Hanako-san

ghost · Japan · East Asia and Pacific

Hanako-san (also known as Toire no Hanako-san or Hanako of the Toilet) is one of the most famous Japanese urban legends, dating back to the 1950s. The legend tells of the ghost of a young girl who haunts school bathrooms, particularly on the third floor of elementary and middle schools across Japan. The story has become a staple of Japanese schoolyard folklore, passed down through generations of children as a test of courage. Variations of the legend exist in different regions, with some versions claiming Hanako was killed during World War II air raids, others saying she was murdered by a stra

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