Question about Hitori Kakurenbo (Hide and Seek Alone)

E Nomine Gaea · Mar 15, 2013

I'm in the early writing stages of a novel in which a preexisting demon is provoked by a game of hitori kakurenbo, or Hide and Seek Alone. I was wondering, in what novels and movies has this been done before? My novel is an allegory for human nature, but I still do not want the demon-summoning scene to be a carbon copy of one that's been done before.

Google told me how it's done in Hide and Seek I and II, but I would like to know if it's done in any other works. I don't want to accidentally rip off someone else's idea.

I know this is an obscure question, thanks for reading this

soapdish · Mar 15, 2013

I have never heard of this. But honestly, it doesn't surprise me. Japanese urban legends and such are wicked creepy.

I can't offer any help other than to say that I *haven't* heard this before. So...maybe you're on to something unique. I personally wouldn't worry about your demon-summoning scene being too similar to another. :Shrug:

Your story is your story. It will likely be different in a dozen other ways.

(Also, I'm totally intrigued and want to read it. So, you have to write it now.

)

A Li Shan · Mar 16, 2013

Wowsers, this sounds fascinating! I lived in Japan from 1998 to 2003, and I've never heard of hitori kakurembo. I found a fun/scary post on horrornews.net, which ends with an idea I thought might help you in your research:

"Hitori Kakurenbo became such a phenomena that a movie was made about it in 2009 called (you guessed it) Hitori Kakurenbo. I did see the flick but wasn’t much impressed. What is infinitely more frightening is checking out the streaming conversations of dozens of invincible teens all around Japan playing the game at three in the morning. They use their cell phones to chat about what they are experiencing real time. Some even dare to peek out from their hiding places to snap photos or record strange noises. Now that’s scary."

In other words, don't waste another moment worrying you'll rip off somebody else's idea. Just gather cool stories and glean what inspiration you can from them.

Okay now for the vital question: have YOU ever played hitori kakurenbo???

After posting, I remembered that last night when I was reading through successful query letters on agentquery, there was a letter that made mention of 'eerie doll rituals.' I think it was pitched as 'Dexter meets The Grudge,' and the story takes place in both America and Japan. Pretty sure it hasn't been published yet, but anyway--it sold!

E Nomine Gaea · Mar 17, 2013

Thank you both!

I will write it, the basic premise is that four sisters (each representing a facet of youth) stay in a summer house which is plagued by a demon. One of the sisters decides to play Hide and Seek Alone, and the demon becomes extremely aggressive. Neither salt water nor prayers can exorcise this thing. I won't give away the ending, but if I write it correctly, you'll sleep with the light on for a week

I have not played hitori kakurenbo myself, mostly because I am too nervous to risk evoking a demon. I'm agnostic, but playing around with the occult in a house where someone died (previous owner's husband died of a heart attack in the master bedroom, the creepiest part is that my cat sometimes acts strangely in there) seems like a recipe for disaster

A Li Shan · Mar 18, 2013

Your story sounds awesome! I hope you post some of it in SYW. Are the girl's sisters in the house when she plays? That is a dangerous scenario in hitori kakurenbo--bad things are sure to happen (cue insane laughter).

E Nomine Gaea · Mar 19, 2013

Thank you so much

I really hope it comes out alright, my dream is for it to be published one day. It's in its infancy at the moment though.

I may change this up a bit, but as of right now, they are out but when they come back , strange events transpire. Finally, the instigator admits what she's done.

anne_tedeton · Jun 16, 2013

Oh! Oh! This reminds me of a Korean flash comic I read once. Caution: if you have epilepsy, high anxiety, or heart problems, don't scroll down. If you scroll down, the image will move and appear to jump at you. I screamed and about chucked my laptop out of the room...and then I went back and read it again, because I'm a masochist.

Hitori kakurenbo sounds like a game I would never play. But a novel about this? Please, please write this thing

I'd definitely read it!

Question about Hitori Kakurenbo (Hide and Seek Alone)

E Nomine Gaea

soapdish

writing

A Li Shan

Dr. Sniffles will see you now.

E Nomine Gaea

A Li Shan

Dr. Sniffles will see you now.

E Nomine Gaea

anne_tedeton