The Unexplained

Welcome to "The Unexplained", where I delve into the fascinating and enigmatic world of paranormal activity. I am a passionate blogger and researcher who is constantly on the hunt for the truth behind spooky encounters and mysterious phenomena.

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The Haunting Lore of Yokai: Unraveling the Terrifying Myths and Legends of Japan’s Supernatural Beings

“How did Japan’s terrifying urban legends come about? What are the myths behind yokai ? ”

Japan is a country steeped in ancient myths and legends. For centuries, the Japanese have been captivated by Yokai a mysterious supernatural creatures that inhabit forests and mountains, lurk in shadows and cause mischief to unsuspecting humans. From kappa to mischievous fox-spirits, Yokai have long been the stuff of nightmares and campfire tales.

In some tales, the Yokai are benevolent spirits who help humans in times of need, while in others, the Yokai are said to be malicious and dangerous. Many believe that the Yokai are signposts of the spiritual realm, and their appearance can be seen as a warning or a sign of spiritual danger. The fear of Yokai is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, and the tales of their encounters are still told to this day. The stories of Yokai are a part of the culture and history of Japan, and they continue to be a source of fascination and terror. The mysterious nature of Yokai makes them all the more intriguing, and their place in Japanese folklore is one that is sure to remain for centuries to come.

Below are 5 such powerful and evil Japanese Yokai. No matter where, no matter the year you’re in, pray that you never encounter any of these frightening Yokai from Japanese folklore.

1. Gashadokuro

Gashadokuro is a yokai that is said to be a giant skeleton made up of the bones of people who died of starvation or in battle without a proper burial. It is believed that these vengeful spirits come together to form a single being that stands over 30 feet tall. 

According to legend, Gashadokuro roams the streets at night and preys on lone travelers. It is said to sneak up on its victims and bite off their heads with its massive jaws, or it may crush them in its bony embrace. It is also said to emit a loud ringing sound, which can cause a victim’s eardrums to rupture. One of the most well-known stories about Gashadokuro involves a lone samurai who encounters the monster while traveling through the countryside. Despite his bravery and martial skill, the samurai is unable to defeat Gashadokuro, and he is eventually devoured by the yokai.

 Gashadokuro is considered one of the scariest and most powerful yokai in Japanese folklore. Its size and strength, as well as its ability to move silently and attack unexpectedly, make it a formidable opponent. The fact that Gashadokuro is made up of the bones of many dead people adds to its creepy and unsettling nature.

2. Aka Manto 

Aka Manto is a yokai that is said to haunt public restrooms, particularly in schools. It is often depicted as a man wearing a red cloak or cape, and a mask that covers its face, leaving only its eyes visible. 

It is said that Aka Manto will appear to someone using a public restroom and ask them if they want a red or blue cloak. If the person chooses red, Aka Manto will attack them and cloak them in their own blood until they die. If the person chooses blue, Aka Manto will strangle them until their face turns blue and they die. In some versions of the legend, Aka Manto may also offer other colors, such as yellow or green, and each color represents a different gruesome fate. For example, choosing yellow may result in the person’s skin being torn off, while choosing green may lead to them being dragged into the toilet.

 Aka Manto is said to prey on people in a place where they are typically vulnerable and alone. The fact that it wears a mask that hides its true identity also adds to its mystery and fear factor. The vivid and gruesome descriptions of the fates that await those who choose the wrong color make Aka Manto a particularly unsettling and memorable yokai.

3. Kappa

A Kappa is a water-dwelling yokai that is usually depicted as a humanoid with the shell of a turtle and the beak of a bird. They are known for their love of cucumbers, their mischievous nature, and their fondness for pulling pranks on people.

According to legend, Kappas can be both helpful and harmful to humans. They are said to be able to help farmers irrigate their fields by controlling water flow, but they can also drown people who swim in their territory or attempt to steal their prized cucumber offerings.

Kappas are known to scare off people in a variety of ways. They are said to drag unsuspecting victims into the water by luring them with promises of a game or a wrestling match. They are also known for attacking people by pulling them under the water and attempting to steal their souls through a dish-like depression on the top of their heads.

People have reported sightings of strange creatures in bodies of water, which they believe to be Kappas. There have also been reports of Kappa-like creatures attacking and drowning people in various regions of Japan. However, it is important to note that these sightings and reports are likely the result of folklore and urban legends, rather than actual encounters with Kappas.

4. Shuten Dōji

Shuten Dōji is a legendary demon or oni from Japanese folklore. It is said to have lived in the mountains near Kyoto during the Heian period (794–1185). Shuten Dōji is often depicted as a massive, horned creature with red skin, sharp teeth, and claws.

