In Japanese mythology, Kuchisake-onna (口裂け女 Kuchisake-onna) ("Slit-Mouth Woman") is a woman who is mutilated by a jealous husband and returns as a malicious spirit. The Kuchisake-onna legend became popular enough to cause some panic in Japan during the 1980s, and there are even reports of schools asking children to go home in groups for safety.[1]
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The Kuchisake-onna legend began in the Edo period, with the woman initially covering her face with her kimono.
Children walking alone at night may encounter a woman wearing a surgical mask, this 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 beautiful?'. If the child answers no, they are killed with a pair of scissors which the woman carries. If they answer yes, the woman pulls away the mask, revealing 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 he/she answers yes, then she will slit his/her mouth like hers.
When the legend reappeared in the 1970s rumors of ways to escape also emerged. When she asks you, you must say that she is pretty two times in a row, so that she will become confused and her victim can escape while she is lost in thought. Some sources say she can also be confused by answering her question with, rather than yes or no, "You are average." Unsure of what to do, she will give you enough time to escape. Another escape route is to tell her you have a previous engagement; she will pardon her manners and excuse herself from your presence. In some variations of the tale, she can be distracted by throwing fruit or sweets at her which she will pick up, thus giving the victim a chance to run.[2] One other way is to ask her if you are pretty, she will get confused and leave.[3]
The Kuchisake-onna also makes an appearance in:
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