Jinmenken – Japanese Horror Legend(Achu biju) In a small village in rural Japan, there lived a young woman named Anne. She was a kind-hearted person, always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. She was loved and respected by everyone in the village, except for one person: her jealous neighbour, Mihari, who was consumed by envy and hatred towards Anne. She couldn't stand to see the young woman being praised and adored by everyone in the village, while she was ignored and overlooked. Her jealousy turned into an obsession, and she began to plot a sinister plan to get rid of Anne once and for all.

One day, she learned about the Jinmenken legend. She realized that this could be her chance to get rid of Anne and frame the creature for the crime. She decided to transform herself into the Jinmenken, using a disguise made of fur and fake fangs, and set out to find Anne. As night fell, Anne was walking home from the village festival. She was humming a tune and lost in her thoughts, completely unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows. Suddenly, the Jinmenken appeared before her, growling and snarling. She was terrified and froze in fear, but as the Jinmenken approached her, she noticed something strange. The creature's eyes were familiar, almost human-like. She realized that it was Mihari, her neighbour, disguised as the Jinmenken. She couldn't believe that someone she had known for so long would do something so horrible. Mihari attacked her, and a struggle ensued. She fought for her life, but in the end, Mihari overpowered her and left her for dead.

The next morning, the villagers found Anne’s lifeless body in the woods, with bite marks all over her body, and assumed that the Jinmenken had killed her. The news of Anne’s death spread quickly, and the village was filled with grief and sadness. But Mihari was happy. She had finally gotten rid of Anne and had succeeded in framing the Jinmenken for the crime. But as time passed, she couldn't shake off the guilt and shame of what she had done. She realized that her jealousy had consumed her and that she had taken the life of an innocent person. Her mind began to play tricks on her, and she started seeing the Jinmenken everywhere she went, haunting her and reminding her of her crime.

One night, she decided to confess her crime to the village elders. She revealed everything, from her jealousy to the murder of Anne. The villagers were shocked and appalled by her confession. They banished her from the village, and she was never seen again. But the legend of the Jinmenken lived on, as a warning to those who let jealousy and envy consume them.

The death of Anne had a profound impact on the village. People who once went about their business with a smile on their faces were now fearful and suspicious of their neighbours. They locked their doors at night, whispered about strange noises, and avoided walking alone in the woods. The village elders knew they had to do something to ease the fear and paranoia that had taken hold of their community. They organized a gathering in the village square to discuss what had happened and to find a way to move forward. As the villagers gathered, a sense of sorrow and mourning permeated the air. Anne’s parents were there, tears streaming down their faces, unable to believe that their daughter was gone forever. The elders were skeptical, but the villagers were desperate for any form of comfort or guidance. The woman began to read the fortunes, and her words were eerily accurate. She spoke of hidden secrets and fears, of past traumas and future dangers. As she read the fortunes of the villagers, she seemed to know their deepest fears and darkest secrets. But then, she turned to Anne's parents and offered to speak with their daughter's spirit. They were hesitant, but the woman assured them that she was a medium and could communicate with the dead. With tears in their eyes, Anne's parents agreed.

The woman opened her bag and pulled out a small box. She said that it contained a powerful talisman that would allow her to contact the spirit world. She lit some incense and began to chant, her voice rising in a strange and eerie melody. Suddenly, the box began to shake and emit a bright light. The villagers gasped in amazement and fear as the woman's face contorted into a grotesque mask, and her eyes glowed with an otherworldly light. She began to convulse and moan and then fell to the ground, unconscious. When she woke up, she had no memory of what had happened. The villagers were frightened and confused, unsure of what to make of the strange events that had taken place. But in the days that followed, strange things began to happen. The villagers reported hearing strange noises in the night, and some claimed to have seen the ghost of Anne wandering through the woods. Others said that they had encountered the Jinmenken, but when they tried to attack it, the creature disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The village was on edge, and people began to question whether the woman who claimed to be a fortune-teller had brought a curse upon their community. But then, something miraculous happened.

One night, as the villagers were huddled together in fear, a bright light shone through the darkness. They looked up and saw a figure walking towards them, bathed in a radiant glow. As the figure approached, they realized that it was Anne, alive and well. She explained that she had been rescued by a group of travellers who had found her unconscious in the woods. They had nursed her back to health and helped her return to the village. The villagers were overjoyed and relieved, and they thanked the spirits for their mercy. The woman who had claimed to be a fortune-teller was never seen again, and the villagers chose to forget the strange events that had taken place. They returned to their lives, but they never forgot the lessons they had learned. They knew that jealousy and envy could lead to terrible things and that they should always cherish the people they loved. And for Anne, her near-death experience had taught her to appreciate every moment of life.

PS : Jinmenken is a Japanese legend. Popular in the Edo era (1603 to 1868). These things are like talking dogs. They have the body of a dog and a human face!

Happy Reading..

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