Eps 15: Dream school Japanese urban legend
— Scary
The podcast discusses a Japanese urban legend about a dream school. According to the legend, if someone falls asleep while reminiscing about their school days with a strong sense of nostalgia and regret, they might find themselves in a mysterious, otherworldly school. This dream school is an eerie, endless labyrinth filled with dark hallways and unease. Within this never-ending structure, individuals encounter ghostly apparitions of former classmates and teachers, along with unsettling experiences that reflect their past regrets and unresolved emotions. The legend warns that those who get too immersed or lost in the dream school might struggle to wake up and return to reality.
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Host
Isobel Graves
Podcast Content
The legend speaks of a ghostly figure known as Hanako-san, a spirit who is said to haunt school bathrooms. According to the tale, Hanako-san appears before students who are deeply anxious about their entrance exams. They say that if you find yourself alone in a dimly lit bathroom, she may appear from the third stall to offer help—but at a steep price. The anxious student must ask, "Hanako-san, are you there?" If a voice answers, the legend advises you to leave immediately.
Those who ignore this advice and proceed to ask for aid in passing their exams might find their wishes granted. However, this assistance doesn't come freely. The price for success is often one's own soul, becoming tethered to the haunted school forever, unable to leave its premises even after achieving academic success. This spectral figure preys on the fears and desperation of students, providing a supernatural edge to the already high-stress environment of Japanese entrance exams.
Some variations of the legend suggest that Hanako-san doesn't merely grant or deny assistance but also predicts the student’s future performance. If she deems a student's plea sincere and their effort genuine, she might offer a cryptic clue or encouragement rather than a direct intervention. Conversely, those who seek her help out of laziness or an unwillingness to study might face terrifying consequences, such as seeing horrific visions or being subjected to relentless nightmares, driving some to the brink of madness.
Hanako-san's tale serves as a chilling reminder of the lengths to which some might consider going to achieve their academic dreams, and the potentially dark consequences of taking shortcuts. It underscores the intense pressure placed on Japanese students and the pervasive culture of striving for success at any cost. Schools themselves become characters in these stories—hallowed halls where the aspirations and nightmares of countless students intertwine with the supernatural.
While many dismiss it as mere fiction, the story of Hanako-san remains a powerful narrative in Japanese folklore. It’s a legend that not only instills fear but also emphasizes the values of hard work, determination, and the importance of facing challenges without succumbing to easy but perilous shortcuts. Whether as a ghostly figure in bathroom stalls or as a metaphor for the pitfalls of desperation, Hanako-san remains a spectral guardian of academic integrity in the tapestry of Japanese urban legends.