Kuchisake-onna, or the “Slit-Mouthed Woman,” is one of the scariest characters of Japanese urban legend. She is typically portrayed as a woman with a macabre mouth, which is slit from ear to ear. The story surrounding her is chilling and often linked to horror and bad omens.
It is said that if you say she is beautiful, it could be taken as an unpleasant gesture or even a tantrum, as the beauty of the creepy female character is often linked to her tragic and horrifying countenance. According to some legends, she asks people if she is beautiful. Once they say “yes,” she appears in her uncouth version with a disfigured face. There is a belief that she may harm them or ask them again, often leaving them in a state of terror.
Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman (2007)
The general concept of charm, in her case, appears more like a sinister paradox. In her case, beauty and horror are interwoven. Telling her she is beautiful might offend her and likely invite supernatural consequences. Praising such a vengeful spirit can be counterproductive, as it can be a risky affair to say that because her beauty is often portrayed as an illusion, woven in the texture of horror.
Kushisake onna story
She generally appears wearing a mask or veil and asks if you think she’s beautiful. Here, you can dive deep into the scary legend:
The Japanese urban legend has roots in the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries).
The generally known version involves a beautiful woman who is married to a samurai.
The samurai, who often stayed away from home fighting enemies, suspects his wife of infidelity. The enraged man slashes her mouth from ear to ear as punishment.
After her horrific demise, the woman’s spirit keeps scaring away people on the streets, seeking revenge.
People encounter Kuchisake-onna, who is often seen wearing a mask, and she asks them, “Am I pretty?”.
If the person says “no,” she reveals her mutilated face and attacks them with a pair of scissors probably like the way she was treated by her husband. If they say “yes,” she reveals her face and asks again.
Another version of the folklore suggests that the woman’s mouth was mutilated during a medical or dental procedure or by a jealous woman, often her sister.
Is she still alive?
She is a scary figure of Japanese folklore and is not supposed to be a real person. The woman can be rather a mythical or supernatural being. Stories about her have been passed down from generation to generation, with various versions of her legend featuring in different parts of Japan. Modern urban legends and encounters people claim to have had are usually part of the ongoing tales in vogue around her. No factual evidence is available that she is a living entity.
How to get rid of Kuchisake Onna?
One effective way can be looking to distract her by giving confusing answers.
For example, if she asks, “Am I pretty?” one can respond with something ambiguous. Words can be “You’re average” or “So-so.” This may fox her and the person can get long enough time to escape.
Utter certain words to stave off her
According to folklore, she hates a word, probably as the doctor who disfigured her used it. Uttering ‘Pomade’ (ポマード – pomaado) three times might drive her away.
Give her candy or hard-to-chew food
Some say offering bekko ame, a type of Japanese caramel candy, distracts her while one can run.
Beat the supernatural being in her own game
Wearing a mask to match her energy with one’s mask might confuse her or make her back off.
Escape fast by running
In some versions of the story, she can only walk, so running away fast from her might work.
Not answering the question
Don’t answer her question. Stopping her response may make her vanish — but it can be risky.
Carved The Slit-Mouthed Woman
The film adds a twist — she can possess people and often targets children. Teachers and police are clueless to deal with the horror. The people live in hushed silence. They are too terrified to utter her name, believing sounds give her power.
She isn’t just slashing — but she abducts kids and hides them, tortures them before killing them. Before appearing she makes an eerie whistle, which becomes an alarm for fright.
The Chilling version of Kuchisake-Onna
In quiet Japanese suburbs, the legend wasn’t just a ghost story — it is taken as real. In the late 1970s, reports started spreading of children disappearing after school, especially on foggy afternoons. Survivors spoke about a strange woman who wore a long trench coat, gloves, and a surgical mask. She used her soft voice to lure victims to their death.
She would step out from alleys or behind trees and ask:
“Am I pretty?”