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Rumors swirl after girls mysteriously collapse at Fukuoka school

52 Comments
By Krista Rogers

The Internet is exploding after a succession of high school girls in Fukuoka Prefecture disturbingly collapsed during school hours on Monday. Students who were at the scene took to their Twitter accounts to post updates as the bizarre spectacle unfolded.

While the most likely explanation for the mysterious series of events is that the girls were induced into a state of mass panic after the first girl collapsed, some are attributing it to a vengeful spirit. Feel free to draw your own conclusions from the details, but either way, this is one creepy happening.

Summer is traditionally the season for telling tales of horror and ghost stories in Japan, and it seems like this season is off to a spectacularly eerie start. Around 10 a.m. on June 30, a first-year student at Yanagawa High School, a private school in Fukuoka Prefecture, suddenly began screaming in the middle of class and became unable to move her body. Soon after, several of her female classmates began displaying the same strange behavior, and their numbers increased to either 26 or 27 (based on varying reports) as more students from surrounding rooms arrived to see what was happening. The afflicted students, who were all female and ranged from first-years through third-years, were taken home by their guardians. The school eventually shut down completely around 1 p.m., and remained closed on the following day for authorities to investigate the cause of events.

As bizarre as the above series of events may seem, the story gets even stranger with the addition of a strange twist–some are whispering that the girls were actually possessed by a ghost.

Every year, the first-year students at Yanagawa High School go on an excursion to the nearby Mt Hiko as part of their studies. In the past, the surrounding area, including the large Aburagi Dam, has been rumored to be inhabited by the spirit of a headless girl. Some people are hypothesizing that one of the high school students became possessed by the ghost during her class’ recent trip, and it came home with her when they returned.

Here are some tweets from a student as the events unfolded:

“Our school. Rumor’s going around that an evil spirit was brought back from the mountain. Now over 15 people are dropping like flies. The girls are saying things like “Kill me!” and “Die!” It’s too crazy. We’re on standby in the classroom…”

“In the end the school was closed. The number who collapsed: five turned into 15, eventually surpassing 20. 27 girls collapsed in total. Freaky”

Many others commented as the news spread online:

“When I checked up on Yanagawa High School, this came up…are they all right? Is it group hysterics? The pictures are frightening…”

“About 20 female students at Yanagawa High School were possessed by a ghost and collapsed. It’s really scary. The whole school went into a state of panic and shut down. It might be on TV!”

While officials are attributing the collapsing fits as a case of mass hysterics caused by the first girl, others are not so quick to shun the involvement of an evil spirit. Or perhaps the whole happening was a prank by Hanako, a toilet ghost that is rumored to live in the bathroom of Japanese schools.

Sources: Hachima Kiko, Nikkan Sports

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Girl rejected by boy she never actually met takes revenge with 20-girl mob -- This Japanese University English Textbook is a Joke, We’re too Worried About Japan’s Future to Laugh… -- Jammy Shoes and Out of Bounds Restrooms: School Kids Vote to Abolish Unwritten Rules

© RocketNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


52 Comments
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Higurashi

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I know Many Japanese that are quite superstitious...however, I would like to know more about food or air conditions. For example, how hot is it in the school? Did the girls just finish a PE class? Is there something in the water or food that is causing anxiety or hallucination?

Any followup on this story would be apprciated.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Clearly a case of a vengeful spirit here. They can be very harmful if they want and some people are more sensitive to be affected by spirits than others.

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

I believe in ghost...this world is made up of spiritual & physical! Ghosts are real & true! I'm a modern man, scientific in training, but I still believe, cos I've seen ghosts myself!

-11 ( +5 / -16 )

Sounds like bad promotion for a new movie

2 ( +5 / -3 )

As the article states, just another case of mass hysteria.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

Yes, mass hysteria.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

How many of these events occurred in the past few weeks? Very odd. New trend? IF so, why? The weird thing is, they still don't know what happened in Tokyo. And again, all at the same time. And never happened in the past. Something is fishy.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

In the age of mass produced, easily accessible recording devices not ONE, not ONE single recording of a 'ghost' has been accepted as authentic. I adore being scared, horror, suspense, it's a good buzz, but ghosts, for real? Absolutely not. We die and it is a full stope, dead end, no more. What we were breaks down into carbon, nitrates, water etc and that folks is that. Ghosts? You'll be telling us the universe has a meaning next.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

I still believe, cos I've seen ghosts myself!

And I've seen a man saw a woman in half and put her back together again.

This was undoubtedly a mass panic attack.

