Urban Legends

Hachishakusama

Origin: Japan

The Japanese urban legend of Hachishakusama, also known as "The Eight Feet Tall Woman," is a chilling tale, passed down through Japanese folklore. The name Hachishakusama translates to "eight feet tall," describing the unnaturally tall appearance of this supernatural entity. 

Hachishakusama is often described as a tall, ghostly woman, reaching about eight feet in height, wearing a long white dress or a similar garment. Her appearance may vary slightly across stories, but one consistent feature is her towering height, which makes her immediately unsettling. Some descriptions add that she has a pale face and a deep, low voice, almost masculine, through which she makes a distinctive sound like "Po... Po... Po..." This sound is a signature indication of her presence.

The legend typically follows the story of a young person, often a child or teenager, who encounters Hachishakusama by chance. Upon meeting her or hearing her voice, the individual becomes "marked," and she begins to follow them. According to the stories, anyone who hears the characteristic "Po... Po..." sound and is seen by Hachishakusama is cursed and will be pursued until they are taken by her.

Traditionally, there are few defenses against her, but local villagers or family elders may try protective rituals. In many stories, a person marked by Hachishakusama has to remain indoors or leave the village under strict precautions to avoid being taken. People seeking protection often use sacred objects, charms, or the guidance of a local spiritual figure, such as a monk or priest, to escape her grasp.

Hachishakusama is part of the broader tradition of Japanese urban legends involving mysterious or vengeful spirits. Like other legends, this tale serves as a cautionary story, especially for children, to stay away from secluded areas and heed the guidance of their elders. Hachishakusama embodies both the mystique and dread associated with the supernatural and the idea of violating unseen, ancient taboos.

A young boy, let's call him Kenji, went to his grandparents' village for the summer. It was a quiet, old place, where everyone knew each other. One afternoon, while playing in his grandparents' yard, he heard a strange sound, "Po... Po... Po..." drifting on the wind. He looked around but saw nothing unusual, though he felt an eerie chill.

Later, as he was about to go inside, Kenji spotted something strange from the corner of his eye—a tall, thin figure standing just outside the garden fence. She was a woman, towering and dressed in a long, white dress that seemed to float. Her face was obscured by her long, dark hair, and as Kenji stared, she turned slightly, letting out the same low sound, "Po... Po..."

Kenji rushed inside, frightened. He told his grandmother what he'd seen. Her face went pale, and she grabbed his hand, pulling him into the house. She made a phone call, speaking in hurried, hushed tones. Soon, a group of village elders gathered in the house, and Kenji was instructed to stay in a room lined with salt and a small statue of a Buddha in the corner.

Throughout the night, he heard the unsettling "Po... Po..." sound circling the house. His grandparents told him not to answer if he heard anyone calling his name. They explained that he had been "marked" by Hachishakusama, the Eight Feet Tall Woman and that she would not stop until she took him. They said the salt and the statue would keep her at bay until they could safely remove the curse.

The next morning, the elders told Kenji he would have to leave the village for his safety. They covered him with protective charms and instructed him to keep his eyes down as they led him out. As he walked past the village's boundary, Kenji heard her voice for the last time, fading away as if she was finally letting him go.

After leaving, Kenji never returned to that village, and his family warned him never to look back.

After Kenji returned to his home city, he thought about the strange encounter often, though his family urged him to try to forget. They reminded him that she only targeted those within the village and that her reach was limited. His grandparents even advised him to avoid talking about it, warning that even mentioning her name could sometimes invite her presence.

Years passed, and Kenji grew up, eventually moving to another city for work. One day, he received an urgent call—his grandfather was ill, and his grandmother requested he visit. Despite the haunting memories, Kenji felt obligated to return to the village to see his grandparents.

As he arrived, he felt the familiar chill, and those memories came rushing back. He reassured himself that the protective charms he carried would keep him safe, though something about the village felt darker, more stifling than he remembered. That night, he sat by his grandfather's side until he fell asleep in his chair.

Suddenly, Kenji woke to an eerie silence. The room felt colder than it should, and in the quiet of the night, he heard it—a low, rhythmic "Po... Po... Po..." echoing from outside his window. His heart raced, and he gripped his charm tightly, remembering his grandmother's instructions not to look or respond.

But then came a whisper—a voice, his grandfather's, calling his name gently from outside. The sound seemed off, hollow as if carried on the wind. Kenji's hands began to shake. He knew it was her, trying to lure him out by imitating a familiar voice. He closed his eyes, whispered a prayer, and refused to move, staying silent until dawn.

When morning finally came, he learned from his grandmother that Hachishakusama had only become more persistent over the years, relentlessly pursuing those she had marked. The villagers explained that she had begun using new tricks, mimicking loved ones' voices or appearing briefly in reflections. She had grown stronger, and hungrier for those who once escaped her.

After his visit, Kenji left the village and vowed never to return, but the encounter left him haunted. Even in his city apartment, he sometimes thought he heard that familiar, chilling sound, faint but undeniable as if reminding him that he would never truly be free from Hachishakusama's grasp.