Kakurenbo." But be careful, you never know what you might invite in to chase you...

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Knock three times on the third toilet stall from the end to summon her. But who is Hanako-san, one of the most popular and enduring Japanese horror icons of all time, and how did she come to be?

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We’ve all heard of Freddy on Elm Street, but did you know that there’s a village where, if you trip over, you’ll die? Can you remember the very specific and complex way of escaping the old lady who will kill you in your dreams? Arm yourself with knowledge right now.

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Ever visited a website with pop up ads so obnoxious you had to leave? What if you couldn’t? We often joke that ads will be the death of us, but what if that were true? What if there was no way to escape The Red Room?

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Deep in the mountains of Fukuoka Prefecture there exists a village where the laws of modern-day man have no effect. A village that kills upon sight. A village lost in time. Find out the truth about the fabled Inunaki Village.

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Who doesn't enjoy a bit of shopping when they go away on vacation? Yet this urban legend is a horrifying reminder of why you must always be on-guard when travelling, or you could be next... More information at Kowabana.net or get early access at Patreon.

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Have you ever seen the cursed Kleenex commercial? It's said that everyone involved in its production died, and if you watch it, you'll be next. Find out the truth behind this urban legend right here. More information at Kowabana.net or get early access at Patreon.

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It’s said there once existed a village that suffered a tragedy so terrible it was wiped from the map. But did Sugisawa ever really exist, and if so, what happened there? Find out as we explore the history behind this popular urban legend. More information at Kowabana.net or get early access at Patreon.

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If you're younger than 20, you might want to skip this one. The words "purple mirror" are said to be a curse, and if you remember them by the time you come of age, you will suffer misfortune or even die. Find out why, and what you can do to avoid it. More information at Kowabana.net or get early access at Patreon.

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Did you know that if you read this particular poem out loud, you'll die? Find out the truth behind the supposedly cursed Japanese poem Tomino's Hell. What it means, how it came about, and will it really kill you if you read it aloud? More information at Kowabana.net or get early access at Patreon.

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Have you ever wondered if you had the ability to see ghosts? With these Japanese urban legends you'll be able to test your reikan, or ability to sense the supernatural. But be careful, you might not always like what you see. More information at Kowabana.net or get early access at Patreon.

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A young Japanese lady, railway tracks and an oncoming train. What could go wrong? Ask Kashima-san, a ghost on a mission for your legs. And once you've heard her story you better pass it on, or she's coming for you next. More information at Kowabana.net or get early access at Patreon.

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What do you get when you cross a phone, an evil spirit, and too much time on your hands? One of these Japanese urban legends, probably. Find out about Mary-san, Kaijin Answer, and Satoru-kun, and why you should never answer the phone again. More information at Kowabana.net or get early access at Patreon.

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"Am I pretty?" she asks before removing her mask, revealing her mouth cut from ear-to-ear. Kuchisake-onna is the Japanese urban legend of urban legends. Find out how she came to be and the truth behind her story right here. More information at Kowabana.net or get early access at Patreon.

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