In the Meiji period (1868-1912), Japan ended centuries of isolation and entered a period of rapid modernization after opening its doors to the world. The ensuing social and technological changes inspired a number of interesting urban legends. - Phantom trains Railroads played a key role in the modernization of Japan. After the first trains started […]
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Pink Tentacle’s greatest hits – 2010
24 Dec 2010
As 2010 draws to an end, here's a look back at the year's most popular Pink Tentacle posts. - Old-school Tokyo subway manner posters: 27 train etiquette posters from the 1970s-1980s * * * * * - Custom scooters: Photos of 30 Japanese scooter mods * * * * * - Post-apocalyptic Tokyo scenery: Fantastic […]
Okiku doll
28 Apr 2010
A mysterious doll possessed by the spirit of a child has captured the curiosity of people across Japan for decades. The legendary Okiku doll, named after the girl who long ago used to play with it, is a 40-centimeter (16-in) tall kimono-clad figure with beady black eyes -- and hair that grows. Okiku doll illustration […]
Is the legendary Lost Ark buried in Japan?
21 Apr 2010
The fabled lost Ark of the Covenant -- described in the Bible as the sacred container of the Ten Commandments -- lies buried near the top of Mt. Tsurugi on the Japanese island of Shikoku, according to local legend. The Ark, which was built according to instructions given by God to Moses in a prophetic […]
Hanako-san, terror of the toilet
14 Apr 2010
Hanako-san -- a spooky young girl that haunts school restrooms across Japan -- has in recent decades become one of the nation's most famous ghosts. It is not uncommon for schools to have a toilet permanently occupied by the mysterious girl, who is known in Japanese as Toire no Hanako-san (lit. "Hanako of the toilet"). […]
‘Kaikidan Ekotoba’ monster scroll
07 Apr 2010
Here is a look at the Kaikidan Ekotoba, a mysterious handscroll that profiles 33 legendary monsters and human oddities, mostly from the Kyushu region of Japan (with several from overseas). The cartoonish document, whose author is unknown, is believed to date from the mid-19th century. It is now in the possession of the Fukuoka City […]
Cow head
31 Mar 2010
For centuries, rumors have circulated in Japan about a ghost story so horrific that people die of fright soon after hearing it. The dreadful tale -- known as "Cow Head" -- appears to date back at least to the early 17th century. Several known written accounts from this era make reference to the awful story, […]
Human-faced dog
24 Mar 2010
Animals with human-like faces have long been rumored to exist in Japan. In recent decades, countless people have reportedly encountered human-faced dogs (jinmenken) around town and on the highway. The modern-day explosion of alleged human-faced dog encounters began in the late 1980s and early 1990s. According to numerous stories, human-faced dogs are most frequently seen […]
Human pillars
17 Mar 2010
Tales of "human pillars" (hitobashira) -- people who were deliberately buried alive inside large-scale construction projects -- have circulated in Japan since ancient times. Most often associated with castles, levees and bridges, these old legends are based on ancient beliefs that a more stable and durable structure could be achieved by sealing people inside the […]