38: Teke Teke, The Slit-Mouthed Woman, and Other Japanese Urban Legends

Japan is home to some of the most chilling urban legends in the world.

Stories whispered in school hallways, shared on quiet train rides, and passed between friends late at night. Some of these legends have existed for decades… while others were born on the internet and spread like wildfire across message boards.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Spooky, we explore four of Japan’s most haunting urban legends.

A vengeful spirit that drags herself across the pavement searching for victims.

A masked woman who asks a terrifying question before revealing her true face.

A ghost said to haunt the bathrooms of Japanese schools.

And a train station that doesn’t appear on any map.

Join us as we dive into the eerie folklore and modern legends behind:

Teke Teke

Kuchisake-onna

Hanako-san

Kisaragi Station

These stories blend folklore, fear, and modern storytelling — proving that urban legends continue to evolve with the world around us.

But one thing never changes.

If you hear footsteps behind you at night…

or a voice asking a strange question…

You might already be part of the story.

Sources

Teke Teke

Yokai.com

Michael Dylan Foster – The Book of Yokai

Japanese folklore archives on urban legends

Kuchisake-onna

Shūkan Asahi reports on the 1979 panic

Shūkan Shincho coverage of sightings

Michael Dylan Foster – Pandemonium and Parade: Japanese Monsters and the Culture of Yokai

Hanako-san

Japanese school folklore collections

Hiroko Yoda & Matt Alt – Yokai Attack! The Japanese Monster Survival Guide

Kisaragi Station

2004 posts on the Japanese forum 2channel

Internet folklore archives on creepypasta and digital urban legends

Stay spooky 👻