Twisted Tales with Heidi Wong

Episode: The Japanese Legends That Inspired The Grudge

December 29, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Heidi Wong delves into the dark origins of Ju-on (The Grudge), tracing the chilling reality behind one of Japan’s most iconic horror stories. She unpacks the folklore and historic legends that inspired the relentless curses and vengeful ghosts of Ju-on and its American adaptation. Heidi explores the emotional and societal roots of three infamous Japanese ghost tales—Okiku, Oiwa, and Otsuyu—revealing how real-life rage and betrayal can echo from the grave.

"Reality is the real horror." — Episode tagline

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Darkness at the Heart of Ju-on (03:21–08:50)

• Origin of the Curse:

  • The episode opens with the concept of “Ju-on,” which translates as “resentment curse” or “grudge curse.”
  • Heidi describes the legend: when someone dies consumed by hatred, that rage becomes a curse, infecting anyone who enters where it occurred.
  • This idea is directly mirrored in the film’s plot, as the violent murder of Keyako Saeki and her son Toshio at the hands of Takeo births an unstoppable curse.

• Creepy Details from the Film:

  • “It was creepy as hell. Not the kind of horror that makes you jump, the kind that crawls under your skin and stays there.” (01:44)
  • Key scenes from Ju-on include the iconic croaking ghost, faces frozen in terror, and the sense that no one is ever safe from the curse.
  • The American remake (The Grudge) closely follows the formula but adapts the protagonist and setting.

2. Okiku: The Woman in the Well (08:50–09:59)

• Story Summary:

  • Okiku, a loyal maid, is framed for theft by her employer’s bodyguard after spurning his romantic advances.
  • When she refuses to comply, she’s tortured and drowned in a well, her angry spirit haunting the site by counting plates and emitting a chilling scream.

• Cultural Influence:

  • Okiku’s story is an early template for the endlessly vengeful ghost—her tale directly inspires ghost tropes found in Ju-on and The Ring.
  • “A tortured spirit lingering in the place where she died, taking revenge on anyone who gets in her way.” (08:48)

3. Oiwa and the Yotsuya Kaidan: The Hauntings of Betrayal and Vengeance (10:59–16:39)

• The Tale:

  • Based on real events and most famously told in the 1825 Kabuki play, this is the story of Oiwa, a devoted wife betrayed by her cruel, social-climbing husband, Tamiya Iemon.
  • After being disfigured by poison (administered by rivals so Tamiya can remarry for money) and suffering further betrayal, Oiwa accidentally kills herself, cursing her husband as she dies.

• The Revenge:

  • Tamiya, wracked by guilt and haunted by Oiwa’s vengeful, disfigured ghost, is driven insane—her face appears everywhere, culminating in his destruction and the annihilation of his new in-laws.
  • Notable, unforgettable scene: Oiwa attempting to style her hair only to have it fall out in bloody clumps (12:53).

• Signature Moment:

  • “Let the leaves of the Tamiya and Ito family branches wither to exorcise my vengeance." (16:39)
  • The crawling, stringy-haired ghost in Ju-on is believed to be heavily inspired by the imagery of Oiwa’s story.

4. Otsuyu and the Peony Lantern: Love and Loneliness Beyond Death (20:46–29:12)

• The Narrative:

  • During the Obon festival, Ogiwara, mourning his dead wife, meets the mysterious, beautiful Otsuyu, who visits him nightly accompanied by a peony-decorated lantern.
  • Unknown to him, Otsuyu is a ghost. He’s discovered entwined in her skeleton’s arms after giving in to her supernatural temptation.

• Atmospheric Horror:

  • The horror here is subtle—rooted in loneliness and delusion, escalating as neighbors realize Ogiwara is lovingly entangled not with a woman but a corpse.
  • “He saw Ogiwara in the arms of a skeleton… the skeleton opens its jaw and responds with this horrible, haunting voice.” (21:24)

• Inevitable Doom:

  • Even with intervention (a priest’s charm), the power of longing and the supernatural curse is inescapable.
  • Ogiwara's fate matches other Ju-on victims: “Ogiwara had reached for eternal love, but found eternal torment.” (29:00)

5. The Enduring Power of the Grudge

• Thematic Reflection:
  • All three tales demonstrate that rage-fueled curses are inexorable—innocent or guilty, anyone can fall victim.
  • “Ju-on and the three stories that inspired it show how dangerous rage can be, not just for others, but for ourselves. It can trap us in an endless cycle of pain, violence and despair.” (29:04)
  • Each legend ends with the doomed characters’ faces twisted in terror—a mirrored motif between folklore and modern horror cinema.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the nature of the curse:

  "An ancient Japanese legend says when someone dies while consumed by hatred, that rage doesn't die with them. Instead it lingers, dooming anyone unlucky to enter." (00:48)

• Heidi on the film's effect:

  “Six year old me called it the scariest movie she has ever seen in her entire life. To this day, that might still be true… everyone agreed on one thing. It was creepy as hell.” (01:37)

• On Okiku’s ghost:

  “She counts one through nine in a ghastly, spine chilling voice and then screams. And anyone who's unlucky enough to run into her dies a very painful death.” (08:38)

• On Oiwa’s curse:

  “She grabs a sword to fight him off...she falls against the blade, slowly slashing her own throat. With her dying breath, she curses Tamiya and vows vengeance.” (13:56)

• On Ogiwara’s tragic love:

  “He saw Ogiwara in the arms of a skeleton... in his last embrace of Otsuyu, she had dragged Ogiwara into the world of the dead and doomed him to live out his days the same way as her.” (28:26)

• The episode’s closing note:

  “There’s no reason to fear the dark unless you try to hide from it.” (29:09)

Key Timestamps

• 00:48–03:21 — Introduction to Ju-on, its meaning, and the horror of the curse
• 03:21–08:50 — Breakdown of Ju-on’s film storyline and themes
• 08:50–09:59 — The tale of Okiku, the Woman in the Well
• 10:59–16:39 — The story of Oiwa and the origins of the crawling ghost
• 20:46–29:12 — The legend of Otsuyu and the Peony Lantern
• 29:04–29:12 — Reflection on the danger of cyclical rage and suffering

Episode Tone & Language

Heidi Wong’s narrative mixes reverence for Japanese folklore with candid, sometimes darkly humorous insights (“Girl was on a mission, she said. I am not stopping.” (23:18)). Her storytelling is vivid and immersive, blending horror analysis with empathy for the tormented characters driving these legends.

For Listeners

This episode is essential for horror enthusiasts, folklore fans, and anyone curious about how real history and cultural anxieties shape iconic scary stories. Heidi masterfully connects the lore behind Ju-on to contemporary cinema, underscoring how the most haunting curses are born from all-too-real emotions—betrayal, rage, and longing.

Next Episode Teaser: Look out for more terrifying inspirations and hidden truths behind infamous horror stories every Monday.