Have you ever heard the faint sound of “teke teke” on an empty street at night? If so, you might want to run—and fast.
The teke teke story is one of Japan’s most terrifying urban legends, featuring a vengeful female ghost missing her lower body who drags herself along on her hands and elbows at supernatural speeds. The name “teke teke” comes from the unsettling sound her movements make as she pursues her unfortunate victims.
Unlike traditional yokai that have existed in Japanese folklore for centuries—such as the mischievous tanuki yokai or the mysterious nogitsune; the teke teke story is a modern creation, emerging in the post-World War II era.
The Tragic Tale Behind the Terror
The most widely known version of the teke teke story centers around a woman named Kashima Reiko from Hokkaido. According to the legend, sometime after World War II, Kashima was assaulted by American military personnel in Muroran. In her despair, she attempted suicide by jumping onto railroad tracks where an oncoming train severed her body at the waist.
What makes this teke teke story particularly haunting is what happened next: despite her horrific injuries, Kashima didn’t die immediately. The frigid Hokkaido weather caused her blood vessels to constrict, preventing her from bleeding out quickly. Instead, she dragged herself to a nearby train station where, rather than receiving help, she was merely covered with a tarp by a station attendant and left to die a slow, agonizing death.
How the Teke Teke Ghost Hunts
The teke teke story states that the ghost’s vengeance now manifests in a terrifying way. Those who hear about her tale will, within three days, encounter her ghost—the upper half of a woman moving at incredible speeds of up to 150 kilometers per hour.
Despite her lack of legs, in the teke teke story, escape is virtually impossible, even by car. When she catches her victims, she slices them in half at the waist with a scythe or her bare hands, mirroring her own tragic fate.
The Riddles That Might Save Your Life
What sets the teke teke story apart from many other urban legends is the escape clause it offers. According to the legend, shortly after learning about Kashima Reiko, she will appear to you in a dream or through a mysterious phone call and ask you two specific questions:
- “Do you need your legs?”
- “Who told you my story?”
To survive a teke teke encounter, you must answer precisely:
- To the first question: “I need them right now.”
- To the second: “Kashima Reiko. Ka as in mask (仮面), shi as in death (死), ma as in demon (魔), rei as in ghost (霊), and ko as in accident (事故).”
Only by providing these exact answers might you be spared from her wrath.
The Cultural Impact of the Teke Teke Story
The teke teke story has permeated Japanese popular culture, appearing in horror movies, anime, manga, and video games. Like the Ushi Oni and other fearsome yokai, the teke teke has become a fixture in Japan’s supernatural landscape.
What makes the teke teke story particularly effective as an urban legend is its connection to mundane locations. Unlike the celestial guardians Byakko or Genbu, who dwell in the heavens, the teke teke haunts everyday spaces: train stations, dark streets, and other urban areas.
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Modern Variations of the Teke Teke Story
As with many urban legends, the teke teke story has evolved over time, with regional variations emerging across Japan:
- In some versions, victims of the teke teke become teke teke themselves
- Other variations claim the ghost is searching for her missing legs
- Some versions include protective charms or spells to ward off the spirit
- The teke teke sometimes goes by other onomatopoeic names like “shaka shaka,” “pata pata,” or “kata kata”
Learning Japanese Through Folklore
Interested in understanding more Japanese urban legends in their original language? Our Learn Japanese guide offers free resources to help you decode these fascinating stories. Understanding yokai terminology provides unique cultural insights that simply can’t be gained through conventional language study alone.
The teke teke story itself offers interesting linguistic elements. The name “teke teke” is onomatopoeic—a word that phonetically imitates the sound it describes, something Japanese is famous for. The language contains numerous such expressions, making it both challenging and rewarding to learn.
The Enduring Appeal of the Teke Teke Story
Urban legends like the teke teke story continue to captivate us because they blend the supernatural with the everyday. Unlike the playful umbrella yokai, which might provoke a smile, the teke teke elicits genuine fear by violating our sense of safety in ordinary spaces.
The teke teke story also reflects post-war anxieties in Japan, with its themes of American military presence, violence against women, and alienation from society. This gives what might otherwise be a simple ghost story deeper sociological significance.
Q&A About the Teke Teke Story
Q: Is the teke teke story based on a real event? A: No, the teke teke story is an urban legend without verified historical basis.
Q: How fast can the teke teke ghost move? A: According to legend, the teke teke can move at speeds of up to 150 kilometers per hour.
Q: What does “teke teke” mean? A: “Teke teke” is an onomatopoeic expression representing the sound made by the ghost’s hands as she drags herself along.
Q: How can one survive an encounter with the teke teke? A: The legend says you must correctly answer two riddles about needing your legs and knowing the meaning of Kashima Reiko’s name.
Q: What makes the teke teke story different from traditional yokai tales? A: The teke teke story is a modern urban legend from post-WWII Japan, while traditional yokai have existed in folklore for centuries.
The teke teke story stands as one of Japan’s most chilling urban legends, combining post-war trauma with supernatural horror. This vengeful ghost, moving at incredible speeds despite having no lower body, continues to terrify new generations of storytellers around campfires and in late-night conversations across Japan and beyond.
Remember, the next time you hear a strange “teke teke” sound on an empty street at night—don’t look back. Just run.
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