April 29nd 2022, 8:00 PM
That date is misleading actually, I’m just gonna be keeping a few empty pages to give details about every encounter we have. This is just the time I’m writing this little opening note. Don’t miss me too much!
Since I’m definitely also not gonna be able to write normal diary entries I guess I’ll also reserve some space to write about some other non-yokai related stuff, nothing crazy just out of context stuff.
July 4th 2022, 3:10 PM
Wow, it’s been four months since I could write a proper diary entry about literally anything except Kuchisake-Onna. Except that’s a lie, because I want to write an important update to the Kuchisake-Onna situation.
So earlier today, Minato and I were just hanging out, walking around, bored. We were also silently hoping to NOT see Kuchisake-Onna because if I’m being honest, I’m kinda sick and tired of it at this point! But anyway, I guess my luck is bad because we did see one. In the garbage can of all things! No, I’m not making that up. It’s true. Just ask Minato, he was there.
That was the final straw for us, because we ended up seeking out Naoko. We’d seen quite a number of Kuchisake-Onna, all different, none the ones we were looking for. So we went back to the yokai forest, but not without having something to defend ourselves with.
As we got to the end of the path, we saw Naoko pacing on the bridge. As she turned to face us she jumped upon seeing us.
“Keiko! Minato! What can I do for you?” She raced up to us.
“I’m losing my mind, Naoko. We literally saw a Kuchisake-Onna in the trash ccan.” I ran my hands through my hair.
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“I assume it wasn’t the one you’re looking for?”
“Nope,” Said Minato.
“Well, like I said, it’s hard to find one specific one, so-” Naoko tried to begin explaining the same thing she said when we started, but I already knew that. So I cut her off.
“I think waiting for us to happen to find her is like a one in a million thing. If we could get more people to help us out, we’ll definitely have a higher chance of actually finding the one specific Kuchisake-Onna. We’ll need a website, ask people to upload images, the date, address and time.” I proposed.
“Good idea. I know nothing about that kinda stuff, I can barely figure out how to use my phone. Would you know how to make a website?” Naoko asked.
“Yes!” I said.
We waved goodbye and made our way out of the forest.
“Okay boomer.” Minato mumbled on the way out.
Oh, did I mention that my friends are really starting to rub off on him? I happened to linger on his face and he had very visible eyebags. Not looking great for Mrs. and Mr. Sato when they have such weird treatment of their son already…
“Are you alright?” I asked.
“Huh? Yeah, just tired.” Minato rubbed his eyes, somewhat frowning. Minato normally has a resting mean face (yes, I know there’s another word that they use for that but I’m not gonna say it!) but that was not his resting mean face. I could’ve sworn I saw the tears for a second in his eyes. I felt guilty on the way to my house. I think I might’ve touched a nerve. I didn’t bother saying anything else, I feel somewhat responsible for this. He’s done so much yet I haven’t been able to do much for him in return.
Anyway funny website time! When we got back home we got to work making the website. I don’t know if you really want the itty bitty details of me saying “I opened wix and pressed this button, then that button, blah blah blah,” but the website turned out to be pretty cool in my opinion. We set it up so that people can submit photos in a submission box with details and we can manually review it! We also have a homepage describing this, a tab of the submissions, and a contact page. I don’t have much to advertise on the contact page but maybe I will later on. I almost made the layout bright colors but Minato had to convince me to make it so we weren’t going ot make people’s eyes bleed just to submit pictures. I also decided to make a tumblr for it too as well, tumblr’s format just works for this type of thing.
Me
NAOKO-SAN!
THE WEBSITE!
WE ALSO MADE A TUMBLR TOO!
https://www.tumblr.com/hokkaidoyokaisightings
2:12 PM
Naoko-San
Nice
2:12 AM
Me
Now what?
2:12 PM
Naoko-San
It’ll be hard to get the community’s help without them knowing the website even exists.
Make posters, tell some friends about it, whatever you must make sure more people besides us knows it exists.
3:48 PM
(Not related to the Kuchisake-Onna situation but as I’m writing this Minato is wondering why I’m transcribing my texts messages into my diary, and I told him about me keeping this for the future, whatever will happen then. He still doesn’t get it. Future me, or future… whoevers may understand. Maybe.)
Anyway, back to earlier today. Minato and I had accepted the challenge to get the word out there. I know my friends back in the United States would help but they can’t do much, no yokai out there. Unless… No, it can’t be. We don’t know many people so the only person we could talk to directly was Hotene.
Me
Hotene-chan
2:15 PM
Hotene!
?
2:15 PM
Me
You know about all the Kuchisake-Onna sightings and all that right?
Minato and I made a website
We want everyone in town to help us out and give their own sightings
Then we can try to get to the bottom of this!
If you or any of your friends or anyone else you know sees a Kuchisake-Onna
(or yokai in general, really. That’s fine too)
Can you tell them to take a picture and submit to either the website or the tumblr?
2:16 PM
Hotene!
Of course!
One problem though
I wanna help!
2:16 AM
Me
It’s a lot more complicated than what you think
Plus don’t you not really believe in yokai?
2:16 PM
Hotene!
Not really, but still!
I live in this town too and they’ve been affected my family and other ainu people in town!
2:16 AM
Me
Hm
2:16 PM
I was unsure whether Naoko would be okay with another person fully on board with this type of thing. I didn’t know if she should get fully involved, and still I don’t think so either. So I asked Naoko her thoughts.
Me
One of our friends wants to get involved
I understand her but I don’t know if she should be like full on involved
Would maybe having her help moderate submissions be alright?
2:17 PM
Naoko-San
Yes.
I think if you can focus on seeing whether submissions have the Kuchisake-Onna you’ve been looking for then having someone accept and post submissions would be great.
2:17 AM
Me
Yay! I’ll let her know
2:17 PM
Now with Naoko’s blessing we had someone else on board! Yippie!
Me
Okay sure why not!
Just give me an email and your tumblr so I can give you editing permission on the tumblr and website.
2:18 PM
Hotene!
Yay!
2:18 AM
Me
You’ll basically just review submissions, post them and stuff.
Minato and I will keep doing what we’ve been planning.
2:18 PM
Alright, I think that’s about it for today. Minato, Hotene and I still have to make posters and find places to hang them up, after all. I hope I can write about something not Kuchisake-Onna related very soon, because this stuff is tiring. I’m hopeful this will mean we can find the one Kuchisake-Onna we’ve been looking for soon.
