What could be scarier than looking in a mirror and seeing a demon staring back at you? How about being too engrossed in your smartphone to even notice…
“You’ll get square eyes, you know,” my mother used to tell me whenever she found me glued to our enormous 1980s TV set instead of playing outside on a sunny day. My eyes never did change shape, but the tiny screens I give so much attention to today put me in a very real kind of danger as I walk down the street tweeting about video games, cats, and my contempt for Donald Trump (in that order) instead of looking where I’m going.
Japanese YouTubers and horror fans Prank Pirates recently shared a video of a prank they pulled on fellow videographers who attended an event at YouTube Space Tokyo, wherein they sat them in front of a two-way mirror under the pretence of giving them a horror movie makeover, only to suddenly kill the lights and have their victims come face to face with a sickle-wielding Japanese demon.
It’s a fun video in its own right, but the reaction—or rather lack thereof—they got from one victim in particular speaks reams about us as a society.
▼ Um? Hello? I’m here to murder you…
▼ …Hello?
Demons walk among us every day, boys and girls. We’re just too busy texting to notice.
Oh, hey, another post about cats!
Source/screenshots: YouTube/PRANK PIRATES
Spooky cosplayer dressed as Japanese urban legend ghost plays pranks on passersby in Akihabara
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Japanese man drives truck that’s on fire directly to fire station, drops flaming potatoes[Videos]
Our reporter is willing to die on the pseudo-Italian restaurant Olive Hill
Umamusume food and drinks dash into real world at Family Mart convenience stores[Taste test]
Japanese government says country needs more women’s room toilets to meet modern society’s needs
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
We tried out Japan’s new “mask you can wear while you eat”, found a way to make it much better
Japanese inn with analog photo studio is a classic way to preserve your timeless travel memories
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases a new Cream Puff Frappuccino for a limited time
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says