Hiding from Japanese Ghosts
  • Meet
    • About
    • Share a Story or Subscribe
  • Peek
    • Haunted Locations
    • Urban Legends
    • Map
  • Seek
  • Meet
    • About
    • Share a Story or Subscribe
  • Peek
    • Haunted Locations
    • Urban Legends
    • Map
  • Seek
Hiding from Japanese Ghosts
Human-Head Cow
件 くだん
Prominent for delivering news of death and tragedy, the kudan has been documented since the Heian Period (year 794 – 1185). Usually only living for weeks at a time, the kudan is a cow with the head of a human.
Not to be mistaken for creatures such as 牛女 (ushi-onna / cow woman) or 赤べこ (aka-beko / red cow), the kudan is believed to be the most terrifying creature due to the accuracy of its claims. Its prophecies of disasters were considered to be fact to the point businesses would use 'like the kudan' in their contracts in a promise to fulfill negotiations.  
Picture
Picture
The kudan states prophesies of plagues, wars, and disasters. Listeners can be saved by following the requests of the kudan.
Images: 
https://matome.naver.jp/odai/2134119799453544101
Similar to biblical predictions, the kudan would offer a treaty while foretelling events, stating people would be spared if they committed to an act such as eating red beans within three days.
 
The kudan's popularity rekindled during the late Meiji Period (year 1868 – 1912) after a newspaper in Nagoya reported sightings in the Goto Islands.  
Kudan are believed to only live a few weeks after birth; long enough to share a tale of caution.
Images: 
https://matome.naver.jp/odai/2134119799453544101
While reports have dwindled in recent years, mentions of the kudan are still considered frightening – particularly for children in rural Nagoya.
If you enjoyed reading about kudan, check out this similar posts on Hiding from Japanese Ghosts.
Picture
The Loved One's Curse
When a loved one passes, those who were closest to the deceased risk the threat of meeting the same fate.
back to Urban Legends
Hiding from Japanese Ghosts is located in Nagoya, Japan. 
© COPYRIGHT 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
All articles, photographs, and material belongs to Hiding from Japanese Ghosts unless mentioned otherwise. 
To use the articles, photographs, or material outside of this site, contact Hiding Japanese Ghosts via email for permission.
The articles and material posted on Hiding from Japanese Ghosts is true at the time of posting, and may change as more resources become available.