Fascinating Folklore: Teke Teke

Written By Claire Tobyn

Ancient Folklore has now transcended into tales of Urban Legends. Instead of tales passing by way of word of mouth as they did in the old days. Now you normally find them posted all over the internet, in places such as Creepypasta and Reddit. But many of these tales have a history that goes back way including our tale today of Teke Teke, from Japan. Urban legends and folklore are normally used as cautionary tales, just like in last months blog on the Kelpie warning children to stay away from the water’s edge. But this legend is a lot more about moral decisions that we make every day. 

Many moral conundrums come to mind, including:

  • Don’t talk to strangers

  • Don’t walk home alone at night

  • Don’t bully other people 

  • Be kind to other people

Teke Teke is a vengeful spirit known as an Onryo. These spirits are usually depicted as a wronged woman who met their untimely demise at the cause of another, or due to someone else’s actions. The story of Teke Teke may seem familiar even though you may not necessarily know the name but I’m sure you have heard the story or something along a similar vibe. The traditional version dates back to the end of World War Two. Where a schoolgirl is bullied by other children who start throwing rocks at her on a bridge. This made her lose her balance and she fell over the railing onto the train tracks below. Unfortunately, the fall was not enough to kill her but as injured as she was, she couldn’t get out of the way of the oncoming train, cutting her in two. Yet again this wasn’t enough to kill the poor girl and as she was bleeding out on the tracks, she tried to drag herself to an employee or other people around for help, but they were shocked by her appearance and ran away in fright leaving her to die alone.  

Her spirit is vengeful for many reasons including those that bullied her, leading her to fall, and the passers-by who ignored her.  In some retellings of the story she may have been attacked by a man or even a soldier, raping her and taking away her virginity, yet another reason for vengeance.


So how does she appear and make her presence known? She is normally seen with long dark hair covering her face and is in her school uniform… or at least half of it. Instead of the traditional skirt and legs, her guts and the base of her spine are hanging.  The name Teke Teke in English translates to click clack. This is because it is the sound she makes as she drags the top half of her body around the floor. She is known to haunt urban areas, normally around a train station, but the first telltale sign is the scuttling sound. If she catches up to you, she will ask where are her legs, and if you do not answer she will slice you in two just like her with her scythe. The only way to survive an encounter is to tell her that her legs are at the Meishin Expressway between Osaka and Nagoya. 

There are some ways to protect yourself from a chance encounter with Teke Teke. Omamori charms are usually found in Shinto temples and are amulets that are said to provide luck, protection, and include warding off negativity.  They can be kept on your person, in your car, in your bag, or anywhere that feels right. Inside the small pouch will be a prayer and this is what gives protection from Teke Teke. 

So next time you are walking home late at night, and hear the rattle of a train nearby…keep your wits about you and listen carefully and pray you don’t hear scuttling….

Sources:

Claire Tobyn https://www.clairescauldron.co.uk
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Fascination Folklore: Kelpies