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The Ghost In My Machine

Stories of the Strange and Unusual

The Most Dangerous Games: Satoru-kun

November 15, 2017 by Lucia

Previously: One Step Ahead. 

Today’s game is a little less elaborate than some of the others we’ve looked at here at TGIMM; all you need to carry off the telephone game known as Satoru-kun is a mobile phone, a payphone, and some spare change. It’s a knowledge-seeking game, by the way, so if you were annoyed that the Telephone Game didn’t actually let you talk to anyone, this one should make you feel better.

A payphone next to a graffiti'd wall

Although it’s obvious from its name that Satoru-kun is a Japanese game, it’s unclear exactly when it originates. Most Japanese sources note that it kicked up in the early 2000s; it subsequently made its way into English in the early 2010s, which roughly lines up with the dates of the earliest mentions of it in translation I’ve found. (This story inspired by the legend, for example, was posted to Booksie in May of 2012.)

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

There are also some interesting similarities between Satoru-un and the urban legend of Three-Legged Licca-chan — namely, each entity is said to make a series of phone calls indicating its progression of approach. I’m not sure there’s a solid connection there — this element of announcing one’s approach is present in urban legends all over the world (Tailypo, anyone?) — but I think it’s worth noting all the same. If anything, it highlights how many cultures can often share similar stories.

Satoru is a fairly common masculine Japanese given name. It’s also a verb meaning “to know” or “to understand.” I don’t think this detail is a coincidence. 

As always, play at your own risk.

Players:

  • One principal.

Requirements:

  • A mobile phone. A burner phone is recommended.
  • A payphone.
  • Coins or a calling card. Do not attempt to call collect.
  • A question. This should be a burning question to which you feel you must discover the answer.

Instructions:

Making The Call:

  1. Begin at any time.
  2. Go to the payphone. Bring your mobile phone and your coins or calling card with you.
  3. Insert the coins or use the calling card according to its instructions. Dial your mobile phone number.
  4. Do not answer your mobile phone.
  5. While your mobile phone is ringing, speak the following words into the payphone’s mouthpiece: “Satoru, Satoru, please come to me. Satoru, Satoru, please show yourself. Satoru, Satoru, if you are here, please answer me.”
  6. Hang up the payphone.
  7. Turn off your mobile phone.
  8. Go home.

Asking The Question:

  1. Continue about your daily life. Keep your mobile phone turned off.
  2. If your mobile phone rings, answer it.
    • If you do not receive a phone call within 24 hours: The initial call has failed; try again at a later date.
    • If you receive a phone call within 24 hours: The initial call was successful; you may proceed. You will know it is Satoru-kun, because when you answer, he will tell you where he is in relation to you. Hang up when he has finished telling you where he is.
  3. If your mobile phone rings again, answer it. He will tell you where he is in relation to you. His location will be closer to you than it was during the last call.
  4. If your mobile phone rings again, answer it. He will tell you where he is in relation to you. His location will be closer to you than it was during the last call.
  5. If your mobile phone rings again, answer it. He will tell you where he is in relation to you. His location will be closer to you than it was during the last call.
  6. Repeat “Asking The Question” Steps 3 through 5 until, when you answer the phone, Satoru-kun says the words, “I am behind you.” Do NOT turn around.
  7. Ask him your question. Be quick, and be succinct. Do NOT turn around.
  8. Listen to his answer. Do NOT turn around.
  9. Thank him and hang up. Do NOT turn around.

Wrapping Things Up:

  1. If you sense that he is still behind you after you hang up, do NOT turn around.
  2. Destroy the mobile phone.
  3. Do not turn around until you are positive — positive — he is gone.

Additional Notes:

Do not turn your mobile phone on after making the call. If Satoru-kun calls you, it will be while your phone is turned off.

Do not turn around when Satoru-kun is present.

Do not look at Satoru-kun.

Do not touch Satoru-kun.

Do not dally when asking your question.

Do not ask more than one question.

Do not call Satoru-kun if you do not have a question.

Concerning Your Question:

Make sure it’s something you really want to know. Once you’ve learned the answer, you cannot unlearn it.

Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.

Satoru-kun: FAQ.

***

Please don’t copy or republish this post on other sites. Linking to it or sharing the URL is fine (and encouraged!), as is writing your own unique version of the game, but copying/pasting, republishing, or otherwise reproducing the text of this piece in its entirety or near-entirety on other websites without permission isn’t.

***

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 Pexels/Pixabay]

Filed Under: Games Tagged With: games you shouldn't play, Japan, Japanese ghosts, Satoru-kun, telephone, The Most Dangerous Games

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Raven says

    March 10, 2022 at 6:56 pm

    I played this and I asked when I was going to die, but he didn’t answer, so I turned around and saw nothing. ummm I later found out my family tricked meeeeeeee! Btw Lucia such great posts! definatley keep it up! I’ve been looking at this website for pretty long now and I am always so excited for a new post!

    Reply
  2. Elodie says

    April 5, 2021 at 1:36 am

    this worked for me! apparently I am allergic to Okra. I wanted to know why mum does not serve okra because I want to try it. apparently it is a very severe and anaphylactic

    Reply
  3. Chansans says

    August 5, 2020 at 3:12 am

    The hardest part is finding a working payphone.

