She asked me if she was beautiful.
Six years ago, when I was still in my twenties, I worked as a sales representative, and my job required me to travel frequently from one country to another.
On that fateful day, I was instructed to travel to Japan. The ticket had already been booked, and I was expected to close a highly profitable deal—there was no way I could refuse. I still remember it was a Wednesday, and my flight was scheduled for Thursday night.
I accepted the assignment and went to prepare my things. It came as a surprise to both me and my family. I asked my mother to help pack my suitcase, then went to take a shower. Afterward, I had dinner and went to bed, falling into a deep sleep from sheer exhaustion.
I woke up the next day around noon, got ready, and waited until 5 p.m. Saying goodbye to my family was difficult, but I eventually left for the airport, arriving around 7:30.
Before long, I was on the plane. I felt uneasy about the trip, though I couldn’t explain why. Time passed quickly, and I arrived in Japan, then headed to the apartment I had rented in advance.
I rested that day and went to work the following morning. The workload was overwhelming, and I didn’t finish until late.
On my way back to the apartment that night, I noticed the streets were completely empty. Yet, I could hear footsteps behind me. Every time I turned around, there was no one there. A deep sense of fear crept over me, as if someone was following me.
I told my roommate about it, and I noticed a strange look on his face—almost as if he was scared—but he reassured me, saying it was probably just my imagination or exhaustion playing tricks on me.
His reaction puzzled me, but I didn’t think much of it.
The incidents kept happening, again and again, until one day, a beautiful woman wearing a face mask stopped me and asked, “Am I beautiful?”
I ignored her at first, but she kept returning, following me.
It became increasingly disturbing, yet I chose not to tell anyone—not even my roommate anymore.
One day, she stopped me again. This time, I didn’t want to seem bothered. She asked the same question: “Am I beautiful?”
I replied, “Yes, you are.”
She then removed her mask and asked again, “Am I beautiful?”
I looked at her face… and froze in terror.
Her mouth was slit from ear to ear.
I couldn’t answer. I ran with all the strength I had. In my panic, I lost my sense of direction and couldn’t even remember where my apartment was.
I ran aimlessly. Strangely, she didn’t chase me—she just watched, her horrifying face fixed on me… until she disappeared into the darkness.
I stopped to catch my breath, still in shock.
At that moment, an elderly woman saw me. She took me into her home, offered me a warm cup of coffee, calmed me down, and asked what had happened.
I told her everything.
She explained that the woman I saw is known as the “Slit-Mouthed Woman,” a terrifying spirit—or perhaps a real woman—who appears at night wearing a mask. She asks people, especially children, “Am I beautiful?”
If you say yes, she removes her mask and reveals her disfigured mouth, then asks again. If you say no, she may attack immediately. And if you respond incorrectly or try to run, she might chase you or harm you with scissors or another sharp object.
I was deeply shaken by what I heard and realized I had escaped by sheer miracle.
I didn’t wait any longer. I canceled my work, booked a return ticket home, and decided never to go back to that place again.