Possibly brought on by the first girl not being unable to understand what Moaning Myrtle was saying to her.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Another pathetic example of conformity, or the Paranormal? Got to to with conformity myself...or food poisoning most likely. It's hot, no over site or training in food handling. Just another instance of mass food poisoning same as last month and the month before and the month before, and the month before....

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

I just came here for the comments.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

Could be a prank by group of girls.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Some high school girl with excellent leadership skills, a vivid imagination and the will to put it into action. Hats off to you girl. Much better than climbing into work freezer and taking a picture and posting it on the net.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Could be a prank...

Might be. Rather unique way to get expelled.

Anyway, Rocket News? Fun site, take with grain of salt and call doctor if symptoms persist in the morning.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I am sure they were possessed by Spirits

I tell my wife that spirits force me to get drunk on weekends and sometimes on weekdays, but she doesn't believe me. Hopefully now she will.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Shendelzare Silkwood

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Clearly a case of a vengeful spirit here. They can be very harmful if they want and some people are more sensitive to be affected by spirits than others."

THANK YOU!

The house I lived in before in Toshima ku was haunted. One night as I lay in bed, I saw a small dark cloud come out of the wall. As the cloud like orb got darker, a Japanese man emerged from the wall. He was wearing the old tradional Japanese clothing. I noticed as he drew closer I could not move while in my bed. As he passed by my bed he firmly put his foot on my stomach, as to let me know he is real. Then he continued to move past me as he sort of floatedand went into another wall. I have also seen a US soldier ghost from world war 2. And I have taken many pictures of moving orbs, and rods caught on security cameras. I contacted psychic in the US to find solutions, and analysis of the pictures, who told me that ghost and spirits really do exist. I know many dont beleive in ghost or spirits but thanks for letting me share, btw I have never seen or experienced such things when I lived in the US. AND I have talked to other gaigins who have told similiar experiences in Tokyo

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Clearly a case of haunted school ! Exams are coming ?!

And I have taken many pictures of moving orbs, and rods caught on security cameras.

I think we are all now very curious to see those pics.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Were they studying "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller...? Sounds like a similar case of hysteria.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

High school girl: " Hey, anybody want the afternoon off? Just do what I do."

7 ( +8 / -1 )

OOHhh the same thing happened in a high school in west Algeria one or two years ago, everyone was very shocked and terrified, Girls and boys collapsed many times and for couple weeks. Spirit tales, even chemicals and worse, Weed were rumored to be the reason of the incident. Thankfully the chief of the school was wise enough to stand up and tell the students to stop acting (Some of them) and stop terrifying each other with useless rumors and lies. and special actions were places to ease the stress because the graduation exam was ahead. Then everything went back to normal.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Female teenage hysteria. It is a well reported phenomenon, not only in japan.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

A similar event happened at LeRoy High School in LeRoy, New York. Girls began to have seizures and tics like Tourette's.

It became a national interest in the United States as different factions tried to connect the episodes to chemical spills, ground water contamination, and other problems.

Doctors eventually arrived at different solutions. One group was treated for Conversion Disorder, a psychiatric problem A second doctor said it was PANDAS, mental breaks connected to infection. One group was treated with antipsychotics, and the other with antibiotics. Both treatments appeared to work equally well.

No one realized that the first girl had stopped symptoms when she left school, but they returned when she went back to classes. That says her problem was Subliminal Distraction. The girl took two art classes daily and was active using her computer at home performing school work and social media activities.

It is possible that these girls in Fukuoka Prefecture also created Subliminal Distraction exposure. It's an engineering/design problem with human physiology discovered when it caused mental breaks for office workers in 1964. The cubicle was designed to block peripheral vision for a concentrating worker to stop it in offices by 1968.

Computers allow the mental break causing design mistake to be created almost anywhere. Long hours of exposure are required for the full mental break which remits when exposure stops. But low levels of exposure can cause bizarre symptoms.

This problem of the physiology of sight also causes the mental breaks from QiGong participation.

If you have a computer at home you should investigate Subliminal Distraction, learn what it is, then take simple free precautions to avoid it.

I study it as the cause of college suicides.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Sounds a bit like Salem, Mass. circa 1600. At least no one is pointing fingers at witches.

My college had a sweep of hysteria go through about 1970 based on a prediction of a mass murder in a female dorm at a southern US university. Never happened, but there was a lot of fainting and sleeplessness until it all went away.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@RealityTV I have no idea if ghosts exist or not as the students believe, but until we have solid proof for it I would suggest a healthy dose of skepticism.

Respectfully, you should look into what are called Night Terrors. Even through you are actually awake, your brain has your body and body chemicals set in lucid-dream mode, so you can not move your body and hallucinate things like aliens or whatever. In ages past they were called incubus, but we know it well today to be a rare chemical reaction of sorts. Totally natural but, as the name implies, terrifying.

