My 3-Year-Old Son Started Talking About His Past Life

This is a strange experience shared on an anonymous internet message board, along with responses to it. In Japanese internet culture, it’s common to share unusual experiences on anonymous forums where other participants can comment. This story begins with a post from a father whose 3-year-old son experienced something unusual.

“This is creepy so I wanted to share it with everyone”
This is my first time creating a thread, so please let me know if I’m doing anything wrong. My son started acting strangely yesterday (May 6th) in the evening. Around the time my wife finished making dinner.
I was upstairs in my room using my computer when my wife called up saying dinner was ready. At the same time, she asked, “Huh? Where’s ○○ (son’s name)?” I had assumed he was downstairs with my wife in the living room.

• [13]Gather information before the memories fade. Ask about where he was born and unique features, then actually go visit the place

After everything settled down, I made notes on my phone. We searched the house together. His shoes were at the entrance, so we figured he hadn’t gone outside. Then, we found him in the bathroom. It was completely dark, and he was sitting in the empty bathtub, hugging his knees.

• [16]Hurry up, hurry up

Actually, the creepiest part was when we found him – he was quietly repeating “Namu Amida Namu Amida…” I stupidly asked him, “Where did you learn that?”

“Namu Amida Butsu” is a Buddhist chant in Japanese Buddhism, particularly in Jodo Shu and Jodo Shinshu sects. It would be unusual for a 3-year-old child to know this.

• 22)Scary

My wife whispered behind me, “Doesn’t he seem… strange?” which made me worried too, so I picked him up and carried him to the living room. The whole time, he kept repeating the Namu Amida chant. He wasn’t joking or teasing, so I asked him what was wrong several times, but he wouldn’t answer. After a few minutes he went quiet, so I asked again if he was okay. By this point, I was tearful. Wait, I can’t post. Oh, I can, sorry lol. Then he asked, “Has ~ (probably a person’s name, seems like a surname) gone?” His manner of speaking was completely different, which gave me chills, and I shouted, “Who are you!?” I’m a really nervous person…

• [41]The use of “shitakke” indicates this is from Tohoku. In Hokkaido it would mean goodbye, but that’s not how it’s used here

“Shitakke” is a dialect expression from the Tohoku region meaning “then” or “so then.” This suggests the poster is from the Tohoku region.

You noticed that well lol. My wife remained calm and asked him, “Are you feeling unwell anywhere?” Later, my wife told me that by this point, she had realized that something had completely possessed him. By the way, neither my wife nor I have any spiritual sensitivity.

• [32]I see
• [33]Hurry up

My son quietly answered “Yes.” Wife: “Do you know your name?” Son: “○○ Shusaku” He answered with a full name, but I’ve hidden it… it felt wrong to share. By the way, my son’s name is “Ryo.” The surname was different too.

• [43]S-scary!

Here’s the conversation between my wife and Shusaku-san, as far as I can remember. (I’m not sure of the kanji for Shusaku, so I’ll use 修 for now.) Wife: “How old are you?” Shu: “I don’t know” Wife: “Why are you here?” Shu: “I don’t know that either” Wife: “Do you know where you were before?” Shu: “Iwate Prefecture, ○○ City, ○○.” By the way, we live in Iwate Prefecture, but in a different city than what Shusaku-san mentioned.

• [48]W-what?!

Wife: “This is ○○ City in Iwate Prefecture. We are the ~ family. The person you are currently possessing (←not sure if this is the right expression) is my son.” “Feel free to tell us anything. Please share what you remember.”

Shu: “What about ~?” Wife: “Who is ~?” Shu: “…” In the end, Shusaku-san wouldn’t talk about this person. Shu: “I lived in ○○ City. From there, I suddenly found myself here. But I feel like there were various things in between, though I can’t remember.”

• [59]Fox possession
• [60]I should sleep but I’m curious
• [61]It would be scary if it’s Yamanoke
• [62]No way the wife wouldn’t freak out

“Fox possession” refers to Japanese folk belief about being possessed by a fox spirit. “Yamanoke” refers to mountain spirits or supernatural phenomena associated with mountains.

She was shaking quite a bit. She had tears in her eyes. But she wanted to gather information to resolve the situation. I was crying even more.

• [64]Your wife is really calm, amazing

Wife: “Do you know that you have passed away?” Shu: “I don’t know such things. (He seemed a bit annoyed at this point)” Wife: “What era were you from?” Shu: “I was born in 1960.” We were surprised that it was so recent.

• [70]If he were alive, he’d be 59

Shu: “Born on ○ day, × month, 1960. Father is △△. Mother is □□” I noted all this down, but after discussing with my wife, we decided not to share this information publicly. We continued asking various questions, and Shusaku-san answered them.

• [74]I’ve had a similar experience so I understand. It’s not a past life but a deceased person possessing him. They possess people with similar wavelengths, so it’s better to stay positive if possible

Mostly we asked questions and Shusaku-san answered, but just once he said, “I’m really sorry.”

• [81]Why did he apologize? Details please

I think he meant for troubling us. He didn’t elaborate.

• [78]You should have recorded it

**I did. But it clearly shows my son’s face, our house, and personal information. I’m planning to show it to close friends and family tomorrow! **

• [82]I wonder what would come up if you searched for this person’s name

To summarize what Shusaku-san told us: He remembers from birth until age 30. He remembers the schools he attended but doesn’t recall many friends. He had no siblings and lived in a detached house until middle school with his parents, grandmother, and himself – 5 people total. He went to high school outside the city. His grandmother passed away around that time. He can’t remember from his second year of high school to age 28. He believes he was 30 years old.

• [84]Shusaku-san probably has something unfinished and couldn’t pass on. He possessed your son because he wants to complete that unfinished business. If you help him with that, you’ll receive significant blessings in return. If not, make sure to have your son spend time in the sunlight. I’ll say goodbye now before people think I’m strange.

In Japan, there’s a belief that the deceased may remain in this world if they have unfinished business. “Spending time in sunlight” is a folk remedy for dispelling negative energies or spirits.

• [89]Since you know this much, why not investigate?

I plan to do what I can! The distance from our home to Shusaku-san’s address isn’t too far by car.

• [90]So, is he still Shusaku?

I’m not sure when the possession started, but we found my son at 6 PM, and Shusaku-san was there for about 40 minutes. Afterward, my son fell asleep suddenly. He woke up once and was back to his normal self. Now he’s sleeping again.

• [94]That parallel world thread disappeared recently, didn’t it?
• [96]Shouldn’t you have posted this on the occult board?

In Japan’s large message board “5channel (formerly 2channel),” there are different boards for specific topics, and occult-related topics are typically discussed on the “occult board.”

Sorry, I’m an amateur who only occasionally reads summaries of 2chan, so I don’t really understand how the boards work! Do I need to post several replies before I can create a thread? I tried to create a thread right away but couldn’t…

• [98]Hmm, but in my experience, during possession you shouldn’t know addresses. The possessor only takes over emotions using the host’s existing knowledge. Hmm, this smells like fiction

He clearly remembered the address.

• [99]Was his speech and demeanor completely unlike that of a three-year-old?

Completely different.

• [100]Shusaku-san was there for 40 minutes? Would be annoying if he shows up regularly!
• [106]Couldn’t find anything by searching the name online?

I searched thoroughly but found nothing relevant… Continuing from before, when my wife asked, “Why were you chanting Namu Amida?” he replied, “I wasn’t chanting.” He said he was only conscious from the point when we were in the living room. So we still don’t know what the chanting was about.

• [111]Let’s go to that address. The adventure begins
• [112]Too creepy

Sorry for the long post. Eventually, my wife asked, “Is there a place like heaven or hell?” which was somewhat off-topic. He mumbled “Huh…” while shaking his head, then collapsed onto the floor. That ended our conversation with Shusaku-san.

We frantically decided to take our son to the hospital! We hurriedly got ready → drove to a large hospital nearby, but our son woke up in the car → since he seemed fine and could communicate normally, we returned home. Our son doesn’t seem to remember anything about it.

• [120]This means the Namu Amida Butsu chanting was yet another entity
• [122]Glad your son is okay

Sorry, I need to sleep now. Work tomorrow… Of all times, this happened on the last day of Golden Week! If it had happened on the first day, we could have investigated during the holiday… though it would have been best if it hadn’t happened at all. Everyone, thank you for keeping me company! I might report back if anything else happens. Good night.

Golden Week refers to a period of consecutive holidays in Japan from late April to early May. Many Japanese people take time off during this period.

