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The Kunekune (くねくね, 'wriggling body') is a fictitious being that originated on the Internet as a Japanese urban legend. First mentioned on websites in 2001, the Kunekune is typically described as having a slender, white, paper - or fabric-like humanoid shape, and is usually said to appear in fields on hot summer days. Its name, Kunekune, is derived from its alleged behavior of wiggling its limbs. Explanations for the Kunekune include its appearances being the result of confusion with scarecrows or wick drains.

Description

The Kunekune is said to resemble a slender, white humanoid shape, like a paper mannequin or a piece of fine fabric. It is said that the being can be found at lunchtime during hot summer days. The Kunekune lingers in widely extended rice fields or acres, in rare cases it might be found over the open sea. Its limbs are said to wiggle permanently, as if there was a straight gust of wind, even if it was a windless day. This behaviour gave the being the Japanese name "Kunekune", meaning "to twist", "to wiggle" or "to meander".^[1]^[2]^[3]

The Kunekune allegedly can only become visible from a distance; witnesses may see field workers or others closer to a Kunekune who do not seem to be aware of it. In some variations, if an individual tries to look at it up close, they will go insane. In other versions, if someone touches it, or simply comes too close, the Kunekune will kill them. Even looking at it from a distance for too long is said to be unwise. If someone does not approach or make contact with the Kunekune, it is said that the Kunekune will ignore them.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Background

Kunekune first appeared in a short horror story posted on 2channel in 2001. The story was well-received on 2channel, inspiring other users to share their own similar (mostly made up) stories. Kunekune stories are all written in the first person singular in an attempt to make them look like eyewitness reports. A similar phenomenon can be observed with the case of both the Slender Man and Hanako-san.^[1]^[2]^[3]

It is said to have originated from a story (likely fiction) posted on a ghost story posting site in 2000. The story was modified by another person, and in 2003 it was posted on 2ch's "occult board" after clearly stating that the story was a work of fiction. However, as it spread, the disclaimer that the story was a work of fiction fell out, and only the ghost story part remained. In the same year, it became a hot topic on 2channel's "Folklore and Mythology Board" - it and the "Occult Board" created threads dedicated to "Kunekune". Eventually, several stories of various experiences with "Kunekune" were written, and the variation of stories increased. Soon after, the topic spread to several external websites, and was picked up by occult writers, publications, and magazines. It was further developed in the form of audio, images, videos, etc.

The appearance of the Kunekune may be the result of confusion with traditional scarecrows, which are found in fields of rice and barley, textile deity (タンモノ様, Tanmono-Sama), or snake worship, like Hasshaku-sama (八尺様, Eight Feet Tall). It could also possibly be a mis-identification of wick drains.^[4] Another possible explanation might be thick clouds of fog, which tend to appear over rice fields during lunchtime. A third possibility might be hallucinations, created by heat stroke and dehydration during hot summer days.^[1]^[2]^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Richard Freeman: The Great Yokai Encyclopaedia: The A-Z of Japanese Monsters. CFZ Press, Myrtle Cottage, Bideford 2010, ISBN 978-1-905723-54-6, p. 200.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Yamaguchi Satoshi Taro: 本当にいる日本の「現代妖怪」図鑑. Ryukura Verlag, Tokyo 2007, ISBN 4773003650, p. 19-23.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Ito Ryuhei: 「ネット怪談「くねくね. In: 世間話研究, 18. Ausgabe. Smalltalk Study Group, Kyoto 2008, p. 55-57.
^ Kinjo, Rubber (21 May 2004). "発表報文（メディア紹介・発表論文）". Kinjo Rubber Co., Ltd. Retrieved 24 March 2019.