Kuchisake-Onna: Do you think I'm Pretty? - Japanese Myth - Extra Mythology

Step into the shadowy world of Japanese yokai as we delve into the spine-tingling legend of Kuchisake-Onna, the slit-faced woman. From her ominous origins to the eerie encounters with this supernatural entity, join us on a journey that will send shivers down your spine. Learn the chilling consequences of uttering a single phrase and the bizarre way to outsmart this otherworldly threat. This spooky season, beware the question: "Am I pretty?" Subscribe for more spine-tingling tales of folklore and the paranormal!

Artist: Jordan Martin I Writer: Mathew Brule I Voice: Matthew Krol I Video Editor: Devon House Creative I Audio Editor: Clean Waves I ♪ Music: "Extra Mythology Theme" by Big Giant Circles

#ExtraMythology #JapaneseCulture #Mythology

[brotquel]

Another solution I love to the Kuchisake-onna problem is simply answering "Sorry, I am in a hurry" and she'll let you go out of politeness, so to not inconvenience you.
So many yokai are polite it's fascinating, like how you can incapacitate a kappa by bowing to it, the kappa will reciprocate thus spilling all the water from the bowl on their head and losing all their strength.
Gotta love how such a still alive and modern folklore has a bizzarre recurring theme such as politeness and etiquette.

[zogkuma]

I have heard that this yokai also appears before young men too with the same questions and consequences, however, the trick is to tell her "I have a girlfriend." That way, she will leave them alone, leaving them unscathed.

[TheeMusicalARM]

I wonder what the kuchisake-onna would do if someone replied to her question with, "Do you think you're pretty? How you see yourself is more important than how others see you."

[PramkLuna]

The fact that you can tell her you're running late for a meeting and she'll let you go is pretty funny for something you're supposed to fear.

"Sure I'll kill you if I want to, but I'm not monstrous enough to make you skip a meeting"

[CaitiffPrimogen]

Kuchisake-Onna: Do you *still* think I'm pretty?
Me: Actually I'm kind of into that...
Kuchisake-Onna: OK, no. You've made it weird now. I'm going.

[kaltaron]

Kuchisake-onna (口裂け女) litterally means woman with a tourn or cut-up mouth. There's many different variations.
The escape method with the sweets isn't so much about them being sweets but that she has a compulsion to pick them up one for one.
Others include not answering her questions directly or stating that you're in a hurry and have no time. Just running doesn't work though.

[aperson]

“Do you think I’m pretty?” gives me the same vibes as “ let’s put a smile on that face”

[deadlydingus]

Kichisake Onna: Do you think I’m pretty?
Me: Are you flirting with me?

[mattkent]

“Ma’am I’ve been on a ship for months now, you drop dead gorgeous.” Some unknowing American Navy Sailor

[SaiGade-gowp]

The answer is always yes, especially if it's your wife.

[geofff.]

Other things that supposedly work:

"Maybe, I'm not sure. Can I have some time to think about it, please?"

and


"I'm really sorry, but I'm late for an important appointment."

[Musicbox_]

It is always good to have a second teacher of history, books, and even mythology. Keep up the great work, Extra Credits people!

[YOSSARIAN]

I love how this myth is basically a creepy pasta

[Wolfiyeethegranddukecerberus]

This is like the Ol Higue from West Indian folklore, who's basically a flayed vampire who will stop to count rice grains if you drop them near your doorstep. Who knew terrifying monsters could be so meticulous?

[RedCyberLizzie]

"Do you think I'm pretty?"
"Would you like some candy?"
Works with girlfriends, wives, and yokai.

[RiverBroslife]

The fact that it would be harder to find kuchisake during Covid with all of the masks

[mutantmaster]

Fun fact: Kuchisake Ohna is the monster from Ghost Stories that was part of the Dropped Episode.
Apparently she's defeated by one of the snarky characters by straight up telling her "no, you're ugly and i hate you"

[Pillzpop]

I've heard of other roundabout ways to avoid getting maimed by her. One of them is to describe her appearance as average. The other is to ask her if she thinks she's pretty.

[DDlambchop]

funny. the version I read was a woman was married to an unstable man and he finally snapped and slit her mouth cause she was leaving him. He suddenly regretted it and turned the blade on himself. Also, I never read anything about children being targeted; it's usually just people she runs into. She asks, "Am I pretty?"; if you say yes, she takes off the mask and says, "HOW ABOUT NOW?" if you say no, well...she'll slice you no matter what.

[therealopaartist]

Imagine if she asked a blind person this.

“Uuuh…I don’t know?”