    Reply
  4. Piscean Girl says

    February 23, 2020 at 4:46 am

    What if I accidentally miss a call from him? Will the ritual fail?

    Reply
  5. Spica says

    February 10, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    Can you use a landline/house phone if there are no payphones anywhere near you, or does it HAVE to be a payphone?

    Reply
  6. creepygurl says

    July 19, 2019 at 12:28 pm

    wait. wait. wait.
    if you sense he is behind you.. how do you destroy the phone without turning around???do you destroy it on the spot? or do you shuffle side-ways all day until you feel he is gone or something?? XD

    Reply
  7. Zodiac Heaven says

    May 10, 2019 at 9:11 am

    What if I accidentally miss the call? Will the game continue or will it end?

    Reply
  8. Satori-Chan says

    October 1, 2018 at 1:43 pm

    I’d try this and fail because A. I always look behind me if I feel a presence behind me and B. I have too many questions–

    Reply
  9. Zen says

    June 17, 2018 at 5:06 pm

    can you ask a personal question about yourself? like an identity question or about your future? or would he not know the answer to that?

    Reply
  10. Unknown says

    May 31, 2018 at 7:30 pm

    If you are in Malaysia (where I am now), you might notice a few payphones here and there. The best part, you don’t have to look to the ends of the world to find one. I might want to try this, but my conscience says don’t, can someone flip a coin for me?

    Reply
    • ... says

      November 13, 2019 at 5:57 am

      I quote “if in doubt, err on the side of caution, and don’t do the ritual in the first place.”

      Reply
  11. -headphones says

    April 8, 2018 at 10:01 am

    “I am behind you now,”
    “Saturo-kun, where can I get the next winning lottery ticket?”

    Reply
  12. Sid says

    April 4, 2018 at 4:01 pm

    It says to only ask one question; does that not include two-part questions? Like if I asked “will etc. happen, *and* when?” would that count as two questions?

    Reply
  13. A person says

    April 1, 2018 at 3:03 pm

    Can I ask how to win at another ritual or is that cheating on that ritual?

    Reply
  14. Deadly Kitty says

    February 20, 2018 at 12:20 pm

    Reminds me a little of the Japanese version of Oujia board, or the Bath Game (Daruma-San). Now that I think of it, a lot of these rituals come from Asia…

    Reply
  15. Aleeex says

    January 15, 2018 at 12:52 pm

    So it says that you must turn off your mobile does this mean you turn it off completely like having to wait a couple minutes for it to restart? It must it to where it’s still on but you can’t hear any notifications

    Reply
  16. Sera says

    January 13, 2018 at 12:52 am

    What happens if you are asleep at the time of the last phone call?

    Reply
    • Deadly Kitty says

      February 20, 2018 at 12:20 pm

      You don’t want to know…

      Reply
  17. brandon says

    December 23, 2017 at 2:08 pm

    this seems interesting, does anyone know if this actually works? if so, please share your experience!

    Reply
  18. Kieran says

    November 29, 2017 at 8:18 am

    What if you are at a computer screen and you can see Saturo Kun’s reflection?

    Reply
    • Shadina says

      December 14, 2017 at 1:27 am

      Then look somewhere immediately or before using it, ask someone to turn it on for you.

      Reply
  19. Nova says

    November 28, 2017 at 11:25 pm

    Gonna do this and ask for the next winning powerball numbers ??

    Reply
  20. Casey B says

    November 28, 2017 at 8:03 am

    If you’re unsure if Satoru-kun is behind you, can you use a reflection to check?

    Reply
    • Shadina says

      December 14, 2017 at 1:26 am

      Nope. You may not want to know what he looks like.
      To be sure he’s behind you, you must sense a presence behind you.

      Reply
    • Deadly Kitty says

      February 20, 2018 at 12:22 pm

      NEVER USE A MIRROR, OR A SCREEN, OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT CAN SHOW A REFLECTION TO SEE IF IT’S BEHIND YOU.

      Reply
  21. abby says

    November 25, 2017 at 10:54 am

    I wanna do this but where’a a payphone anymore? XD

    Reply
    • Shadina says

      December 14, 2017 at 1:27 am

      There are very few payphones but payphones may be found in the US.

      Reply
    • Deadly Kitty says

      February 20, 2018 at 12:26 pm

      You can find payphones in major cities in the U.S. (Seattle, New York, Las Vegas, etc.) You can use Google Maps to find one near you.

      Reply
    • Magic Kingdom Snake says

      July 22, 2018 at 11:03 pm

      I have a ton of payphones downtown where I am. I now feel uneasy around them, due to the knowledge that I can call a supernatural entity at any time.

      Reply
  22. Rhiannon says

    November 22, 2017 at 5:57 pm

    If I decide I want to abort this game, can I just not answer his call?

    Reply
    • Shadina says

      December 14, 2017 at 1:28 am

      I guess you can’t. You simply can’t.
      So make fudging sure you want to play this game before doing it.

      Reply
  23. JV says

    November 19, 2017 at 2:29 am

    I’m hereeee

    Reply
  24. Des says

    November 17, 2017 at 4:58 pm

    Got the link to this new website and wow bravo!

    Reply
    • Lucia says

      November 17, 2017 at 5:03 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply

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