“Hanako-san and Kashima Reiko”

In Japan, the schools hold a chilling secret within their walls. Venture into the girl’s bathroom on the third floor of the building, and make your way to the third stall if you dare. There, you may encounter her.

Legend has it that you must knock three times and call out her name. When you open the stall door, you may be met by the eerie sight of a little girl in a red skirt, known as Hanako-san. Is she seeking companionship, or is she something far more sinister, beckoning you into the depths of Hell?

Depending on the region of Japan you find yourself in, Hanako-san’s appearance may vary. Some tales speak of a spectral hand reaching out to grab unsuspecting visitors, while others describe her as a monstrous lizard ready to consume those who dare disturb her solitude. The mere thought of encountering her is enough to send shivers down your spine.

Hanako-san’s story has been woven into the fabric of Japanese urban folklore for decades, with various versions circulating throughout the country. One of the most popular origin tales dates back to World War II when a bomb fell on a school, trapping a young girl named Hanako-san beneath the rubble. Since then, she has remained trapped within the confines of the school’s bathroom, forever haunting its corridors.

But Hanako-san is not the only spectral schoolgirl to roam Japan’s educational institutions. Another infamous figure, Kashima Reiko, is said to haunt school bathrooms as well. Legend has it that Kashima Reiko, tragically cut in half by a passing train, now seeks revenge on unsuspecting children. She poses a chilling question to those who enter the stalls: “Where are my legs?” If her victims fail to provide a satisfactory answer, they may find themselves facing a gruesome fate as she tears their legs from their bodies.