Does someone know if these japanese urban legends like Teke Teke, Kuchisake onna, etc are really that popular in Japan?? I’ve been really curious about that because since I was little I was interesting in their urban legends but are they really that popular over there??

1. Bë̀kwö: The Celestial Serpents

In the Bribri and Cabécar traditions, enormous serpents dwell in the highest reaches of the universe. Their bodies form the ropes that hold up the great house of the world, while their whiskers are the stars that illuminate the night sky. When one of these bindings comes loose, the serpent falls from the heavens like a shooting star, but the great bats of the sky devour it before it can set the earth ablaze. They also herald changes in the weather and the proper times for planting and harvesting.

2. Íyitkabë: The Serpents of All Things

Everything in the world has its own guardian serpent. The íyitkabë wait for the souls on their journey to Sulà and judges the wrongs committed during life. Serpents of different colors and forms are responsible for punishing lies, greed, abuse, and the harm done to other beings. Their punishment forces each soul to confront what it denied or destroyed while alive. According to a funerary chant, there are always four serpents for every offense, each of a different color: black (*bë́k*), red (yö́t), white (sulat), and spotted (sör).

3. The Serpent Goddess

In the lands of Quebrada Honda lived a gigantic serpent worshipped by the local people as a goddess. An old woman was responsible for feeding her, bringing vegetables, tender squash, and cubases beans, but among her offerings she also included children, who disappeared without their families ever learning of their fate. For many years, the creature devoured the children given to her as food. At last, Carate uncovered the deception and set out to confront the serpent. Grasping it by the tail and turning it inside out from its snout, he defeated the monster and ended its reign of terror.

4. The Great Boruca Serpent

A young woman fell in love with a gigantic serpent that lived inside a cave and brought him chicha (corn beer) as an offering. The creature emerged from his hiding place and coiled himself around her body until she became pregnant with little serpents. The suquias (shamans) ordered that she be burned to prevent her offspring from flooding the earth. When her body burst apart in the flames, the newborn serpents escaped; only one survived and remained enchanted in the mountains near Palmar.

5. The Two-Headed Serpent of Río Macho

Behind the Río Macho waterfall lies a hidden cave where ancient treasures are kept and extraordinary creatures dwell. Hunters pursuing an enchanted stag managed to enter, guided by a mysterious Indigenous chief. Inside they found fierce beasts imprisoned behind iron bars: a lion, a gigantic bull, and an enormous two-headed serpent. No one ever found the cave entrance again, and the creature remains hidden alongside the ancient treasures deep within the mountain.

6. The Serpent of Térraba

A young woman lived with her mother when a strange man with long braided hair arrived at their home. Water flowed from the tips of his braids. He asked for the young woman's hand in marriage, and after bringing abundant food, he was accepted as her husband. In time, their son was born, but the mother discovered that from the waist down he had the body of a serpent. After breaking the taboo against seeing him too soon, the family vanished during a great storm, and the man transformed into an enormous serpent dwelling in a deep pool. From their union were born two daughters, planted like ullama (a type of pumpkin) seeds, but as they grew, they too became gigantic serpents. Their immense size caused the waters to rise until they threatened to flood the earth, prompting the spirits to send warriors armed with spears to fight them. One by one they were struck down, although some survived, wounded, in the underworld.

7. The Serpent of Cerro de las Cruces

A sorcerer carried three enchanted eggs across Central America. From one hatched a gigantic serpent that remained in Nicaragua; another produced a serpent in Nicoya; and the last gave rise to a serpent in Cartago. The Nicoya serpent grew until it stretched beneath the earth, with its head buried beneath Cerro de las Cruces while its body extended into distant lands. Whenever it moves, it causes earthquakes and thunderstorms. To keep it asleep, a procession is held to the hill every May 3rd.

8. The Serpent of the Enchanted Lagoon of Alto de Araya

A hidden lagoon high in the mountains of Araya is said to be home to an enormous serpent that few have ever seen. People say that whenever it emerges from the water, it creates a thunderous roar, and no one dares enter the lagoon for fear of encountering it. Visitors report hearing songs, unfamiliar voices, distant music, and mysterious sounds rising from the depths.

9. The Serpent of the Nimboyores River

Beneath the waters of the Nimboyores River sleeps a giant boa born from an ancient tale of love and tragedy. After losing his beloved princess, a prince was transformed into a serpent to guard a crystal-clear spring. The creature also protects the enchanted fish living in its depths and leaves its refuge only to chase away animals that venture too close.

10. The Serpent of Barva Volcano

When the ancient inhabitants of the Valley of Abra received a matasano tree together with a sacred serpent, the creature caused water to spring forth, forming a mountain lake. In time, it emerged from the lagoon and began attacking the people of the settlement. Ever since, offerings have been made to keep it calm and prevent its wrath.

11. The Fiery Serpent of Santa Lucía Hill

Inside the Santa Lucía Volcano sleeps a gigantic serpent wrapped in flames. According to tradition, it appears whenever someone attempts to destroy the mountain or extract its riches without permission. Cloaked in fire, it emerges among the trees as a warning to those who disturb the place where it dwells.

12. The Healing Serpent

A serpent always carried a small flower in its mouth, using it to heal those bitten by other snakes. Simply bringing the flower close to the victim was enough for its power to cure the wound and save the person's life. One day, the serpent went inside the house of a sleeping man, who woke up and stole the miraculous flower. From that moment on, the creature disappeared without a trace, but the man kept the plant and continued using it to heal snakebite victims.

13. The Black Serpents of Orosi

Long ago, black serpents capable of destroying the world descended to the earth. The gods responded by sending young warriors from the clouds, armed with silver quivers and golden arrows. Wrapped only in the clouds that carried them, they shot their arrows into the serpents' heads. Mortally wounded, the monsters writhed and roared until they finally collapsed. Only after their destruction did the rains come, washing the poisonous blood of the monsters from the earth.

14. Tkabë̀köl

A colossal serpent sent by Sibö to punish those who commit incest. Its body seems to be made of rubber, and it bears antennae, whiskers, or tentacles with which it immobilizes its victims. It may descend from the sky, hide in lagoons, or completely encircle a palenque (house) before striking. It then carries its prey into the heavens until it disappears among the clouds, only to leave the victim's remains in front of their home several days later. Its skin is so tough that even axes cannot wound it, while a tiny bejuquilla snake reveals to it who must be punished.

15. Tkabërîwak: The Serpent Twins

Two brothers were born with an extraordinary secret: they could transform themselves into enormous serpents. During the day, they hunted birds and fish by changing shape until their grandmother discovered their true nature. As they grew, their gigantic bodies caused a pool to expand until it threatened to cover the entire earth with water. The god Sibö intervened, killing one brother and banishing the other to the ends of the world, where he was never seen again.

16. Zaalan: The Serpent of Arenal

In the mountains near Arenal, the ancient Maleku encountered a monstrous serpent, so enormous that, when it moved, it resembled a herd of tapirs. After killing it and eating part of its flesh, the men themselves were transformed into serpents. Since then, the zaálan return during the dry season and must be treated according to the ancient instructions to avoid provoking their fury.

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Illustration by Roberto Cruz

a russian commenter referred to a picture i took into a cemetery as “это призрак щовеля”

this translated to calling me the ghost of chovel. i don’t understand this reference/lore, but i’m really curious. anyone know what was meant by that? lol