Vol. 1 – Kuchisake-onna: The Slit-Mouthed Woman
As Halloween approaches, what better way to set the mood than scary folklores. Stories steeped in history, fear, and mystery. In this first entry of our spooky folklore series, we explore one of Japan’s most terrifying modern urban legends: the Kuchisake-onna, or Slit-Mouthed Woman.
The Legend
Kuchisake-onna (口裂け女) translates literally to “slit-mouthed woman.” According to the legend, she is a malicious spirit (onryō) who appears as a beautiful woman wearing a surgical mask, a common sight in Japan even before the pandemic era.
She approaches victims, usually at night, and asks:
“Watashi, kirei?”(“Am I beautiful?”)
If the person answers yes, she removes her mask, revealing a grotesque smile that’s been slit from ear to ear. She then asks:
“Kore demo?”(“Even like this?”)
If the person says no, she kills them — usually with a pair of scissors. If they say yes again, she may still cut their mouth to match her own, or let them go, depending on the version of the tale.
Origins & Historical Context
While Kuchisake-onna gained popularity as a modern urban legend in the late 1970s, the roots of her story may stretch back to Japan’s Edo period (1603–1868). In older versions, she is said to be the unfaithful wife or concubine of a samurai. Upon discovering her betrayal, the samurai slashed her mouth open, saying:
“Now, who will think you are beautiful?”
This tragic backstory aligns with common themes in Japanese ghost lore, particularly the onryō, a vengeful spirit born from trauma or betrayal.
Urban Panic of the 1970s
The legend exploded in Japan in 1979, spreading rapidly among schoolchildren. Reports of Kuchisake-onna sightings caused mass hysteria in some areas. Teachers escorted children home from school, and local police increased patrols. She became the centerpiece of a modern myth, one amplified by oral retellings and media coverage.
Fun fact: The fear was so widespread that students would carry talismans, lipstick, or answers thought to “confuse” the spirit (such as responding with “average” or distracting her with candy).
Modern Interpretations
Kuchisake-onna continues to appear in pop culture, horror films, manga, and anime. She’s been featured in:
“Carved” (2007) – a Japanese horror film based entirely on her legend.
Anime & manga like Hell Girl, Gantz, and Ghost Stories.
Video games, often as an Easter egg or ghostly enemy.
While fictional, her story has become deeply embedded in Japanese urban mythology — a bridge between old ghost tales and modern paranoia.
Halloween Connection
Kuchisake-onna is the perfect blend of classic ghost story and modern urban legend. She plays on real-world fears: strangers, vanity, violence, and the danger hidden beneath a beautiful mask. With her surgical mask and eerie smile, she evokes a chilling image, perfect for Halloween horror nights, ghost story circles, or folklore deep-dives.
Stay Tuned for Vol. 2:
Next time, we’ll venture into the late night roads to visit The White Lady — A Filipino Folklore that is sure to make you jump.
sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuchisake-onna