1926–1989 昭和 1926–1989 昭和 1926–1989 昭和
昭和

昭和 BOO

The Haunted Memories of Showa

Enter the Archive

1930s–1950s

Post-war ghosts and wartime spirits haunt the rubble of a nation rebuilding.

The Kuchisake-onna Origins

1939 Read

Fire Spirits of Tokyo

1945 Read

The Train That Runs Empty

1952 Read

1960s–1970s

Economic miracles breed new terrors. Office ghosts. Highway apparitions. Telephone spirits.

Teke Teke of the Tracks

1963 Read

The Slit-Mouthed Woman Returns

1979 Read

Bathhouse After Midnight

1971 Read

1980s

Bubble-era excess summons creatures from screens, payphones, and vending machines.

The Cursed VHS Tape

1986 Read

Hanako of the Toilet

1984 Read

The Last Showa Ghost

1989 Read

Yokai of the Week

Gashadokuro ガシャドクロ

Peak sightings: 1940s–1960s

A giant skeleton assembled from the bones of the unburied dead. It wanders after midnight, snatching lone travelers. The only warning is a ringing in your ears.

Full Profile

Urban Legend Feed

1978 Gifu Prefecture

The Red Room

A pop-up appears on your screen: "Do you like the red room?"

1985 Osaka

The Elevator Girl

Press 4, 2, 6, 2, 10, 5, 1 and a woman in white enters.

1967 Aomori

The Cow Head Story

Anyone who hears the full story trembles for days without stopping.

1954 Nagasaki

The Beckoning Cat of Glover Hill

A ceramic maneki-neko waves its paw at passersby—even when no one winds it.

1983 Sapporo

Midnight Vending Machine

It appears at crossroads after 2 AM, sells drinks with no labels, and vanishes by dawn.