“Sacchan”: The Cursed Japanese Children’s Song That Kills If You Sing It

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Every culture has its dark folklore, but few are as chilling as the Japanese urban legend surrounding “Sacchan,” a seemingly innocent children’s song that hides a terrifying secret. Most Japanese people know the first three verses by heart, but a cursed “fourth verse” is said to exist—a verse that, if sung, summons a vengeful spirit to your bedside. This is the horrifying story behind one of Japan’s most notorious creepypastas.

The Sweet Song with a Dark Secret

First broadcast in 1959, “Sacchan” is a beloved nursery rhyme about a sweet little girl named Sachiko (affectionately called Sacchan) who has to move far away. The lyrics, written by renowned children’s author Hiroo Sakata, speak of her favorite things, like bananas, and the sadness of her departure. Sakata himself explained that the song was inspired by a slightly melancholic childhood friend who transferred to another kindergarten. It’s a nostalgic, bittersweet tune known by millions.

Officially, the song only has three verses. But according to a pervasive urban legend that began circulating through chain mails in the late 1990s, there are more—ten verses in total. And from the fifth verse onward, the song transforms from a sweet melody into a gruesome tale of death and revenge.

Here are the alleged “lost verses” (5-10):

Verse 5:
Sacchan, you see, lost her legs on the railroad tracks,
So she’s coming to get your legs instead,
Tonight, you see. Sacchan.

Verse 6:
Sacchan, you see, holds a grudge, it’s true,
Because she was pushed, saying goodbye to everyone is a shame,
It was them, you see. Sacchan.

Verse 7:
Sacchan, you see, wants some friends, it’s true,
So I’ll take you with me, too,
Isn’t that kind of me? Sacchan.

Verse 8:
Sacchan, you see, was frustrated with you, too,
Why are you still alive? I want you,
I want you, you see. Sacchan.

Verse 9:
Sacchan, you see, today is the day she died,
She wants a new birthday, but she’s decided,
I WANT YOU. Sacchan.

Verse 10:
Sacchan, you see, this song calms her down,
Won’t you sing along with me?
In the afterlife, you see. Sacchan.

As the verses progress, the story becomes clear: Sacchan didn’t just move away. She died a violent death, and she wants company. But what is the tragic story that inspired this terrifying legend?

The Horrifying Origin of the Curse

According to the legend, the true story took place on a freezing, snowy night in Muroran, Hokkaido. A young girl named Sachiko Kiritani was walking home when her foot got stuck in a groove on a railroad crossing, hidden by the snow. As she struggled to free herself, a train appeared. It struck her, severing her body in two at the torso.

In a gruesome twist, the intense cold temporarily cauterized her wounds, preventing her from dying instantly. In agonizing pain, she reportedly crawled around in the snow, desperately searching for her lower half until her heart finally gave out.

Years later, two of her former male classmates, now teenagers, cruelly created the “lost verses” of the “Sacchan” song, mocking her tragic death. Their female friends warned them to stop, but they refused. Three days later, both boys were found dead—their bodies missing their legs. This detail is particularly chilling in a Japanese context, as traditional ghost stories (kaidan) often depict ghosts as having no feet.

How to Survive Sacchan’s Curse

The urban legend doesn’t end there. It comes with a terrifying warning and a bizarre set of rules for survival. It is said that if you learn and sing the forbidden verses, Sacchan will visit you in the middle of the night to claim your legs and your head.

There are only two known ways to protect yourself:

1.
Forward the chain mail (the origin of the curse) to a certain number of people within a time limit.
2.
Sleep with a banana near your bed.

The banana defense is a strange but logical callback to the original song’s second verse, which states that Sacchan loves bananas. Apparently, the ghost of the little girl is willing to accept her favorite fruit as a substitute for your limbs.

Of course, this is all just an urban legend—a classic Japanese ghost story updated for the digital age. Or is it? While most dismiss it, a more hopeful “fourth verse” also exists, suggesting Sacchan is happily in heaven. But for those who stumble upon the forbidden lyrics late at night, the sweet and simple melody of “Sacchan” may never sound the same again.

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