The Most Dangerous Games: The Shadow Doll Game, Or, Kage Ningyo-san

Previously: The Guardian Game.

Note: Please don’t copy/paste, republish, or narrate this post on other websites, video platforms, etc. without permission.

Looking for a simple information-gathering ritual game that can be performed relatively quickly and easily? The Shadow Doll Game might be what you need. Just be warned: Simple doesn’t necessarily mean safe… and this one is often classified by sources in which it’s documented as a form of necromancy. And there’s no way of knowing who — or what — you might be corresponding with.

I initially discovered the Shadow Doll Game on a blog hosted at Naver; dated 2012, it’s been circulating for at least a full decade in Korea without undergoing much change in the meantime. (Here’s another version from 2015, and yet another one from 2021; notably, the rules of all three versions are pretty much the same.) However, after a bit of digging, I’ve come to suspect — like the Elevator Game — that this one originated not in Korea, but Japan: Here it is again, but in Japanese this time, dated March 3, 2009 and with a note included stating that it was originally posted on 2ch on Jan. 10, 2009. There, it’s called Kage Ningyo-san (影人形さん), literally “Mr. Shadow Doll.”

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

There’s a pattern here: As we’ve now seen multiple times, games that originated on 2ch in Japan circa 2008-2009 made their way to Korea a handful of years later, where they circulated social networks like Naver and Daum before making their way to that country’s wider web. Only a handful of them have been translated into English, though — so even if Japanese games like the Elevator Game, One-Person Chit-Chat, and Hitori Kakurenbo/Hide and Seek Alone have become familiar to English-speaking audiences, there are still plenty of others that, although “old” by internet standards, will often remain quite new to these same audiences.

In the Japanese sources, the tray called for in the Shadow Doll Game is specifically an obon — a type of tray with raised edges that can be either ornate or simple and used for everything from tea ceremonies to everyday business transactions. However, these sources also note that a large plate will get the job done, so use what you’ve got. Japanese sources note that kokeshi dolls (seen above) and paper Hina dolls have traditionally been for this game, but again, use what you’ve got; the only requirement is that the doll have sentimental value to you. When it comes to supplies here, it seems it’s best to follow the spirit of the instructions, rather than the letter.

Regardless as to which adaptations you make, though, remember:

Play at your own risk.

Players:

• One principal.

Requirements:

• A doll — of significance to you, or with sentimental value, and ideally able to stand upright on its own.
• A candle.
• Matches or a lighter.
• A large tray or plate.
• A smaller dish or plate.
• Water.
• Salt.
• A quiet, dark room.
• In the quiet, dark room, a small table.
• Two questions — no more, no less — to which you desire answers. (See: Additional Notes.)

Instructions:

The Preparations:

1. You may begin at any time, although nighttime is recommended.
2. Bring your supplies to the quiet, dark room.
3. Ensure that at least one wall of the room is clear and blank, free of decorations and other obstructions. You may rearrange the items within the room however necessary to achieve these conditions.
4. Set up the table near, but not flush with, the blank wall. Ensure that there is enough space for you to comfortably position yourself, standing, between the table and the wall. Again, you may rearrange the items within the room however necessary to achieve these conditions.
5. Close the curtains or otherwise block the windows.
6. Turn off the lights.
7. Place the candle on the table.
8. Place the large tray or plate on the table between the candle and the blank wall — that is, such that, when the candle is lit, the flame will cast the tray’s shadow onto the blank wall.
9. Pour enough water into the tray so that the bottom is completely covered, but not so much that it overflows.
10. Place the smaller dish or plate in the center of the water-filled tray.
11. Stand the doll upright on the smaller dish or plate.
12. Light the candle.
13. Check the blank wall. If you cannot see the doll’s shadow cast upon it, carefully adjust the position of the large tray on the table until you can.
14. If the doll does not have a name, name it now. (See: Additional Notes.)