Additionally, the flying orbs and rods have been pretty well researched- certain speeds of insect movement, combined with standard camera shutter speeds can cause amazing results, such as rods and orbs. For example, a helicopter that flies without spinning rotor or propellers falling off an airplane.

Helicopter: http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=kp&v=cxddi8m_mzk Flying Rods: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5VZqs2J3yxc

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Dogs and cats living together. Mass Hysteria.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

"The school eventually shut down completely around 1 p.m., and remained closed on the following day for authorities to investigate the cause of events."

Mission accomplished.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

"High school girl: " Hey, anybody want the afternoon off? Just do what I do." " Hahaha so true

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Drama club must've been bored

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Hmmm. Three nights ago a black shadowy shape dropped onto my face and I awoke from a dead sleep. Never have had that sort of nightmare before and it took more than an hour to go back to sleep.

Ok, just saying...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

They are just copying the girls in Shinjuku the other day.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Sounds like two or more things happened at once: a trip to a "haunted" mountain and ghost stories going around, then a girl under mental duress or influence of chemicals snaps, other students put the two unrelated incidents together causing mass panic. Maybe?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Yeah check their lunch! A group of girls could be that another group or someone in the group slipped them something!!!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

ROFL, sounds like these girls smoked some good american crack cocaine in japan and was unable to handle it. No such thing as a evil spirit. all foul play for attention.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Maybe they have the devil in them?(Just kidding) Same stuff occurred to young ladies feeding off each others drama at the Salem witch trials...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

While the most likely explanation for the mysterious series of events is that the girls were induced into a state of mass panic after the first girl collapsed, some are attributing it to a vengeful spirit.

Oh yeah, the old vengeful spirit gag. An illogical superstitious explanation for something like this is always better than a logical one. Most of the times when silly things like this happen there is always a motivating factor behind them. I smell a few best selling fiction books or maybe a movie coming out in the next 5 years.

Stick with mass hysteria rather than falling for the vengeful spirits bunk, you'll save money and your sanity.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Boys too wish to get knto the spotlight. Everyone knows ghosts prefer dumb girls.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Let me taunt the ghost... Possess me if you can! Cowardly ghost with no honor attacks girls!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Let's call Fringe division.

Or are exams coming up before the summer break?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

All I can say is... James Randi $1m Paranormal Challenge.

Or in other words, puh-lease...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Black cats, broken mirrors, number 13, Halloween, and just about every religious practices and traditions. It doesn't matter how scientifically advanced a country is. The human brain is hardwired to believe in supernatural causes even when there is no rationale scientifically.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

RealityTVJul. 03, 2014 - 05:20PM JST The house I lived in before in Toshima ku was haunted. One night as I lay in bed, I saw a small dark cloud come out of the wall. As the cloud like orb got darker, a Japanese man emerged from the wall. He was wearing the old tradional Japanese clothing. I noticed as he drew closer I could not move while in my bed. As he passed by my bed he firmly put his foot on my stomach, as to let me know he is real.

What you're describing sounds a lot like the symptoms associated with sleep apnea. You might want to look into getting tested at a sleep laboratory.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

" you get a nation that finds the unexplained scary and attributes unexplained events to superstition rather than seeking logical explanations"

I've found that if you always put your pants on before your socks, you will never rely on superstitious belief.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I think that this is a new form of trick photography such as trick photography to impersonate Attack on Titan http://tinyurl.com/m9tu8oo and trick photography to impersonate Hadouken-ing http://tinyurl.com/hadoukenin both of which were very popular among high school girls last year, not to mention trick photography to impersonate flying <http://yowayowacamera.com/ >.

Since the school was closed, it seems that the girls took the prank too far.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What ever you believe about the cause or motives are, I'll be willing to take a bet that JT never does a follow up story about this. If this was a prank, something the ate or inhaled, it could be proven, if not, simply write that the cause is still a mystery. JT also never followed up on the story about why all those children and teachers who became sick, at a public school, after strong chemical smell permeated there classrooms. I think our children are worth, finding out the truth and causes of such events at school.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

NVTS!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@RealityTV you're welcome! It wasn't easy to spot your comment between the deluge of denial and criticism from shallow, jaded commenters who play it down as a prank without any closer knowledge or evidence. Spirits do exist.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@CGB Spender:

Respectfully, it's nothing to do with denial or being jaded regarding the stance of many on this thread. You, and others, claim that spirits exist. You are absolutely free to believe that. Unfortunately, in this world when you make a claim, the burden of proof lies with you and yours. Until you have solid, concrete evidence you can not expect the world to take the belief in ghosts seriously.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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