The Woman Who Kept Staring

Estimated Studying Time — 7 minutes

Japan
2007 – Michael B.

That is the primary nation I bear in mind clearly. I do not imply to sound non secular, however I can say indisputably that I’ve an odd religious connection to it. It introduced me out of my shell and gave me inspiration for artwork, pictures, journals and over-organization.

To this present day, I nonetheless dream of coming again and being the happiest particular person on the planet as a result of I type of acquired again to my roots as an individual. My love of tradition and journey began right here.

I used to be fascinated by how the panorama may change, from the trendy cities of Tokyo and Shibuya to the peaceable temples of Kyoto and Nikko. You alter time in a number of hours.

The individuals have been on a brand new degree of thoughtfulness, however at different instances they have been oddly impolite in my reminiscence, however by no means as soon as bodily hostile in the direction of us. I bear in mind one time once I was referred to as a gaijin for simply talking English – getting misplaced and ignored by everybody round me regardless of asking for assist. Possibly my reminiscence failed me and there are gaps in my reminiscences, however I noticed how completely different Japanese individuals have been once I returned to america. Tradition shock hit me once I realized how completely different our peoples have been from one another.

After all, I would not point out Japan if one thing did not occur to me there.

We have been staying with my grandmother. On the time, she was working and residing in Kanagawa. She lived in a really small residence with just one bed room and one rest room. It was a fragile lounge and a kitchen that was longer than it was huge because it stretched awkwardly alongside the wall. In different phrases, a spot far too small for six individuals. I beloved it, nevertheless. I am unable to let you know why, however I did.

Our neighbors throughout from us have been a younger couple who lately had a child. We nonetheless get Christmas letters from them yearly to this present day.

Then we had an older girl on our proper, who was largely working, however I suppose we hadn’t been within the residence too lengthy earlier than heading out to do our sightseeing.

The final group of neighbors I bear in mind have been these on the finish of the corridor. They have been additionally a younger couple. They’d two youngsters. Their names have been Hitomi (spouse) and Hishoe (husband). Sadly, I don’t bear in mind the names of their youngsters.

Whereas my mother and father befriended Hishoe and Hitomi, I rapidly turned mates with their youngsters. Though I do not know quite a lot of phrases in Japanese and nearly no English on their behalf, we acquired alongside effectively. After they got here house from faculty, we performed with our toys and video games simply outdoors our again patio. Hitomi spoke some English and she or he communicated with us each time we met at any time of the day. Our exchanges visited us in Shibuya – a day I bear in mind very effectively, even in spite of everything this time.

The street to the closest prepare station would take us by means of a Buddhist temple. It had a really off-putting vibe each time you approached it. Being idiots, we even walked across the courtyard at some point to take photos of the statues. Coming into the compound gave me the weirdest feeling doable. The vibe I felt trying on the faces of the sculptures made me assume I used to be taking a look at one thing that was capable of look again.

I have not informed my mother and father, my mates, and even my sisters, however Japan is the one place on the planet I have been the place I swear I’ve seen statues transfer, blink, and even transfer. The temples we visited there have been spectacular, do not get me mistaken, however there is not any denying that not the whole lot the Japanese worshiped there was good; they have been pure evil. That is the kind of evil that I discovered to be strictly distinctive to Japan specifically.
Hitomi informed us that she did not just like the temple both, and she or he informed us why one night after coming to dinner. She elaborated her story on a desk when she first invited us to Shibuya.

When she was younger, she walked house from faculty utilizing our regularly used route. Apparently she informed us her aunt stopped her on the entrance and so they performed collectively for a substantial period of time earlier than she continued on her journey house. By itself, this story was healthful, however when she caught her breath, even I noticed there was extra to her story.

Her aunt had handed away and had been lifeless for a while. After listening to this story, Hitomi’s mom informed her to steer clear of the temple from then on. So even after rising up, getting married, and having her personal youngsters, Hitomi saved that promise to her mom and did not come close to that constructing.

Hitomi was one of many first individuals in my life to offer me a style of the supernatural outdoors of my household. Past that, nevertheless, she was the primary particular person in Japan to inform me not directly in regards to the folklore and mysteries of her individuals.
My first journey to Japan was the perfect international journey I’ll ever take, regardless of the unusual occasions I skilled there. I’ve traveled the world with completely different individuals and mates, however the first time with my household was, and nonetheless is, sacred. I might by no means commerce the reminiscences I made there for something.

