Aka-Manto, known as the Red Cloak, is a chilling tale from Japanese folklore that revolves around a malevolent entity haunting public restrooms and school toilets.
According to the legend, encountering Aka-Manto involves a sinister choice between red paper and blue paper, or sometimes a red or blue cape. This eerie spirit, once a captivating individual pursued by countless admirers, now conceals his visage behind an enigmatic mask.
Aka Manto is a well-known urban legend deeply rooted in Japanese culture, particularly concerning toilets, and has various versions that have captivated people’s imaginations throughout the years. Typically set in a specific stall of a seldom-used or older bathroom, often associated with the number four, this eerie tale unfolds.
It commonly begins with a student urgently needing to use a restroom late in the evening, forcing them to venture into a rumored haunted facility. Despite the unsettling atmosphere, the student proceeds with their business, only to be confronted by a peculiar voice asking, “Do you want red paper or blue paper?”
The choices presented are seemingly innocent, yet the consequences are far from it. Opting for the red paper often results in a gruesome demise, with the student being violently stabbed, leading to a ghastly display of their blood-soaked body resembling a vibrant red cloak.
In subsequent instances, another student finds themselves in a similar situation, aware of the tragic legend but compelled by necessity to enter the bathroom. The voice once again poses the same question, this time offering the alternative of blue paper.
However, this choice proves equally fatal, as the student’s life force is drained, leaving their lifeless body with a haunting blue complexion.
Numerous variations of this legend exist, attributing the true identity of Aka Manto to a serial killer hiding in an adjacent stall, a ghostly figure with a pallid, bluish-white face, or even a mischievous yokai known as a kainade.
Each variation holds its own gruesome outcome, ranging from being strangled until one’s face turns blue to having one’s skin flayed and draped like a crimson cape. Survivors who dare to share the tale often suffer severe illnesses or mysteriously vanish, never to be seen again.
Attempts to outsmart Aka Manto by bringing extra toilet paper or providing unconventional answers only lead to a fate as dreadful as choosing the offered options. Despite the prevailing sense of dread, this urban legend continues to captivate the minds of people, reflecting the underlying anxieties that students face.
The origin of Aka Manto can be traced back to the 1930s, and its enduring popularity may stem from the relatable feeling of encountering impossible choices akin to challenging test questions or public scrutiny in the classroom.
Over time, Aka Manto’s visual depiction has evolved, with the current image often featuring a figure donned in a long red hooded cloak, though in earlier iterations, the term “manto” referred to a sleeveless kimono jacket.
As generations come and go, the image of Aka Manto remains imprinted in the collective consciousness, a chilling reminder of the dark corners of Japanese folklore and the enduring power of urban legends.
©Emika Oka
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Source
赤マント - Wikipedia
赤マント (あかまんと)とは【ピクシブ百科事典】 (pixiv.net)
赤マントの都市伝説は少女を狙う怪人⁉赤い紙青い紙の元ネタの正体 | バズーカNEWS・怖い話と都市伝説 (scary-story.net)