Hanako-kun’s Shocking True Identity: The Urban Legend Unveiled!

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Summary

  • Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Season 2 began airing on Jan 12, 2025, continuing the story at Kamome Academy.
  • Nene Yashiro summons Hanako expecting a love wish, but he is a boy and has a role in maintaining balance at school.
  • Hanako of the Toilet urban legend inspired the series, based on the spooky Hanako-san ghost story, often tied to Japanese horror.

The second season of “Hanako-kun: Toilet-Bound” commenced its run on January 12, 2025. Each episode is available on Crunchyroll just a few hours following its television broadcast in Japan.

The narrative unfolds in Kamome Academy, a made-up educational institution renowned for its ghost stories and strange occurrences. It is said that this school harbors Seven Enigmas (or mysteries), one of which involves a ghostly girl who haunts the girls’ restroom. When summoned correctly, she is believed to fulfill wishes.

Nene Yashiro, a student yearning for a romantic partner but struggling with bad luck in love, attempts to summon Hanako-san, unaware that Hanako is in fact a male entity. Contrary to her expectations, Hanako declines her wish and instead, has a specific role within the school – maintaining harmony between the spiritual and human realms. Eventually, Yashiro finds herself assisting Hanako in his duties.

In Japanese folklore, I often encounter tales of the ‘Seven Mysteries,’ which are reminiscent of the Seven Wonders. These stories, steeped in mystery and unexplained events, seem to be a recurring theme across various regions of Japan.

Since Hanako-kun appears to be influenced by a well-known Japanese urban legend, it makes perfect sense that his character may be based on the tale of “Hanako from the Toilet” (Toire no Hanako-san).

The Legend of Hanako of the Toilet

In essence, the underlying theme of the tale is consistent with what’s presented in the narrative: a spectral girl is said to be lurking in restrooms. Much like other urban legends, there’s no definitive source or timeframe from which this story emerged.

Hanako-san is commonly depicted as a girl who met a sorrowful end, often associated with a school restroom, whether it be suicide, murder, or an accidental fall from a high window in various legends. Some stories suggest her death occurred during an air raid while playing hide-and-seek at the school, specifically hiding in the toilet, during World War II.

In various tales, her legend is strongly linked to either the number three or four. The Japanese word for “four”, which can also mean ‘death’, is “shi“. Many ghost stories involving fatalities may therefore be connected to the number four. To summon her, one must venture into a girls’ restroom, typically on the third or fourth floor of a school. Once there, knock three or four times on the third or fourth stall and inquire if she is present. If she is, she may respond with an affirmative such as “Yes, I am”. She is frequently depicted as having a rough, hoarse voice.

In certain stories, Hanako, or another guardian figure, could become enraged when privacy is violated and might attempt to inflict harm on the intruder, or even try to drag them into the toilet with a hand appearing as if drenched in blood. Alternatively, some tales depict Hanako relaxing and disappearing if the one calling her is a diligent student.

It appears that this urban legend originated in Japan around the 1950s, but it might be older than that. Notably, Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun infuses humor into the tale by portraying Hanako as a boy instead of a girl, which adds an unexpected twist. Given that Hanako is a common female name in Japan, the audience appreciates the joke simply by reading the title.

Other Hanako-san References in Japanese Media

In essence, Hanako-san has gained significant popularity, serving as a foundation for numerous tales. Beyond the character known as Hanako-kun, she is also the central figure in a manga named “Hanako and the Terror of Allegory.” Here, Hanako assists a detective in resolving unearthly mysteries. She appears as a minor character in GeGeGe no Kitaro and Ghost Stories, and it appears that Episode 10 of Yamishibai (Season 1) may have been influenced by the Hanako-san legend to some degree.

In the game Silent Hill 2, there’s a subtle nod to her character. Specifically, the fourth toilet stall door in the female restroom of the prison gets shut. If you tap on it a couple of times and attempt to exit, you might hear a woman’s terrified scream echoing from within.

Additionally, some horror films have been inspired by this tale, such as “Toilet Ghost Hanako-san” from 1995 and “Newborn Toilet Ghost Hanako-san” from 1998.

While not all things associated with Hanako-san are frightening, there exists a delightful Japanese toy that features her. In this playful item, Hanako emerges from a toy toilet bowl.

You can watch “Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun” online via Crunchyroll, and the original comic book series has been licensed for distribution in the United States by Yen Press.

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2025-02-02 21:40