• Lore & Legends | "Am I Beautiful?" The Haunting of Kuchisake-Onna

  • Jan 5 2025
  • Length: 30 mins
  • Podcast

Lore & Legends | "Am I Beautiful?" The Haunting of Kuchisake-Onna

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  • Summary

  • In a time long past, Akiko was known for her beauty, a treasure admired by all, yet it became her greatest curse. As the lonely wife of a distant samurai, whispers of betrayal turned her husband’s love to cruelty. His blade marred her face, and his final words cut deeper than steel: “Who will find you beautiful now?

    Betrayed and broken, Akiko’s grief festered into vengeance. From her suffering rose the Kuchisake-Onna—the Slit-Mouthed Woman. Now, her spirit roams the shadows, asking a question laced with peril: "Am I beautiful?”

    Her tale is one of heartbreak, revenge, and the haunting presence of a legend that refuses to fade.

    Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown.

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    Visit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more!

    Influences:

    • Kuchisake-onna (Slit-Mouthed Woman) Legend: The legend of Kuchisake-onna is rooted in Japanese folklore. She is a ghost who wears a mask and asks people if they think she is beautiful, revealing a grotesque slit from ear to ear when they respond, leading to a fatal encounter.
    • Japanese Yokai and Folklore: The creation of the narrative, including the transformation from vengeful spirit to guardian, was inspired by general themes in Japanese folklore where spirits evolve, interact with the living, and sometimes atone for their past actions, as seen in stories like Yuki-onna, Jorogumo, and Tengu. These spirits often embody the concept of redemption or transformation after they are freed from a curse or personal torment.
    • The Symbolism of Masks and Faces: The mask in Kuchisake-onna’s legend is a common trope in folklore, often symbolizing hidden identity or trauma. This element was woven into the narrative to represent Akiko's struggle with her own identity and her eventual redemption.
    • Traditional Themes of Redemption and Vengeance in Japanese Folklore: Themes of revenge, transformation, and reconciliation are common in Japanese folklore. The motif of a spirit or figure who haunts others, only to later seek redemption, is reflected in many stories, such as the transformation of spirits in Kaidan (Japanese ghost stories) and modern interpretations of ancient legends.
    Other inspiration:
    • "Yokai Attack! The Japanese Monster Survival Guide" by Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt (for an introduction to Japanese spirits and yokai)
    • "The Dark Side of the Moon: A Folklore and History of Japanese Ghosts" by Michael Dylan Foster
    • Japanese Ghosts and Demons: Art of the Supernatural" by Stephen Addiss


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