 Shuten Dōji and his band of demons would raid villages, kidnap women, and drink their blood. They were said to be so powerful that they could easily overpower entire armies. It was also said to have a magical ability to transform himself into a handsome young man in order to seduce women and lure them to his lair.

One of the most famous stories associated with Shuten Dōji involves a young samurai named Minamoto no Raiko. Raiko and his four companions were tasked with defeating Shuten Dōji and his demons. They infiltrated Shuten Dōji’s lair disguised as monks and were offered sake by the demon. The sake was poisoned, but Raiko and his companions managed to resist its effects and killed Shuten Dōji and his minions.

Shuten Dōji is considered one of the scariest creatures in Japanese folklore because of its immense strength and bloodthirsty nature. The legend of Shuten Dōji and his band of demons has inspired numerous works of art and literature, and his legacy as a terrifying monster lives on in Japanese popular culture today.

5. Yuki Onna

Yuki Onna is a yokai or supernatural creature from Japanese folklore. The name “Yuki Onna” translates to “snow woman” in English, and she is often depicted as a beautiful woman dressed in white, with long black hair and pale skin.

According to legend, Yuki Onna appears on snowy nights in remote areas, and she has been known to help or harm travelers who cross her path. One of the most well-known and terrifying incidents associated with Yuki Onna involves a young man named Minokichi.

Minokichi was traveling with his friend during a heavy snowstorm when they sought shelter in a deserted cabin. During the night, Minokichi woke up to find a beautiful woman standing over him. The woman was Yuki Onna, and she had come to kill him for having seen her. However, when she looked into his eyes, she was struck by his youth and innocence and decided to spare his life on the condition that he never tell anyone about the incident.

Years later, Minokichi had married and had children. One night, while telling ghost stories, he recounted the incident with Yuki Onna. Suddenly, a cold gust of wind blew open the door, and Yuki Onna appeared before him once again. She reproached him for breaking his promise and was about to kill him when she noticed the children sleeping next to him. Moved by their innocence, she spared his life once again and disappeared into the night.

The story of Yuki Onna is considered one of the most frightening in Japanese folklore because of her eerie beauty, her supernatural abilities, and the fact that she can appear in the middle of a snowstorm without warning. Her legend has inspired numerous works of art and literature, and she remains a popular figure in Japanese popular culture today.

Are these still myths or just a mere tales passed down the generation ? It maybe it may not be but it has now become an important part of the Japanese culture and has been an enduring part of the Japanese cultural heritage and will likely continue to be passed down from generation to generation.

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Whispers in the Dark: Uncovering the World’s Most Terrifying Urban Legends

“Urban legends are a reminder that truth is often stranger than fiction.”

Remember when we used to hear myths and urban legends as children? We used to be both terrified and fascinated by it. As kids, we used to wonder: Do they exist? Are the myths true?

However, urban legends exist all over the world, and we’ve scoured the globe to find the eeriest and most pervasive ones, from the haunting, spine-chilling stories of La Llorona in Mexico to a half-deer humanoid wendigo living in the depths of Native American cold forests.

1. The Black-Eyed Children

In the late 1990s there was an urban legend of the Black Eyed Children . It revolves around children or teenagers who approach people’s homes or vehicles seeking help or permission to enter, but their most notable feature is their solid black eyes without any pupils or sclera.

Most reports of encounters with black eyed children involve feelings of intense fear and dread. Those who have interacted with them describe a sense of overwhelming danger and a feeling that they are not human. Some claim that the black eyed children emit a strange, low-frequency hum or emit a foul odor. 

One of the most well-known encounters occurred in 1998, when a journalist named Brian Bethel claimed to have encountered two black eyed children in Abilene, Texas. Bethel reported that the children appeared at his car window, asking for a ride home, but he was overcome with a sense of fear and fled the scene.

“ Both boys stared at me with coal-black eyes. The sort of eyes one sees these days on aliens or bargain-basement vampires on late night television. Soulless orbs like two great swathes of starless night. My fear must have been evident. The boy in the back wore a look of confusion. The spokesman banged sharply on the window as I rolled it up. His words, full of anger, echo in my mind even today: ‘We can’t come in unless you tell us it’s OK. Let us in! ’ ” —Brian Brethel on Abilene Reporter News

2. The Wailing Woman

The weeping woman often described as a woman in the mid 20s dressed in white haunts the rivers and streets of Mexico, searching for her children and crying out in anguish .The locals have described it as ‘The La Llorona ’ . It was used to scare the children so that they dont wander in the streets at night .

