The Kuchisake - Onna is a really terrifying Japanese ghost story. She has a slit mouth from ear to ear. She asks people if they think she's pretty. If you answer 'yes', she'll slit your face to make it like hers. If you answer 'no', she'll kill you. There's also the Teke Teke, a ghost of a girl who was cut in half by a train. She crawls around on her hands, making a 'teke teke' sound as she drags her upper body along.
Many Japanese ghost stories have their roots in Japanese folklore and superstitions. For example, the Yuki - Onna might have originated from the fear of the harsh winter and the mysteries of the snow - covered mountains. The idea of vengeful spirits like Okiku comes from the belief in karma and the idea that wrongdoings will be punished. People who were wronged in life could come back as ghosts to seek revenge.
They are popular because they often have deep cultural roots. For example, many are based on historical events or traditional beliefs. This gives them an authenticity that draws people in.
One famous Japanese ghost story is 'Yotsuya Kaidan'. It's about a woman named Oiwa who was betrayed by her husband. After being poisoned and disfigured, she returns as a vengeful ghost. Her terrifying appearance and the sense of betrayal in the story make it very spooky.
It depends on how you define success. In terms of popularity, ghost stories have a significant fan base in Japan. Many traditional and modern ghost stories have captured people's imaginations and become part of the cultural fabric. However, success can also be measured in terms of critical acclaim or commercial success, and that might vary depending on specific works.
In Japan, there could be a story where a digital camera was found in an old attic. When the finder started using it, the camera seemed to have a mind of its own. It would turn on and off randomly, and the pictures it took were all distorted. The images were a jumbled mess of colors and shapes, but sometimes, if you looked closely, you could make out a face. A very scary, pale face that seemed to be in pain. It was as if the camera was capturing the spirit of someone who had a very bad experience in the attic long ago.
One reason is their unique cultural elements. Japanese culture has a long history of superstition and the supernatural. These stories often incorporate elements like yokai (supernatural creatures) which are very much part of Japanese folklore. For example, in many scary stories, you can find references to traditional Japanese spirits that people have been fearing for centuries.
Another is 'Teke - Teke'. It tells the story of a girl who was hit by a train and cut in half. Now she moves around on her hands, making a 'teke - teke' sound as she drags her upper body. She hunts for victims at night, especially those in or near train stations.
Most Japanese short ghost stories are deeply influenced by Japanese culture and traditions. For example, the settings are often traditional Japanese houses, temples or forests. The ghosts themselves may be based on Japanese superstitions such as spirits of the dead not being at peace. They also tend to be quite atmospheric, using descriptions of the environment to create a spooky mood. For instance, a dark and stormy night in an old, dilapidated mansion can be a common setting. These stories also sometimes carry moral lessons, like the consequences of greed or betrayal.
There's the story of 'Teke Teke'. It's about a girl who was cut in half by a train. Her ghost now haunts the railway tracks, dragging her upper body and making a 'teke teke' sound as she moves. 'Bakeneko' is another. It's a shape - shifting cat - spirit. In some tales, it can transform into a human - like form and cause mischief or worse in households.