The second time round was a little bit extra impactful, although. We returned as missionaries a couple of yr or two after the primary journey since we had met a number of different pastors there. They weren’t Japanese; as a substitute, they have been primarily Filipino. I say largely Filipinos, however there have been additionally Japanese concerned, even East Indians. I discovered myself admiring the mixing of various cultures with one another. It was enlightening to see individuals from different international locations worshiping Almighty God since all of us had distinctive methods of doing it. However I digress.

I beloved Kanagawa. I did it. Taking it out a second time was extra difficult to money in than the primary time. It was the saddest day I’ve ever spent overseas. I knew I used to be leaving a rustic I’d by no means see once more. I used to be so thirsty for extra Japanese tradition! I did not wish to go, not but! I used to be not prepared to go away the island. My expertise there’s nonetheless unmatched… One in all our shut Japanese mates would typically say “sayonara” when leaving the locations we visited.

He informed us that “sayonara” in Japanese tradition has a deeper which means than what we use it for within the West. It isn’t only a easy technique to say “goodbye”. Rather more significant was how our driver mentioned it. It was certainly a farewell. My second time wasn’t as intimate as the primary, and I already knew that if I got here again a 3rd time, it would not even scratch the floor of the second.

I used to be so misplaced in my world of self-pity. I used to be unaware of this unnerving feeling build up in my nerves.

It has been years now since I’ve skilled this, however I really feel like I am being watched even now, as I write this. I do know I used to be raped right here, however I am unable to clarify why. Desirous about that precise second makes my complete physique really feel dangerous and I begin to really feel annoying anxiousness.

Japan has an amazing historical past and the folklore includes among the weirdest city legends and myths I do know. As I bear in mind this incident, I am unable to assist however marvel what number of of those legends are true. I am unable to overlook her, regardless of how arduous I strive. I do not know what “delusion” or “legend” this falls into, nevertheless it wasn’t the slit-mouthed girl or some fucking Yurei spirit.

Once I got here to and regarded round I noticed a lady standing on the bus cease we have been approaching. She was the everyday horror film character. White kimono and bow. Lengthy black hair and pale, waxy pores and skin. His expression was frank and empty. She regarded younger and would have been barely enticing if she did not look lifeless.

A number of of us seen this girl, however many people determined to disregard her. Nonetheless, I could not take my eyes off her. I bear in mind how tense my physique was once we acquired to the bus cease. I did not wish to be 50 toes away from her, however she was proper there on the bus cease, so I had no selection. The opposite individuals in entrance of us have been standing 15 toes away from her, however in my view, we have been all too near this girl.

For half-hour, she did not transfer or say something. She did not even transfer her legs or flip; she was simply standing in the identical spot till our bus arrived.

After we all loaded inside, I managed to search out the correct seat in entrance of her. The ladies in entrance of me began laughing and pointing and saying “Kowai! Kuwait!” (“Scary! Scary!”) to one another. Sadly, I didn’t share the identical humorousness.

For an additional 10-Quarter-hour she did the identical. She simply stood in her place with out shifting an inch. Taking a look at. It was apparent that she wasn’t concentrating on the bus; it was extra like she was taking a look at one thing by means of the bus – drawn into one thing nobody may see.

I drew my consideration to one thing else at one level, and my gaze of her was shattered. Once I returned my gaze, I discovered her staring straight at me with a horribly broad, morbid expression. His eyes have been colorless – simply huge black dots on his sclera.

I did not must struggle the urge to leap or scream; I used to be so shocked that each one I may do was look straight at her earlier than the bus began to tug away. This expertise in itself made me really feel uncomfortable, nevertheless it did not cease there. I noticed the identical girl numerous instances within the areas we handed by means of. Below bridges, in crowds and in remoted corners of the road. She wasn’t taking a look at me anymore, however I nonetheless felt like she was taking a look at me anyway. My sense of safety, up to now, has been turned to hell.

I attempted searching for photos of this girl in my picture albums and my outdated digicam, however I am unable to discover her anyplace. I’ve tried to analysis and ask individuals about this phenomenon, however I at all times get the identical reply to the mistaken query.

What I noticed was not a Yurei. I do know that for certain. The options are there, however nothing I’ve learn or heard ever mentioned that they have been following you for thus lengthy or watching you with such a morbid expression.

So what did I see? I’ve by no means had the consolation of listening to anybody else undergo this. I really feel alone on this matter, and bringing it up in dialog by no means goes effectively. It isn’t only a story that I like to inform. It isn’t even one thing I wish to go into.

…If she was a Yurei, why did I see her so typically after shifting away from her hometown? And why did she discover me?

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