The Most Dangerous Games: Manami-sama

Previously: The Hospitality Game.

Here’s one that doesn’t seem to have made the jump to widespread popularity — or even to have made it out of its place of origin: Manami-sama, a Japanese ritual game aimed at information gathering and the answering of questions. (For the curious, it’s rendered まなみ様 in its original language.)

It’s easy to play and requires only minimal supplies; the trickiest part might actually be gathering enough people to play: You need five players — no more, no less — and, well… let’s just say that the older you get, the harder it can be to get that many friends all together in one spot for an extended amount of time. Adulthood is demanding on your time.

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Manami-sama was originally posted to 2ch’s occult board in January of 2008.  It’s functionally a variation on Kokkuri-san; there’s also a little bit of Bixian, or the Spirit of the Pen, in there, as well, although whether that’s by design or by coincidence remains to be seen, given that Bixian is not Japanese in origin. Its original poster also noted that it seemed to be hyperlocal — possibly limited not just to the area they lived in, but to their specific school.

Unlike in Kokkuri-san, you don’t need to write the entire alphabet on your game board, or include an illustration of a torii gate; you do, however, have a few other requirements — things Manami-sama likes, the inclusion of which might persuade her to show up.

She seems to be fairly benign as a correspondent — although she does have a tragic backstory, so you might want to tread carefully around her.

As always: Play at your own risk.

Players:

• Five participants.

Requirements:

• A sheet of paper. A4 size is recommended.
• An image of a rabbit. The image may be either a photograph or an illustration.
• A small handful of sweets or candy.
• A blue writing implement. Any variety of writing implement is acceptable — pen; marker; crayon; colored pencil; etc. — as long as it writes in the color blue.
• Five ribbons — blue. The ribbons should be long enough to be tied comfortably around various parts of the human body.
• A quiet room in which to play.
• In that room, a desk or other flat surface.
• A time-keeping device.
• Questions. Queries. Inquiries.

Instructions:

Making The Preparations:

1. Gather any and all required supplies.
2. Choose the room in which you will play. Ensure that you will not be disturbed at any point during the course of the game.
3. Prior to beginning, prepare the sheet of paper: First, orient the paper horizontally (landscape). Then, write the words “yes” and “no” at the top of the sheet of paper. Lastly, in the center of the sheet of paper, write the numbers zero through nine.
   • NOTE: You may use the blue writing implement to prepare the sheet of paper; however, it is not required that you do so. You will likely achieve best results if you do use the blue writing implement, though.
4. Keep this prepared paper safe between now and when you begin.
5. When you are ready to play, gather together all participants in the room in which you have chosen to play. Bring all of your supplies, including the prepared paper, with you.
6. Place the paper on a desk or other flat surface.
7. Place the image of the rabbit near the paper on the desk.
8. If the sweets or candies are wrapped, unwrap them and place them on top of their wrappers near the paper on the desk.
9. Place the blue writing implement and the ribbons near the paper on the desk.
10. Now: Check your time-keeping device. What time is it?
    • If it is 5pm or later: DO NOT PROCEED. Gather your supplies and vacate the room. You may try again another time… when you have better mastered your skills of time management.
    • If it is 4:30pm or earlier: You may proceed.

Calling Manami-sama:

