Hanako-san : The Toilet Ghost

Introduction

Hanako-san is a well-known figure in Japanese urban legends, often likened to the Western tale of Bloody Mary. Emerging in the 1950s, her story has become a staple in schools across Japan. According to legend, she lingers in the third stall of the third-floor girls’ restroom, waiting to respond if someone dares to call her name. The details of her origins vary—some say she was a child lost to a World War II air raid while playing hide-and-seek, while others claim she was a victim of murder or suicide.

Despite the variations in her backstory, Hanako-san remains a symbol of childhood dares and eerie folklore, both a test of bravery and a chilling reminder of the unknown. Unlike many traditional spirits, her presence is tied to modern settings, making her an enduring figure in Japanese pop culture, frequently appearing in films, manga, and television.

Physical Attributes

Hanako-san’s appearance varies slightly depending on the version of the tale, but most depictions present her as a young girl with a bob haircut, dressed in a red skirt or dress. Her clothing often resembles old-fashioned Japanese school uniforms, reinforcing the idea that she met a tragic fate as a student.

Some accounts add unsettling details, like an outstretched pale hand emerging from the stall or hollow, lifeless eyes staring from the shadows. In darker interpretations, she weeps blood or has a ghastly grin, amplifying her eerie presence. Despite these variations, the core image of Hanako-san remains that of an innocent-looking yet ghostly schoolgirl, a figure both familiar and terrifying to those who dare summon her.

First Sighting/Reporting

Hanako-san’s origins remain unclear, as her story emerged from oral traditions rather than a single documented event. The earliest known written reference traces back to Kurosawajiri in Iwate Prefecture, recorded in Gendai Minwakō 7 by Miyoko Matsutani in 1948. By the 1950s, the tale had spread across Japanese schools, solidifying its place in urban folklore.

One prevalent theory ties Hanako-san’s ghostly presence to the devastation of World War II, with some believing she was a child caught in an air raid while hiding in a school restroom. Others suggest she was a victim of an accident, bullying, or suicide—reflecting deeper anxieties in school life. As the legend evolved, it adapted to different regions, with each school adding its own eerie twist. By the 1990s, Hanako-san’s notoriety had grown so widespread that researchers even explored connections between the legend and childhood fears, such as anxiety-related bed-wetting.

Other Names

Hanako-san is widely known as Toire no Hanako-san (トイレの花子さん), meaning “Hanako of the Toilet,” but her legend varies by region. In Yamagata Prefecture, for instance, summoning her is said to unleash a monstrous three-headed lizard rather than a ghostly schoolgirl. Her portrayal has also evolved in popular media. In the manga Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun, she is reimagined as a boy, offering a fresh take on the legend while maintaining its eerie charm. Beyond her school-based origins, Hanako-san is often linked to Japan’s broader ghost lore, particularly yūrei and onryō—spirits associated with unresolved emotions. Though not always depicted as vengeful, her spectral presence resonates with traditional themes of lingering souls and supernatural warnings.

Modus Operandi

Summoning Hanako-san requires a simple yet eerie ritual: stepping into a school’s third-floor girls’ restroom, knocking three times on the third stall, and asking, “Are you there, Hanako-san?” If she chooses to respond, a soft voice may answer, “Yes, I am.” What happens next depends on the version of the legend. Some say she harmlessly fades away, while others warn that she might extend a ghostly hand, pull the summoner into the toilet, or even serve as a gateway to the underworld.

Certain variations add even more sinister twists—such as Hanako-san asking if the summoner wants to play, with acceptance sealing their doom. Paranormal disturbances often accompany her presence, including flickering lights, strange whispers, or sudden cold drafts, heightening the tension and fear associated with her legend. Whether she is a mischievous spirit or a harbinger of misfortune, Hanako-san’s tale continues to send shivers down the spines of those brave enough to call her name.

Pop Culture References

Hanako-san’s eerie presence has firmly embedded itself in Japanese pop culture, making her a recurring figure in films, manga, anime, and video games. Her first major cinematic appearance came in the 1995 film Toire no Hanako-san, where she was depicted as a more benevolent spirit. This was followed by Shinsei Toire no Hanako-san (1998) and Toire no Hanako-san: Shin Gekijōban (2013), each offering a different take on her ghostly legend.

In anime and manga, Hanako-san has been reimagined in various forms, most famously in Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun, which presents her as a mischievous but endearing male ghost. She also appears in Kyōkai no Rinne, GeGeGe no Kitarō, Ghost Stories, and the Yo-kai Watch franchise, where she is renamed Toiletta in English adaptations. Her adaptability across different media ensures that her legend continues to evolve, captivating new audiences while preserving the unsettling charm that first made her an iconic figure in Japanese folklore.

Current Status

Hanako-san continues to thrive as a beloved yet chilling urban legend, especially among Japanese schoolchildren. Her story is often used as a test of bravery, with students daring one another to summon her in the school bathroom—much like the Western tradition of invoking Bloody Mary. Despite the passage of time, her legend remains a staple of Japanese folklore, evolving with each new generation.

In today’s digital era, Hanako-san’s presence has extended beyond whispered tales in school hallways. She frequently appears in online discussions, horror forums, and social media, where her myth is reinterpreted and shared in new ways. Some modern retellings even portray her with a more sympathetic backstory, shifting her image from a menacing spirit to a lonely ghost trapped in a cycle of fear and misunderstanding. This shift reflects a growing trend in horror storytelling—one that seeks to explore the emotions and history of supernatural entities rather than simply portraying them as threats.

Source

Contributors to Wikimedia projects. (2011). Hanako-san – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanako-san

Junpei. (n.d.). Hanako-San (Hanako of the toilet): Ghost Girl Haunts School Toilet. https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/hanako-san/

TBS Report. (2020). The ghost of little girls in Japanese schools | The Business Standard. https://www.tbsnews.net/splash/ghost-little-girls-japanese-schools-58747

Contributors to Japanese Urban Legend’s Wiki. (2025). Hanako-San | Japanese Urban Legend’s Wiki – Fandom. https://japanese-urban-legends.fandom.com/wiki/Hanako-San

The Folklore of Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun, Explained – Crunchyroll. (2023). https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/guides/2023/10/27/toilet-bound-hanako-kun-folklore-explained?srsltid=AfmBOoog9uRiCM4rZMZ6-J1L-o7b8mbEN6ilJzBklMbx_KNDll_uocEV

Contributors to Urban Legend Wiki. (2025). Hanako-san | Urban Legend Wiki – Fandom. https://urbanlegends.fandom.com/wiki/Hanako-san