Hanako-San is Creepy, What's
the Story?
Japan is home of countless superstitions of the paranormal and
given such rich diversity in these beliefs, there are superstitions
surrounding toilet and bathroom hauntings. While there are many of
said stories, this particular urban legend is about Hanako-san or
sometimes known as Hanako-chan whom haunts female restrooms in
schools in this legend called Toire no Hanako-san (トイレのはなこさん).
The Legend
This legend has many variations but we will begin with the most
popular tale that seemed to have the most claimed accounts for.
This story begins when Hanako-san, an elementary school girl was
playing hide-and-seek when she was killed by a bombing raid in
World-War-II. It is said that she was hiding in the first stall
closest to the entrance of the female restroom on the third floor
when this happened. Many have claimed that this very stall opens
and closes on its own but in truth what it may really be is
Hanako-san’s attempt at luring school girls.
The Elementary School's Washroom
Let’s begin by examining an elementary school's washroom, it is
notorious for its poor lighting and as a result, children often
refuse to use the washroom even in dire emergencies in fear of
Hanako-san or other entities that may exist.
It is said between the hours of one and three in the morning in the
girl’s washroom, if you knock three-times on the first stall
closest to the entrance on the third floor of the elementary school
and ask if Hanako-san is there (or is done yet), and repeat this to
the next stalls; you may hear a response of what seems like an
innocent, sometimes scared school-girl.
She calls out to you
I’m here or
I’m done and the
stall door opens just a crack.
Personal Accounts with Hanako-san
There are stories where people have opened the stall to see this
girl only to be confronted by a three-headed lizard ready to devour
them. As frightening as this may be an even more frightful legend
exists even more widespread as a belief. It is thought to be as an
absolute truth to most children as what you really encounter is the
sight of a young innocent school girl with bobbed hair, a burn scar
on her face wearing most noticeably a red skirt or dress.
Some say that she is harmless, while others claim to have witnessed
first-hand the evil nature behind Hanako-san as she pulls her
victim into the toilet, never to be seen again.
Alas, we must consider some other accounts and popular beliefs to
this legend. In some schools or prefectures some students have
claimed to have seen other paranormal activities at the presence of
Hanako-san, such as the flickering of the light, opening and
closing of bathroom stalls, and blood flowing from the faucets. In
some schools or prefectures, it is believed that Hanako-san may be
found in the third stall or in the fourth stall as the number four
(shi 死) in Japanese can also mean
death.
Different Beliefs
The
Yamagata Prefecture holds a strong
legend over this tale and should Hanako-san speak to you in a
frightening voice, you are to die at the claws of a three-headed
lizard. Different prefectures believe in slightly different
variations on what comes out of the toilet, such as a head, bloody
hand, or a large white hand.
While these legends slightly differ from school to school,
prefecture to prefecture, one thing is known among students…
Do not bother Hanako-san or you might not live.
What if You Encounter Hanako-san?
What happens if you are unfortunate enough to encounter the
legendary haunting of Hanako-san? According to legends, the only
way to defeat it is to present perfect grades to it and only then
can your life be spared. However one should heed warning, while
some believe it can be any perfect grade, it is said that the only
method to defeat her is to present perfect grades of an exam.
However, it's also said that it’s impossible to defeat it and once
you’re lured in, there’s no turning back. There are also rumors
that Hanako-san sometimes plays in the school yard or if you scrape
your knee in the school-yard, you might get cursed with a fungal
infection that grows mushrooms throughout your leg and body. Some
teachers also expand on this by telling their students if they play
outside without permission, Hanako-san will curse them with
mushrooms.
Hanako-san's Death
There are variations between how Hanako-san died, it is most
popularly believed that she died from a bomb in World-War-II, but
some believe that she was an abused victim driven to suicide, or
was murdered at school. In some prefectures, Hanako-san is believed
to have died from an unfortunate accident such as falling out of a
library window.
The Name
Her name originates from the early 50’s when Hanako was a popular
female name which was about when the rumors began. Since then,
school children were often forced into the attempt of summoning
Hanako-san either for bullying or by means of initiation, while
others have tried to summon Hanako-san for pure entertainment.
Pop Culture and Films
Rumors and legends did not just stay in classrooms as these stories
have been adapted into various Japanese films such as Hanako
(1995), Shinsei toire no hanako-san (1998), Hanako of the toilet
(2013), and Hanako and the Terror of Allegory (Manga).
With so many legends, personal accounts, and films, could the urban
legends be true? After all, Toire no Hanako-san is one of the most
popular elementary school superstitions in Japan, and perhaps, just
perhaps there’s some truth to it? There’s only one way to find out
if you dare.
An important notice regarding this article
This article was written as an information piece with a slight mood
alteration to the presentation in order to fit the theme. All
content found on this page was reviewed by peers of Japanese
heritage with personal knowledge and/or “experiences”. Because of
the superstitious nature of this editorial, the stories and
accounts presented should only be considered as stories and not
actual paranormal accounts, or so we think?
