THE OKIKU HAUNTED DOLL SHRINE

The Okiku haunted doll shrine




One of the most famous and indeed spookiest of Japan’s odd dolls is one that is supposedly haunted. The tale of an infamous doll known as the Okiku doll begins in 1918, when a boy purchased it while on a trip to the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido to give to his little sister, Okiku. The overjoyed little girl was smitten with the doll, and played with it every day, even going so far as to name it after herself, Okiku. The two were reportedly inseparable and went everywhere together until tragedy struck the following year and Okiku fell gravely ill. The girl soon died from complications of severe influenza and fever, and the mourning family placed her beloved doll in a family altar in memory of their daughter.

The mourning family placed her beloved doll in a family altar for remembrance of their daughter, and that’s when things started getting strange. They soon noticed that the doll’s hair getting longer, which continues to grow despite frequent trimming. They took this as a sign that their daughter left her spirit in the doll. In 1938, Okiku’s family decided to move from Hokkaido but they felt that it would be best for Okiku’s spirit to remain on the island where she had spent her life. So that they entrusted the doll to the monks at Mannenji Temple, where it is still on display.

Some sources also claim that a number of scientific tests reveal the doll’s hair is indeed of the human child and it’s said to be still growing as usual. Nobody has been able to explain why or how it’s happening. Whereas, many even claim another strange thing about “Okiku the Doll” that if you get close enough to it and look into its half-open mouth, you can see its growing teeth!! Nowadays, “Okiku the Doll” has long hair flowing down all the way to its knees, and visitors often come to the Mannenji Temple for seeing its legendary human hair, but they are not allowed to photograph it.

This does not necessarily point to a supernatural origin. What is going on with this doll? Is this some sort of trick or are there paranormal forces we don’t understand compelling its hair to perpetually grow? Who knows?