Kuchisake-onna

Kuchisake-onna is a Japanese urban legend and folklore figure known as the “Slit-Mouthed Woman.” She is commonly described as a vengeful spirit or onryō who hides her disfigured face with a mask and carries a sharp weapon.

Kuchisake-onna is a Japanese urban legend and folklore figure known as the “Slit-Mouthed Woman.” She is commonly described as a vengeful spirit or onryō who hides her disfigured face with a mask and carries a sharp weapon. The legend gained widespread attention in Japan in the late 1970s and remains a well-known modern yōkai story.

Legend

The core story describes Kuchisake-onna as a masked woman who approaches people, asks if she is beautiful, and then reveals a mutilated mouth or scar. Different versions vary in the exact response she gives and the outcome for the victim.

Folklore and classification

Kuchisake-onna is generally treated as a modern Japanese urban legend within yōkai folklore. Some sources describe her as an onryō, meaning a vengeful spirit.

Late-20th-century spread

The legend became widely known in Japan in the late 1970s, with reports of sightings contributing to a wave of public concern. It is often discussed as an example of modern mass folklore.

Cultural influence

Kuchisake-onna has appeared in books, films, television, and online retellings. The figure remains one of the best-known examples of a Japanese horror urban legend.