Kashima Reiko: The Legless Teke Teke Spirit of Japan

Oct 31

Like anywhere else in the world, Japan is said to be home to various legends and spirits out for revenge. Today we’re looking at a terrifying vengeful spirit, sometimes belonging to a young teen named Kashima Reiko, but more commonly known as Teke Teke.

But reader beware; according to legend, three days after learning about this vengeful spirit, she’ll come for you.

The Legend of Kashima Reiko

Several decades ago, teenager Kashima Reiko and her family moved to the bustling city of Sapporo in Hokkaido, Japan. Though her family loved their new home, Kashima always felt like an outsider.

At home, she was distant and considered the black sheep of the family. At school it was no better, her new classmates picked on her, making fun of her shyness and introversion.

Her classmates would make fun of her, push, poke, and taunt her all the way to the train station. One day as two of her classmates followed her to the station poking her and calling her names, another waited behind a pole for her to pass.

As Kashima approached, the classmate behind the pole stuck her leg out and the other two pushed Kashima from behind. Kashima lunged forward tripped over her bully’s leg and fell onto the tracks. The students laughed and pointed but their laughter quickly turned to shock as they heard a train approaching.

Kashima had slammed her head hard against the ground and through her confusion didn’t realize what was going on. Instead of helping, the bullies ran away as the train barrelled down and cut Kashima’s body in half.

For a few moments, Kashima was still alive. In shock, she dug her hands into the gravel below her and tried to lift herself up. Her upper body ripped away from her lower body as her intestines spilled out and Kashima finally died.

The Teke Teke Sounds

Witnesses to Kashima’s death never saw her classmates push her, they believed Kashima had fallen on her own and so- that became the official story. Her classmates faced no repercussions for their actions… or so it seemed.

Three days after Kashima’s death, the same classmates had stayed late at school and arrived at the train station after night had fallen. The train station, at this time, was empty and silent, only the cold air howled in the distance. The teens walked together laughing and fearing nothing until one heard a distant clacking sound.

The three stopped and listened as the sound grew closer, it now sounded like nails tapping quickly on pavement or cement, “teke teke teke teke”. The girls turned around and their eyes opened wide in fear. Their stomachs sank and knotted, their hearts pounded against their chests.

Just a few feet away from them was a bloody Kashima. The girls realized her lower body was gone as she lifted herself with her arms. Her fingers were now just bone, the flesh having been torn off from constantly dragging herself across gravel.

Teketeke Japan vengeful spirit — *Teketeke* Tsuburaya Productions (2009)

A smile grew on Kashima’s face as she was about to take her revenge. Kashima lunged forward, the bones on her fingers striking the pavement, “teke teke teke teke”.

Early the next morning a scream echoed through the station as the first patron found all three girls dead in a pool of blood. Their upper bodies torn from their lower bodies.

It’s said that Kashima’s spirit still wanders the train station at night, looking for other bullies to take revenge on. Other times she’s looking for her lost legs and will take the legs of those who can’t help her.

Either way, legends say that once you learn this story, Kashima will look for you, believing you know where her legs are. If you don’t know, she’ll take yours- just to try them out.

Variations

There are countless variations to this legend. It seems like different parts of Japan each have their own variation. Many have Kashima Reiko and the Teke Teke as two completely different spirits with the spirit of Kashima Reiko being the original urban legend passed around. These are just two of the more popular changes I could find.

Teke Teke of World War II

In this version of the legend, during or immediately after World War II, a young Japanese woman in Hokkaido was attacked and raped by several members of the American military. That night she jumped onto the train tracks from a bridge and was sliced in half by an oncoming train.

In these versions, it’s said that several people witnessed the woman jump and saw she was still alive after being sliced in half. Instead of helping, they ignored her believing there was nothing they could do for her. The young woman died a slow painful death. It’s said her spirit returned days later as a vengeful spirit angry at those who refused to help.

Kashima Reiko Variation

This version of the legend is extremely similar to the version above but instead of military personnel, it was men near the woman’s workplace. The city where this happens is not Hokkaido but depending on where you’re hearing it, could be in any of the other main islands of Japan.

In these versions, after her death, Kashima Reiko’s spirit haunts bathroom stalls. It’s not clear why it’s bathroom stalls but it may just be a variation of the popular haunted bathroom legends in Japan.

Over time legends get mixed up and soon you have every ghost or vengeful spirit visiting you in a bathroom stall. In this case, if Kashima finds you in a stall, she might ask you where her legs are or if you’re using yours. Other times she carries a scythe or a knife to make it easier to cut the legs of her victims.

There are several variations to the answers you can give to save yourself. If she asks where her legs are, you must say “On the Meishin Expressway”. If she asks if you’re using your legs, you’re supposed to say “I need to use them”. Any other answer will result in her ripping your legs off.

Depending on where you read or hear this legend you might find multiple different questions and answers but the two above are the most common ones I found. Either way, I couldn’t find any actual evidence of a Kashima Reiko dying by being cut in half by a train. In fact, some legends don’t give the spirit a name and she is just a nameless student or office worker.

As for Kashima paying you a visit, some legends say three days while others say a month. Sometimes the legends add that you can avoid a visit by telling someone the story as she’ll then target them instead.

Clearly, it’s just a way for the story to spread, like one of those email chain letters that threaten you or your family… or it’s completely true but if you’re reading this, at least I know I’m safe.