• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Stories
  • Games
    • View All
    • FAQ
  • Encyclopaedia
  • About
  • Support TGIMM
  • Shop
  • Contact

The Ghost In My Machine

Stories of the Strange and Unusual

The Most Dangerous Games: Daruma-san, or The Bath Game

November 12, 2014 by Lucia

Previously: The Staircase Ritual.

Daruma-san, also known as The Bath Game, is probably best described as a deadly version of Red Light, Green Light. After the initial summoning ritual has been performed, it follows the basic rules of a Japanese children’s game called Darumasan ga Koronda — literally, “The Daruma doll fell down.” The player is “it,” while Daruma-san attempts to catch “it.” But if Daruma-san catches you… well, let’s just say you should never, EVER let that happen.

A claw-footed bathtub

Curiously, Daruma or Dharma dolls are traditionally symbols of good luck. The Daruma-san of this game, however, seems not to carry the same good luck as her namesake—and neither, should she catch you, will you.

[Like what you read? Check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available from Chronicle Books now!]

As always, play at your own risk.

Players:

  • One principal.

Requirements:

  • A bathroom with a bathtub.

NOTE: A standing shower may NOT be substituted. You MUST use a bathtub.

Instructions:

The Prelude:

  1. Begin at night, just before you got to bed.
  2. Shed your clothing and enter the bathroom. Fill the bathtub with water and turn out the lights.
  3. Climb into the tub and sit down facing the faucet and taps. Close your eyes and begin washing your hair.
  4. As you wash your hair, repeat the words “Daruma-san fell down. Daruma-san fell down.” Do not stop repeating them until you have finished washing your hair. Do not open your eyes.
  5. If you have performed this action correctly, you will gain a mental image of a Japanese woman standing in a bathtub. She will slip and fall, landing face first on a rusty tap and gouging her right eye out.
  6. Should you hear any noise behind you or feel movement in the tub, do NOT turn around and do NOT open your eyes. Ask aloud, ‘Why did you fall in the bathtub?”
  7. Allow the question to hang in the air. Then, keeping your eyes shut, carefully stand up and get out of the tub. Do not trip and fall yourself, and do not drain the tub. Exit the bathroom, shutting the door behind you.
  8. You may now open your eyes. Leave the bathroom as you left it — water in the tub, door shut — until morning. Do not turn on any lights.
  9. Go to sleep.

The Main Event:

  1. Awaken at your usual time. The game begins the moment you open your eyes.
  2. Go about your day as normal. You will feel a constant presence behind you; it is likely that, should you turn to look, you will see nothing. However, glancing over your right shoulder may occasionally reveal a glimpse of her. Her hair will be black and tangled, and she will have only one eye.
  3. She will attempt to get closer and closer to you as the day goes on. Should you spot her and find that she is too close for comfort, shout “Tomare!” — that is, “Stop!” — and run away. The idea is to put some distance between you and her; do NOT allow her to catch you.

The Ending:

  1. Capture her in your gaze by looking over your right shoulder.
  2. Shout “Kitta!” — that is, “I cut you loose!” — while swinging your arm down in a chopping motion. If you have performed this action correctly, a winning condition will have been achieved and the game will be over.
  3. If you have NOT performed this action correctly… run.

Additional Notes:

She is fond of water and dark spaces; as such, it is recommended that you avoid immersing yourself in or crossing running water, as well as traversing dark spaces, until the conclusion of the game.

Use the “Tomare!” command sparingly. Each time you use it, the amount of time for which it will stall her will diminish. Use it only when absolutely necessary.

The ending MUST be performed before midnight. Failing to do so will grant her permission to enter your dreams. Do NOT allow her to do this. Additionally, performing the ending is not as easy as it seems. If she suspects you are about to try to end the game, she may hide. You MUST have her in your sights when you perform the “Kitta!” command.

Concerning Second Attempts:

It is NOT recommended that you play this game more than once. Should you play it a second time, she will begin in the same position she was in at the conclusion of the previous game. This will not provide adequate distance to escape her.

Do NOT let her catch you.

Daruma-san: FAQ.

***

Support The Ghost In My Machine on Patreon for behind-the-scenes access and other bonus content. You can also follow on Twitter @GhostMachine13 and on Facebook @TheGhostInMyMachine.

[Photo via]

Filed Under: Games Tagged With: Daruma-san, games you shouldn't play, ghosts, Japan, Japanese ghosts, The Bath Game, The Most Dangerous Games

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rebecca says

    January 30, 2021 at 5:31 pm

    I once tried this game and it actualy worked!! but the next day I did not feel anyone follow me.

    Reply
  2. Fridge Raider says

    December 14, 2020 at 12:55 am

    What if you play it and other people live/sleep with you? Wool they be affected in any way? I want to try this so bad but i don’t want to put anyone else in involuntary potential danger

    Reply
  3. Daruma-san says

    November 13, 2020 at 11:23 am

    come and play my game its to die for and ill scratch scratch scratch

    Reply
  4. Sophie says

    August 8, 2020 at 6:17 am

    Played it a couple weeks ago and my sister would always ask me why I was always looking behind me. Didn’t want to tell anyone I did it cause I was home alone and I’m only 14. When I played it I didn’t know what to do so as soon as I exited the bathroom I ran to my room and hid under the blanket until I fell asleep. Woke up completely terrified.

    Reply
  5. James says

    July 9, 2020 at 5:27 pm

    If I have a bathtub and a shower in one can I still play it?

    Reply
    • Rebecca says

      January 30, 2021 at 5:37 pm

      Yes. Just use the shower to fill the bath tub and turn off the shower and do all the steps correctly and Druma-San will come to you.

      Reply
  6. RRob says

    June 23, 2020 at 11:02 am

    I’ll tell you from experience DON’T DO IT!
    I did the ritual almost two years ago but I messed it up accidentally so I though nothing was going to happen. And nothing did, until I want to sleep that night. I woke up suddenly at about 4am and when I look right in front of my bed I see a woman standing in front of me. Now I don’t have the image of how she looked, but it took me months to finally forget it. She was pale and her face and hair was all messed up. She had black hair pale skin and a white dress. after ten seconds she vanished and I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, but I couldn’t. I didn’t want to move because I could feel that she was close waiting for me. After about two hours I was finally able to sleep, but since then, even after two years I am still scared when I go to sleep and every time I have a bath I think of her.

    Reply
  7. Kishori says

    February 28, 2020 at 6:57 pm

    Thank God I have a shower and no tub whatsoever…

    Still kinda freaked that I saw the words in the first place. I hope that doesn’t count!

    Reply
  8. sara says

    December 18, 2019 at 11:32 am

    do you shout kitta or do you just sit there????

    Reply
  9. alannah says

    December 18, 2019 at 11:30 am

    what happens if you fall asleep or you are in school taking a test????

    Reply
  10. Daruma-san says

    August 27, 2019 at 8:43 am

    Karera no tamashī wa ima watashi no monodesu. Tsugi wa dareda?

    (Their souls are mine now. Who’s next?)

    Reply
    • ~*Rose*~ says

      October 14, 2019 at 2:20 pm

      What the heck? Daruma-San, this is no joke, those souls could of free you from the in between of life and afterlife! I would help you! Just give me time!

      Reply
  11. Uni Student Studying Japanese ^^ says

    July 24, 2019 at 5:44 pm

    Heya, people. So this girl Daruma-san is a Japanese entity. I felt like it was kind of strange to summon her in English. I did some digging and found what you would say to her if speaking in her language:
    ”Daruma has fallen”=”Daruma-san ga koronda.”
    Still bad at kanji so I translated the next part myself (sorry):
    “Why did you fall?” = “Nande anata wa koronda?”
    (or in a more respectful tone):
    “Doushite anata wa korobimashita ka?”
    I don’t want to show off or anything, I just wonder if it would be more proper and more respectful to Daruma-san if you were to speak to her in her native language. Stay safe, everyone!

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply to ZelDronpa Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Top Stories

‘Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark’ Is Now Available From Chronicle Books!

The Most Dangerous Games: The Elevator Game, Revisited

16 Ritual Games That (Supposedly) Transport You To Another World

About

The Ghost In My Machine is an internet campfire of sorts. Gather round, because it wants to tell you strange stories, take you on haunted journeys, and make you jump at unexpected noises.

Continue Reading >

Support

Like what you read? Support The Ghost In My Machine!

 

Support

Follow

Facebook Twitter Patreon

From the Vault

  • Bloody Mary & Other Games We Shouldn’t Play

    Scare Yourself Silly

  • This Man

    Creepy Things That Seem Real But Aren’t

  • The Dionaea House

    Creepy Things That Seem Real But Aren’t

  • The Noise Coming From Inside Children

    Scare Yourself Silly

  • NoEnd House

    Is It Real?

  • Killswitch

    Creepy Things That Seem Real But Aren’t

  • Suicidemouse.avi

    Is It Real?

  • 200 Phenomena In The City Of Calgary

    Scare Yourself Silly

View All >

Letters from the Beyond

Enter your email to receive blog posts and updates by email

  • Stories
  • Games
  • Encyclopaedia
  • About
  • Support TGIMM
  • Shop
  • Contact

Copyright © 2021 · Keeper On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Privacy Policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Close