The story goes by a beautiful mexican lady fell in love with a man of high status . they married had kids an was living a happy life when one day the man left her for another woman . In a fit of jealousy and rage, Maria drowned her children in a nearby river. When she realized what she had done, she was filled with remorse and grief, and she began to wander the streets and riverbanks crying out for her lost children. She was said to have been heard wailing, “Ay, mis hijos!” (“Oh, my children!”) . It is said that she was cursed and was denied to enter the gates of heaven and now she wanders as a spirit looking for her children .

3. The Wendigo

The wendigo is often described as a tall, thin creature with matted hair and glowing eyes. It is said to have long arms and legs, and its skin is stretched tightly over its bones. Some legends also describe the wendigo as having antlers or horn .

It has been the subject of countless stories, songs, and works of art over the years. The wendigo is often portrayed as a malevolent and dangerous creature that preys on humans. In 2019, a man in Quebec claimed that he had been attacked by a wendigo while out hunting. He stated that the creature had glowing eyes and a thin, skeletal body. According to the man, the wendigo knocked him to the ground and attempted to bite him before he was able to fight it off.

“We were sitting around the fire when we heard this really strange noise. It sounded like something was breathing heavily, almost like it was right behind us. When we turned around, we saw this tall, thin creature with glowing eyes. It was watching us, and then it just disappeared.” — locals in Minnesota .

4. The New Jersey Devil

The legend of the New Jersey Devil dates back to the 18th century, when it was said to be the offspring of a woman named Mother Leeds. According to the legend, Leeds cursed her 13th child to be a devil, and the creature was born with wings and supernatural powers.

The New Jersey Devil is often described as a winged creature with a horse-like head, hooves for feet, and a forked tail. It is said to be about the size of a large dog or small deer. There have been numerous reported sightings of the New Jersey Devil over the years, particularly in the Pine Barrens region. In 1909, there was a wave of sightings that made national news. People reported seeing a creature with glowing eyes and wings that flew over their homes and farms.

“We were driving through the woods at night when we saw something in the road. It was a creature with wings and a horse-like head. We were too scared to get out of the car.” — Reported sighting from a group of teenagers, 1995

In conclusion, urban legends have been a part of human culture for centuries, and they continue to fascinate and terrify people around the world. From the Wendigo and Slenderman to the New Jersey Devil, these legends tap into our deepest fears and anxieties, often providing a cautionary tale or moral lesson. While some legends may have a basis in reality, most are purely fictional and serve as a form of entertainment or a way to explain the unexplainable. Despite their often gruesome and terrifying nature, urban legends are an enduring part of our cultural heritage and will likely continue to be passed down from generation to generation.

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Case 1 : The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Ever thought about spending the night in a haunted Lunatic Asylum?

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum previously known as the Weston State Hospital was operated from the year 1864 to 1994. The changes in the treatment of mental illness and the physical deterioration of the facility forced its closure in 1994 inflicting a devastating effect on the local economy.

Standing on 26.5 acres of land with 13 buildings it is believed to be one of the most haunted asylum in the US. According to the asylum's website it was designed to house 250 souls, was open to patients in 1864 and reached its peak in the 1950’s with 2,400 patients in overcrowded and generally poor conditions.

The asylum is said to be haunted by the spirits of former patients, nurses, and doctors. Reports of screams, shadow figures, and disembodied voices have been reported in various parts of the building. One of the most commonly reported hauntings is that of an unknown woman who can be heard speaking in a strange language in the basement. The woman is identified as Jane . Other paranormal phenomenon reported include cold spots, the smell of cigar smoke, and the sound of children laughing.

“The energy of Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum because there are so much between the lobotomies and the overall treatments that they did there is a weird energy there . Its almost like u can say its the lead paint but I don't think its all it is . Its like u can feel the goosebumps . I had the goosebumps last night which I haven't got in a while ” — Kalani Smith , a paranormal investigator , who shared the live video of his ghost hunt to nearly 2 million followers on tiktok 

One of the most active site of the asylum is the bedpost murder room . It was said that the victim was a mute man who was brutally murdered by two men . The victim was identified by the name Dean . Investigators reportedly captured audio of disembodied voices and the sound of footsteps while they were conducting a full-scale investigation at the asylum . They also reported seeing shadow figures, feeling cold spots, and experiencing the sensation of being watched.

“ The Trans- Allegheny is a hauntingly beautiful place that is filled with a sense of tragedy and loss. It has seen a lot . ”

After conducting investigations by numerous paranormal researchers over the years evidence suggests that the spirits of former patients, nurses, and doctors are still lingering in the building, and that they are still trying to make their presence known.

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is a place of mystery and intrigue, and has become a popular destination for paranormal investigators and ghost hunters.

The asylum now conducts Ghost Hunts last from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. excluding the month of October . Guides will assist you in your exploration of this massive gothic asylum.