The Conversation:

1. Position yourself so that you are standing between the table and the blank wall, facing the wall and with your back to the doll.
2. Check the wall: Your own shadow should be cast upon it by the candle, obscuring the smaller shadow of the doll. If it is not, adjust your position until it is.
3. Do not turn around. Do not face the flame. Remain focused on the shadow on the wall.
4. Now, it is time to call forth the doll. Speaking to the shadow on the wall, repeat aloud the following phrase three times: “[Doll’s name], please come.”
5. Do not turn around. Do not face the flame. Remain focused on the shadow on the wall.
6. Wait. Watch. What do you see?
   • If the shadow remains stationary: The summoning has not succeeded; do not proceed. Repeat The Conversation, Step 4 until you achieve the desired result. Once you have achieved the desired result, you may proceed. (See: “If the shadow shakes or moves.”) If you do not achieve the desired result even after repeating The Conversation, Step 4 multiple times, you may terminate the ritual by proceeding directly to The Farewell and following the procedure described therein.
   • If the shadow shakes or moves: The summoning has succeeded; you may proceed.
7. You may now ask the doll the first of your two questions. Make sure to include instructions on how the doll may answer. It is recommended that you instruct the doll to indicate its choice of response by swinging the shadow on the wall to the right or left. (See: Additional Notes.)
8. Do not turn around. Do not face the flame. Remain focused on the shadow on the wall.
9. Watch. Wait. What do you see? Make note of your observation; this is the answer to your question.
10. You may now ask the doll the second of your two questions. Again, make sure to include instructions on how the doll may answer.
11. Do not turn around. Do not face the flame. Remain focused on the shadow on the wall.
12. Watch. Wait. What do you see? Make note of your observation; this is the answer to your question.

The Farewell:

1. When you have finished asking your questions and have received your answers, thank the doll for its time.
2. Do not turn around — not yet.
3. Remaining facing the wall, carefully reach back behind you, find the candle, and extinguish it. Alternatively, if you are unable to extinguish the candle safely without turning around, you may, after thanking the doll, say, “Please wait until the fire is extinguished,” and wait for the candle to burn out.
4. Do NOT turn around until the candle has been fully extinguished — either by your own hand, or by time’s.
5. When the flame has gone out, you may now safely turn around.
6. Begin to clear up the supplies: Remove the doll from the smaller plate and the smaller plate from the tray, and empty the tray of water. Sprinkle salt on the plate and tray; then wash both thoroughly with water.
7. Store the doll somewhere safe, dark, and out of the way — ideally in a cupboard, cabinet, closet, or other closed space. You may also place an offering of food near it, if you desire.
8. Keep the doll stored away in this location for at least three days.
9. After the three days are up, you may remove the doll and store it elsewhere.

Additional Notes:

Regarding the doll’s name: Sources do not specify best practices for choosing a name; however, as is true for other doll-centric games, it is NOT recommended that you give the doll either your own, or the name of someone you personally know. Better to choose a name unconnected in any way to yourself or other people in your life. (See also: Hide And Seek Alone.)

Regarding the questions: The questions should be simple, multiple-choice questions with no more than two choices; do not ask anything overly complicated. You must also include in the questions’ phrasing instructions as to how the doll may answer — for example, “When I go to work tomorrow, should I take Route A or Route B? If Route A, swing the shadow to the right, and if Route B, swing the shadow to the left.” You would then watch which way the shadow on the wall leans and deduce your answer according to its movement.

Note that the doll may remain stationary in response to your question(s). This is itself an answer, as well: It may be interpreted to mean, “I don’t know,” or as an indication that the doll does not feel strongly one way or the other.

Although you may extinguish the candle — and end the game — by allowing the flame to burn out on its own, do NOT allow the game to go on AFTER the candle has burned out. If you HAVE NOT completed The Conversation in full by the time the candle is on the cusp of burning out, skip immediately to The Farewell, Step 1 —thanking the doll, etc.—and terminate the game via the procedure described.

If, at ANY point during the game, you hear laughter in the room that is not your own, terminate the game IMMEDIATELY.

A Final Word:

Once you have begun calling forth the doll in The Conversation, Step 4, DO NOT TURN AROUND until you have successfully completed The Farewell through Step 4 and closed out the game.

If you DO turn around sooner, either accidentally or intentionally… you’re on your own.

The Shadow Doll Game: FAQ.

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[Photo via Tkmisaw/Pixabay]