Every nation has its own share of creepy and strange urban legends that never fails to scare anyone who have heard its chilling story. Just like in Japan, A disfigured Japanese woman who uses large scissors and haunts young children. The woman was said to have an enormous slit mouth, which extends from ear to ear in a horrible, permanent smile.
Kuchisake-onna (口裂け女?, "Slit-Mouthed Woman") is a figure appearing in Japanese urban legends. She is a woman who was mutilated by her husband, and returns as a malicious spirit. When rumors of alleged sightings began spreading in 1979 around the Nagasaki Prefecture, it spread throughout Japan and caused panic in many towns. There are even reports of schools allowing children to go home only in groups escorted by teachers for safety,[1] and of police increasing their patrols. Recent sightings include many reports in South Korea in the year 2004 about a woman wearing a red mask who was frequently seen chasing children, and, in October 2007, a coroner found some old records from the late 1970s about a woman who was chasing little children. She was then hit by a car, and died shortly after. Her mouth was ripped from ear to ear -wikipedia
Slit-Mouthed Woman caused hysteria when its story got publicized and other countries have identified their own version of Kuchisake Onna.
In Europe - `Angel smile '
In Korea - `The Red Mask Lady`
In America -'Glasgow Grin'
In Philippines - ' Maria Labo '
The root cause of her legend is her own way of revenge to her husband who mutilated her, That is why she vowed to kill any man or child who will cross paths with her. Her scary reputation led to her proliferation on other forms of media. Horror films and books featured her because her legend is proven to be scary to any age groups and race.The famous urban legend had its own versions but the famous one would be the story that goes like this :
A young woman was seen walking down the streets, with a surgical mask. She is thin and pale skinned and she wears a long crimson coat, She wears that crimson coat for the bloodstains.Walking alone with her head down. Whenever she see a child or man, she will ask them this sinister question :
"Am I pretty?"
If the child or the man answered yes or no, They will get different reactions from her. It can either make you regret answering her honestly.
If you answer:"No" - She will Kill you automatically.
With what weapon varies, but it is most likely the weapon that slit her mouth and that's the large scissors.
If you answer:"Yes" - She will try to TEST your honesty.
She will take of her mask, and will ask again:"Am I pretty?"
If you answer again "Yes" - She will have your face DISFIGURED.
She will use her own weapon and slit your mouth as well. Just the same to her appearance.
There were claims that you can still escape the horror of her curse and wrath. The only way for you to escape her is to make her think about your answer. So you need to give her an intriguing answer that will give you time to run away. You can answer her question by downplaying the pretty angle. Just tell her she's average-looking, in that answer she will think about it and you can escape. That's according to legends. Other way to escape is to give her sweets such as candy. There were claims that when she was still normal, she loves eating candies so if you throw the candy away, she will pick it up no matter what and it will let you have the time to run away for your life.
Up to this day, The legend of the Slit-mouthed woman is still being debated if she's a crazed lunatic that preys on innocent ones or just a ploy for serial killers to use to have their easy way out on their committed crimes.