The Haunting Japanese Ghost Story of Teke Teke

The legend of Teke Teke is one of Japan's most terrifying urban myths. Rumor has it that she was once a shy, introverted schoolgirl bullied relentlessly by her classmates. One day, while waiting for a train, a group of bullies played a cruel prank by placing a bug on her shoulder. Panicked, she tried to shake it off and fell onto the train tracks, where she was tragically cut in half by an oncoming train. Now, as an angry and vengeful spirit, she crawls through the streets, searching for her next victim. With her sharp nails—or sometimes a scythe—she's ready to cut anyone she encounters in half, just as she was.

Picture this: you're walking the quiet streets of Japan on a gloomy night. A light rain falls, but it doesn't matter—you enjoy the eerie calm, soaking in the sights and sounds of the city. As you approach the train platform, you feel the weight of the past few strange days pressing down on you. It's so quiet, almost too quiet, but still, you press on.
Then, you hear it—teke teke teke teke. The sound echoes through the night, making your pulse quicken. You stop, looking around, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise. There it is again—teke teke teke teke.
Suddenly, you see something crawling toward you. Your heart races. It's a girl, or what's left of one. She's missing the entire lower half of her body, and blood drips from where her legs and hips should be. The sound you hear—teke teke teke—is the scraping of her long, razor-sharp fingernails against the ground as she pulls herself closer, leaving a trail of blood behind.
This is Teke Teke, and she's coming for you.

The Legend of Kashima Reiko

Teke Teke's haunting tale is often linked to another spine-tingling story: that of Kashima Reiko. This legend also takes place at a train station, where a young woman was brutally attacked in a bathroom stall by a group of men. After the assault, she desperately tried to escape but stumbled onto the tracks, where she, too, was cut in half by a train.

Kashima Reiko's spirit is said to haunt train station bathrooms, especially on the darkest of nights. She knocks on the doors of occupied stalls, asking the terrified occupant, "Where are my legs?" To survive the encounter, you must answer her correctly: "On the Meishin Expressway." But it doesn't end there. She'll then ask, "Who told you?" The correct response is, "Kashima Reiko told me." But if she asks, "What is my name?" you must not say "Kashima Reiko." Instead, you must reply with "Mask Death Demon." Hesitate or give the wrong answer, and she will crawl under the stall to take your legs for herself.

The Chilling Parallels

Both Teke Teke and Kashima Reiko represent terrifying, vengeful spirits tied to tragic deaths at train stations. Their stories tap into the fear of being chased, hunted, and ultimately punished by forces beyond our control. Whether it's Teke Teke dragging herself through the streets or Kashima Reiko haunting bathroom stalls, these spirits reflect the darker side of urban life in Japan, where even the most mundane locations—train stations and public bathrooms—become the stage for nightmarish encounters.

How to Avoid Teke Teke and Kashima Reiko

If you ever find yourself walking alone at night in Japan, especially near a train station, heed the warnings of these urban legends. Avoid staying out late, and if you hear the telltale teke teke teke sound, don't stick around to find out what's making it. And if you ever encounter Kashima Reiko in a bathroom stall, remember the key to survival: answer quickly, and never hesitate.