What is hitori kakurenbo?
Hitori kakurenbo is a kind of spirit-summoning ritual in which a person plays hide and seek alone in their house late at night, with a stuffed toy as the “it.” During the ritual, a spirit is said to enter the toy and strange phenomena occur in the house. If the ritual is not ended by a set procedure, something bad is said to happen.
Spread from internet message boards
Hitori kakurenbo spread around 2006 on occult threads of internet message boards. People who tried it posted what was happening in real time, and reports such as the TV sound changing or hearing footsteps caused a stir. One theory says it is based on customs from the Tohoku region, but this is unclear.
Not recommended
Hiding alone in a dark house late at night and staying frightened is a heavy strain on the mind in itself. Some versions of the procedure involve knives, which also risks injury. Enjoy it as an internet ghost story, and do not actually try it.
