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Post by candlblossom on Jul 7, 2016 2:47:08 GMT
I really love reading about folktales(昔話, むかしばなし) and urban legends(都市伝説 , としでんせつ) from different countries, and Japan is no exception.
Two urban legends that I think are interesting are the ones about the Jinmenken(じんめん犬, the Human-faced dog) and the Aka Manto (赤マント, or Red Cape).
The Jinmenken are dogs that have human faces and can run at really high speeds. Supposedly that can speak, but when approached, they either are rude or ask to just be left alone. Otherwise they don’t meant to do any harm. People say that they are either escaped scientific experiments or spirits of road crash victims. Some people think that people who report seeing the Jinmenken are actually seeing Japanese macaques, which would make sense since a macaque has a human-like face and walks on four legs like a dog.
As for the Aka Manto, it’s said that it’s a malicious spirit that haunts public and school toilets. When people go to sit on the toilet, normally the last stall, a mysterious voice will ask them if they want red paper or blue paper. If they answer with red, they will be sliced apart until their clothes are stained red. If they choose blue, they will be strangled until their face turns blue. If they answer with yellow, their face with be shoved into the toilet, but they will survive. The only way to make the Aka Manto leave is to answer with “no paper.”
Of course, like all urban legends, there are alternative versions of the ones I just described. Are there any Japanese folktales or urban legends any of you have heard of that you like? Feel free to share them!
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Post by trunklayer on Jul 7, 2016 6:58:44 GMT
Thanks, Candyblossomさん! (I hope I didn't misspell your nickname in the Japanese version). It's very interesting. The second story is a bit scary, isn't it? There's quite a lot of different Japanese folklore and urban legents at Tofugu. For example, how about this Legend of Kappa?
ケンディブロッサムさん、ありがとうございます。それはとても面白いです。最後の都市伝説はちょっと怖いですね。Tofuguに色々の日本の昔話や都市伝説がたくさんあります。例えば、この河童のでんせつはどうですか。
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Post by katiesaccount on Jul 7, 2016 23:37:58 GMT
One of my favorite classes I took in university was called something like Japanese Tales of the Supernatural. It was really cool and that's what my professor's published work was about. We mostly read a lot of literature but it was still really cool.
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Post by candlblossom on Jul 8, 2016 0:10:12 GMT
ありがとう Trunklayerさん!I always found the kappa to be interesting. I'll be sure to read that. Also, you can just call me Blossom. で、ブロッサムはいいですよ。
That sounds cool Katieさん. I think my university also offers a class like that. I hope to take it as an elective when I have open space in my schedule.
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Post by Migique on Jul 11, 2016 17:59:32 GMT
My favorite Japanese legends are those including Kitsune! Maybe because 狐 are adorable, but I do enjoy the idea of the myths behind them and their powers.
There is a lot of stories on kitsune so I definitely suggest giving them a search. The following are what I find to be the more interesting aspects of the legends.
Kitsune are known to be shapeshifters, usually beautiful or young women and sometimes old men. Supposedly they cannot start shapeshifting until they are 100 years old (although some legends say 50) and they have to put a reed, broad leaf, or skull over their head to do so. There are many ways to tell if a person is a fox in disguise. Traits include having to hide their tail in human form, having a layer of fur, having a fox shaped shadow or a reflection showing their true form, they are also known for their hate and fear of dogs. If a beautiful woman is encountered alone at dusk or night, there is a possibility that she is a kitsune. Human children from a kitsune are also known to have supernatural abilities.
Another aspect of the kitsune is their multiple tails. It's said that the more tails a fox has, the older and wiser they are. They can have up to Nine-tails (kyuubi九尾) and after acquiring the ninth tail, the fox's coat becomes a golden white color. Nine-tails are also said to have the ability to hear and see anything that happening anywhere around the world. Folklores say that it takes about 100 years for a fox to grow a new tail and most commonly stories include foxes with 1, 5, 7, and 9 tails.
This is what I have on kitsune. Trust me when I say there is a lot more and they are all interesting (these are the most interesting to me, personally). Kitsune personalities range from being benevolent and loyal creatures (servants of Inari-the Shinto rice god), but they can also be mischievous and malicious. They are lovers and trouble makers, and are definitely worth a good read.
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