1. When you are ready to begin, arrange all participants around the desk in a pentagon shape: One should be positioned at the top of the prepared piece of paper; two on either side of it; and two positioned at the bottom, evenly spaced. All participants should be able to easily reach the paper, should they stretch an arm out in front of them.
2. Each participant shall now be assigned a role based on their position relative to the prepared paper:
   • The participant positioned at the top is the head;
   • The participants on either side are the left hand and right hand;
   • And the participants positioned at the bottom are the left foot and right foot.
3. Each participant must now take one of the blue ribbons and tie it around their own limb or appendage according to the role they have been assigned:
   • The head must tie the ribbon around their own head;
   • The left hand must tie the ribbon around their own left hand;
   • The right hand must tie the ribbon around their own right hand;
   • The left foot must tie the ribbon around their own left foot;
   • And the right foot must tie the ribbon around their own right foot.
4. Now: The participant who has been assigned the role of head must take the blue writing implement in one hand and place it point down in the center of the prepared paper, lightly holding it there such that it is perpendicular to the paper.
5. Each of the other participants should now add their hands to the pen, such that all participants are helping to hold it perpendicular to the paper.
6. Speaking in unison, all participant should now say aloud the following words: “Manami-sama, Manami-sama, we have prepared some treats and a rabbit for you. Please respond if you are here.”
7. Now: Watch the writing implement. What does it do?
   • If it remains stationary: Manami-sama is not here; the ritual has failed. Do not proceed. Untie the ribbons, gather up your supplies and vacate the room. You may try again another time.
   • If it moves to “no”: Manami-sama is not willing to talk; the ritual has failed. Do not proceed. Untie the ribbons and speak in unison the following words: “Fire, fire, Manami-sama’s house is on fire.” Then gather up your supplies and vacate the room. It is not recommended that you try again another time.
   • If it moves to “yes”: Manami-sama is here; the ritual has succeeded. You may proceed: Manami-sama is willing to speak with you.

8. You may now proceed to ask Manami-sama your questions. Be mindful of how you phrase them; Manami-sama, after all, can only answer according to the paper you have prepared — that is, with the words “yes” and “no” and the numbers zero through nine.
9. Do NOT drop the writing implement at any point.
10. Keep an eye on the time as you ask your questions. When it has reached 5pm, proceed to Sending Manami-sama Home.
11. Do NOT lose track of the time.
12. You MUST end the game at 5pm.

Sending Manami-sama Home:

1. At 5pm, speak in unison the following words: “Manami-sama, Manami-sama, it is five o’clock, so please go home. It is time to go home.”
2. Watch the writing implement. What does it do?
   • If it remains stationary or moves to “no”: Manami-sama is refusing to leave. IMMEDIATELY enact the following emergency procedure: Untie the ribbons and speak in unison the words, “Fire, fire, Manami-sama’s house is on fire.” Do NOT proceed until you have enacted this procedure. Then and only then may you proceed.
   • If it moves to “yes”: Manami-sama has agreed to leave. You may now safely end the game.
3. Untie the ribbons if you have not already, gather up all your supplies, and vacate the room.
4. Burn the supplies as soon as possible. Burn them completely. Burn them to ash.

Additional Notes:

All supplies (save the obvious ones — that is, the room, the desk, and the time-keeping device) should be brand new at the outset of the game: The paper should be a fresh sheet not previously written on or otherwise used for any purpose; the blue writing implement should be new, freshly opened and never having written a single jot or line before; etc. Do NOT attempt to play this game using supplies that are old, damaged, or otherwise previously used.

The writing implement and the ribbons MUST be blue. Manami-sama likes the color blue.

The image of the rabbit MUST be of a rabbit, not of any other animal. Manami-sama likes rabbits.

The game MUST be played with five participants. It cannot be played with more or fewer than five.

The game MUST NOT be observed by anyone else. It cannot be played with spectators present.

Do NOT permit the game to go on past 5pm.

Regarding Manami-sama’s Identity:

It is sometimes said that Manami-sama suffered something terrible in life — fire and flame being torn asunder — which led to her death. Although this may offer some explanation as to why her spirit has chosen to remain here, on this plane, it does not explain why she has chosen to spend her time corresponding with the living and answering their questions.

There do not seem to be any topics that are off-limits for her — but knowing what you now know about her…

…Choose your words wisely, and your questions carefully.

She may not react well to… certain things.

Besides: She has graciously taken the time to speak with you. It wouldn’t do to repay that favor with rudeness, would it, now?

I thought not.

***

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[Photos via wal_172619, Maria_Domnina, inproperstyle/Pixabay; Europeana, Olivie Strauss/Unsplash]