Hasshaku-sama

Urban LegendJapan · East AsiaLegendFear 8/10

Description

A urban legend from the folklore of Japan. Hasshaku-sama (八尺様; 'Ms. Eight Foot Tall') is a Japanese urban legend that is depicted as a giant…

Origin & Background

The origin of Hasshaku-sama is unclear, but her earliest appearance comes from an anonymous ghost story posted on August 26, 2008. This story was found on the Japanese text board channel 2channel in the thread '洒落にならないほど恐い話を集めてみない？196'.

The Legend

Hasshaku-sama is depicted as a modern yōkai, a gigantic female ghost standing 8 feet (about 2.4 meters) tall. She has pale skin and wears a dress, always appearing as a woman with a hat. It is said that she makes a strange 'po po po' sound when she appears. In the stories, Hasshaku-sama primarily appears in remote rural areas at night, targeting young boys and girls. If a victim encounters her, they are likely to be cursed and not survive until the next morning. The only way to evade her pursuit is to hide in a room with protective talismans and a pile of salt.

In Popular Culture

Hasshaku-sama is associated with modern Japanese horror culture and is often compared to other contemporary urban legends. She is interpreted as a symbol reflecting fears of urban phenomena and nostalgia for rural traditions. Hasshaku-sama is considered similar to the Japanese female yōkai Yama-onna, with both beings depicted as gigantic female creatures associated with isolated rural areas and death.

This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Hasshaku-sama" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia