• 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: Japanese New Year Ritual

December 26, 2016 by Lucia

Previously: Dry Bones. 

Technically I should probably put this one in quotation marks — “Japanese New Year Ritual” — because I haven’t been able to confirm that it actually is a Japanese New Year ritual and not just a creepypasta (possibly written by someone who isn’t actually Japanese) masquerading as one. Besides the fact that I’ve only been able to find this one on creepypasta sites and places like Wattpad, the thing that kind of makes me think it’s more creepypasta and less ancient mythology is how it deals with food. I’m by no means an expert, but from what I’ve read, food factors prominently in Japanese New Year celebrations — traditional dishes and a whole lot of mochi are typically eaten in the days leading up to the ringing in of the new year. This “ritual,” however, does the opposite — it instructs players to fast, which seems at odds with everything else I’ve read.

A shadow of a hand with spindly trees

But then again, maybe that’s the point.

[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 basket or other container.
  • Fruit: One pineapple, three bananas, two apples, and 30 grapes. Nothing more, nothing less.
  • A timekeeping device. It must be as accurate as possible.
  • Something sharp.
  • A forest with a clearing.
  • Anything you require to start a fire.

Instructions:

The Preparation:

  1. Begin when the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31.
  2. Close all of your curtains.
  3. For 24 hours, do not eat anything. Do not drink anything. Do not sleep. Do not go outside.
  4. Two hours before the arrival of the year, prepare a fruit basket. Place within your basket: One pineapple, three bananas, two apples, and 30 grapes. There you should now be 36 pieces of fruit in the basket. Do not miscount.
  5. With your sharp object, cut your hand. Anoint each piece of fruit with a drop of your blood. Do not miss any. Do not close your eyes. Do not dress your wound.

The Conversation:

  1. At midnight, take your basket of fruit and your fire-making tools and go to the nearest forest.
  2. Walk deep into the forest until you find a clearing.
  3. Build a fire. Sit by it. Place the basket of fruit in front of you. Do not let the fire go out. Do not move unless the action you are taking is to ensure that the fire does not go out.
    • If no one approaches you from the forest: The ritual has failed. Do not proceed.
    • If a figure approaches you from the forest: You may proceed.
  4. The figure will make eye contact with you. Do not break it.
  5. Do not scream.
  6. Do not run away.
  7. Do not speak.
  8. After you have proven your bravery, the figure will begin to eat the fruit. Continue to maintain eye contact. Do not break it.
  9. If you have made it this far, the figure will ask you a question once it has finished eating: “What would you like to know?”
  10. Tell him. Do not look away.
  11. He will give you your answer. And then he will walk away.
  12. Do not look away until he has vanished from view.

The Awakening;

  1. Go to sleep. (You will not actually have to actively follow this step; you will simply drop off, whether you want to or not.)
  2. When you awaken, you will be in your own bed, newfound knowledge in mind.

Concerning the Figure from the Forest:

He will be very thin and very tall. His eyes will be large and black. His mouth will be wide, and his teeth sharp. He will not be wearing any clothing. He will not be wearing any expression on his face.

He is called the Wise One. Treat him with the respect he deserves.

He doesn’t take kindly to those who disrespect him.

When Asking What You Would Like To Know:

Choose your words carefully. You may ask anything you like, from how long your life will be to what you’ll have for breakfast in the morning. But ask one question and one question only. Do not be greedy.

And Know This:

Whatever you ask?

Make sure you really want to know.

Once you have gained the knowledge, you can never go back, no matter how much you might wish to.

Knowledge is power…

…But it can also spell out your ruin.

Japanese New Year Ritual: FAQ.

***

Follow The Ghost In My Machine on Twitter @GhostMachine13 and on Facebook @TheGhostInMyMachine. And don’t forget to check out Dangerous Games To Play In The Dark, available now from Chronicle Books!

[Photo via Kathleen Tyler Conklin/Flickr] 

Filed Under: Games Tagged With: games you shouldn't play, holiday horror, holidays, Japan, new year's, The Most Dangerous Games

Primary Sidebar

Top Stories

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

15 Creepy, Scary Phone Numbers To Call That Actually Work (UPDATED For 2023)

The Backrooms, Explained: How To Make Sense Of The Internet’s Favorite Non-Reality

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

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

  • The “Lost” Mickey Mouse Cartoon

    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

Privacy Policy

We use cookies to give you the best online experience. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of all the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT