JAPANESE URBAN LEGENDS

OKIKU (Inspired by the making of Sadako)

DISCLAIMER!!:
Not to get confused with the Okiku doll, but this story is much different from the doll!! So they might get mixed up!!

Version 1
There are two versions of the urban legend, we shall talk about the first one. This can be traced back to the shogunate era. This one involves Himeji Castle, a familiar tourist hotspot to travelers. Okiku, a lowly servant of a samurai, overheard her master's plot to murder a warrior who she fancied. The plan was averted, however, she didn't escape unharmed. Okiku was accused of stealing one of the 10 valuable plates owned by her master, therefore, she was thrown into a well. Okiku's spirit rises from the well and drove the samurai mad with her constant counting and heart-wrenching cries.

The Ring
This story inspired the director of the popular horror franchise, "The Ring", to create the character, "Sadako Samara". In both stories, both of the spirits were wronged and came out of wells for vengeance.

Version 2
A samurai, Aoyama Tessan, took a liking to a beautiful servant named Okiku. She repeatedly refused his advances, which had angered the samurai. Therefore, he hid one of his precious plates and blamed the disappearance of the plate on Okiku, she frantically counted the plates over and over again, there was still no tenth plate. The samurai offered to pardon her, only if she agreed to be his lover. She again refused and pushed her down a well in rage. She always rose from the well every night and counted from one to nine, grieving over the plate that she had never found.

RIP Okiku.🕊️