Slit Mouthed Woman | Kuchisake-onna

Mythical And Paranormal Realm | Myths | Horror Stories | Scary Tales

Whether its an unsolved mystery, a popular misconception, or sometimes just a big hoax urban legends are an inevitable part of any culture. But, plenty of these classic myths are actually true — and the truth is often more ghastly and macabre than the fiction. Even more interesting is how some of these fables originated. Myths have to start somewhere, and oftentimes it’s a dark chapter in history or a strange effect of our own minds. Sometimes, the boogeyman is real. And, that face you saw in the bathroom mirror? You weren’t imagining it. Here are one of the most popular urban legends still being told:-

There is a legend in Japan and China about a girl called Kuchisake-Onna, also known as the slit-mouthed woman. Some say that she was a samurai’s wife. One day, she cheated on her husband with a younger and better-looking man. When the husband returned, he discovered her betrayal; enraged and furious, he took his sword and slit her mouth ear-to-ear.

According to the legend, children walking alone at night may encounter a woman wearing a surgical mask, which is not an unusual sight in Japan as people wear them to protect others from their colds or sickness.

The woman will stop the child and ask, “Am I pretty???” If the child answers no, the child is killed with a pair of scissors which the woman carries. If the child answers yes, the woman pulls away the mask, revealing that her mouth is slit from ear to ear, and asks “How about now???” If the child answers no, he/she will be cut in half. If the child answers yes, then she will slit his/her mouth like hers. It is impossible to run away from her, as she will simply reappear in front of the victim.

   When the legend reappeared, the 1970's rumors of ways    to escape also emerged. Some sources say she can also        be confused by the victim answering her question with      ambiguous answers, such as “You are average” or “So-      so”. Unsure of what to do, she will give a person enough    time to escape while she is lost in thought.

  Another escape route is to tell her one has a previous         engagement; she will pardon her manners and excuse herself. In some variations of the tale, she can be distracted by fruit or candies thrown at her which she will then pick up, thus giving the victim a chance to run. She will also be at an advantage to run toward you if she has the chance. Another way is for the child to ask her if the child is pretty; she will get confused and leave.