“Hitori Kakurenbo,” One-Man Hide and Seek

It's a scary solo game.

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The origin of One-Man hide-and-seek is said to be in western Japan, but it’s unclear. About 15 years ago, it became a massive craze among Japanese occult fans. There were countless reports online of strange phenomena experienced by those who tried one-man hide-and-seek. Many people also recorded themselves playing the game and posted the videos on video-sharing sites. I love horror and the occult, but I was never interested in one-man hide-and-seek because it seemed a bit too creepy, both back then and now. However, I’m writing about it now because some might be curious.

Please don’t read further if you need to improve with scary or creepy things.

If you decide to play one-man hide-and-seek, please remember that you do so at your own risk if any strange phenomena occur.

— — — — — — — — — — — - What you’ll need

A stuffed toy with limbs Rice (enough to fill the stuffed toy) A sewing needle and thread (red is preferred) A sharp knife (like a kitchen knife or a utility knife) A cup of saltwater Nail clippers (if you’re using your nails as part of the ritual)

Preparation before starting one-man hide-and-seek

Give the stuffed toy a name (not your own), cut it open, and remove all its stuffing. Replace the stuffing with rice and add your nail clippings (you can also use hair or blood, but this increases the risk of supernatural occurrences). Sew the cut part back with the needle and thread, wrapping and tying the thread around the stuffed toy (the rice represents organs, and the red thread represents blood vessels). Fill a bathtub with water. Choose a hiding spot (like a closet or storage space) ahead of time and place a cup of saltwater there.

How to play one-man hide-and-seek

The game is played at 3 AM. Prepare everything mentioned above before this time.

At 3 AM, tell the stuffed toy three times, “The first seeker is [your name].” Go to the bathroom and put the stuffed toy into the water-filled bathtub. Return to your room, turn off all the lights in the house, but leave the TV on. Close your eyes, count to ten, then return to the bathroom with the knife. Find the stuffed toy in the bathroom, say, “[Toy’s name], I found you,” and stab it with the knife. Then say, “[Toy’s name] is the seeker now,” and quickly hide in your chosen spot with the saltwater.

How to end one-man hide-and-seek

You must finish the game within 1–2 hours of starting. Keep a smartphone or a clock with you in your hiding spot to keep track of time.

Take a mouthful of saltwater, hold the cup, and leave your hiding spot (do not spit out the saltwater or react to anything you see or hear ). Go to the bathroom to find the stuffed toy. Once you find it, pour the remaining saltwater over the cup, then spit it out from your mouth. Say, “I won,” three times and the game ends.

Precautions when playing one-man hide-and-seek

Always follow the steps and rules. Finish the game within 2 hours. Do not quit the game midway. Do not go outside of your house while looking for the stuffed toy. Keep the lights off. Always hide as instructed. Stay quiet while hiding. If you live with others, like family, it’s best to play alone in the house as it might pose a risk to them. Please dispose of the used stuffed toy by burning it.

I’ll say it again: If you decide to play one-man hide-and-seek, you are responsible for anything that happens.

Before you start playing one-man hide and seek and after you’ve finished, please leave a comment here.

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Source: The Dangerous Urban Legend “One-Man Hide and Seek” — Explaining How to Play and How to End by 怪談News