Hanako-san

Hanako-san or Toire no Hanako-san (トイレのはなこさん?, "Hanako of the toilet") is a Japanese urban legend about the spirit of a young World War II–era girl who haunts school bathrooms. She allegedly appears when one shouts her name.

Legend

According to the legend, a person who goes to the third stall in the girls' bathroom on the third floor and knocks three times before asking, "Are you there, Hanako-san," will hear a voice answer, "I'm here." If the person chooses to enter the stall, there will be a small girl in a red skirt.

Hanako-san is a popular and widespread urban legend, often played by school children as a rite of courage, or a method of hazing for new students, similar to the Bloody Mary urban legend in Western schools.[1]

Variations

Hanako-san has been noted to have various origins and behaviors, depending on the area or school, and is a widespread legend across Japan. Her appearance can also be different, but is usually that of a young girl with bobbed hair and a red skirt. She can be either mischievous, malevolent or benign.

Yamagata prefecture: After Hanako-san has answered and one enters the stall, he or she will find and be eaten by a three-headed lizard who had mimicked a girl's voice.

Iwate prefecture: After one has called Hanako-san, a large white hand emerges from the door.

Kanagawa prefecture: After one has called her, a blood-stained hand will appear.[2]

"Hanako" was a common and typical girl's name in Japan during the 1950s when the legend supposedly began.[3]

Anime

Visual novels

Video games

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://matthewmeyer.net/blog/2010/10/27/a-yokai-a-day-hanako-san-or-hanako-of-the-toilet/ Explanation of Hanako San
  2. ↑ http://pinktentacle.com/2010/04/hanako-san-terror-of-the-toilet/
  3. ↑ Yokai Attack!:

    In fiction

    Manga

    • Hanako-san is one of the main characters in Sakae Esuno's manga Hanako-san and the Terror of Allegory (Hanako to Gūwa no Terror).
    • Toire no Hanako-san is one of the death games the high school students play in Kami-sama no Iutōri II.

    Films

    • Hanako (1995)
    • Shinsei toire no Hanako-san (1998)
    • Hanako of the Toilet (2013)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://japanverse.com/2013/05/new-hanako-of-the-toilet-horror-film-to-be-released-june-29th/|title=New ''Hanako of the Toilet'' Horror Film To Be Released June 29th|publisher=Japanverse|accessdate=May 24, 2013}}</ref>
    • Toire no Hanako-san Shinshō – Hanako vs Yōsuke (2016)<ref>"劇場版『トイレの花子さん新章～花子VSヨースケ～』公式サイト". chance-in.com. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
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