• [125]What’s more important, work or your son?
• [126]You’ll probably forget about it or stop remembering. I don’t think you need to worry too much
• [129]Your son probably saw something
• [131]Apparently there really are children with past life memories. Scientists who said “that’s occult nonsense” have had to apologize
• [132]I think my past life was a cat. Though “cat” is just a name humans gave them, so I have no way to be certain I was a cat. But I’d like to have been one since I love fish
• [135]I want you to show your son that place on Google Earth
• [79]Well, I was the one controlling him by remote control
• [107]This gave me goosebumps! These things really happen! ((((；゜Д゜)))
• [111]You seem like a good person
• [117]I have a 3-year-old niece, and I don’t think she could clearly state her address even at home. If he gave a real address, I can only think he was possessed by something
• [118]Cases of children talking about past life (?) memories have been recorded around the world since ancient times. I want to hear more updates
• [122]Exciting

The next day, the poster created a new thread with an update.

I’ll paste below what I was planning to post on 5channel. ↓ I’m the one who created the thread yesterday titled “My 3-year-old son started talking about his past life.” Since I can’t post to yesterday’s thread (I don’t understand 5channel very well… I’d appreciate if someone could teach me), I’ve created a new thread. Last night I consulted the internet world while in a state of panic, but just knowing that someone was listening helped me feel better. First, thank you for that. This time I’ve written down everything that’s happened since last night before posting.

About today’s (May 7th) events. We had our son take a day off from daycare (we told the daycare he had a cold), and took him to the hospital again. My wife is a stay-at-home mom who can drive, so she took him while I went to work as usual. The following is my wife’s report: She went to a nearby neurosurgery clinic, and although she struggled a bit explaining the symptoms before the examination, the doctor agreed to see him. My wife showed the doctor the video from last night on her smartphone, but the doctor just kept looking troubled, saying “Well…” My wife: “I’m not trying to talk about spirits or anything like that, but his behavior was clearly unusual, so just in case, I’d like to have a brain scan…” Doctor: “Hmm lol” After this kind of exchange, the doctor and my wife discussed it and ultimately decided a CT scan wasn’t necessary. Of course, both my wife and I are worried, but our son seems completely normal with no changes in his condition, so we agreed there was no need to unnecessarily perform a CT scan, and they returned home.

CT scans use radiation for examination, and minimal usage is recommended, especially for children. When there are no symptoms, doctors are cautious about ordering them.

Regarding last night’s incident, we told both our parents and sent them the video. They had similar reactions: “We can’t readily believe in such (spiritual) things, but we know you wouldn’t use your son to joke around, so we’ll help however we can.” Both sets of parents live in the same prefecture, and my parents live relatively close by. We’ve also consulted with 3-4 close friends. However, we haven’t sent them the video. The reason is that if it really is something spiritual, I’d feel bad if it caused them trouble. (That’s the official reason, but honestly, it’s because it would be troublesome if something happened to them…) As for our son’s condition as of May 7th (Tuesday), as mentioned above, he’s completely normal. He has a good appetite and is even dancing to the TT Brothers, which he loves. Going forward: After discussing with my wife, she will be heading to the address Shusaku-san mentioned sometime this week. She plans to go by car either Thursday or Friday. I’ve asked my mother to help with dropping off and picking up our son from daycare.

The TT Brothers are Japanese YouTubers who create children’s dance content. The fact that the son is engaging in his normal activities is evidence that he’s back to normal.

That’s the current situation. I’m going to take a bath now.

• [131]I think you should consider getting an exorcism. Your son might be susceptible to possession

We’re considering that too.

• [129]This is getting intense!
• [132]Exciting
• [133]I just came here from Twitter in real-time. Thread creator, administrator, please continue this mysterious story (preferably to its conclusion…!), take your time, it’s fine
• [134]Is this where the festival is happening?
• [138]Oh my, will we get to hear more? (*´･∀･)
• [142]Blackout at the mention of heaven and hell. I’ve heard there are more children talking about the afterlife these days, but maybe hell is still taboo
• [143]I’m curious! Take your time, looking forward to updates!
• [145]If he died in the tsunami, that’s sad, though it’s sad regardless of how he died. I hope this can be resolved peacefully. Even if not, I hope he can go to heaven with the help of a temple.
• [150]Is your wife going to Shusaku-san’s address alone? I think it would be better to have at least two adults when asking around. You might notice subtle things, and there could be potential dangers.
• [151]This is interesting, looking forward to updates!!
• [152]With both the admin and thread creator appearing in the comments, this is exciting! Also, isn’t there someone reading this who can “see” or “know” something about this case?
• [155]Why was he in the bathroom? Why was he chanting “Namu Amida Butsu”…? Was the person who answered “Shusaku” the same as the one in the bathroom…? I’m really curious! This is getting interesting
• [156]In text it sounds like horror, but in reality, your 3-year-old son was speaking with his cute childlike voice. It’s kind of endearing to imagine him earnestly trying to explain the address and family structure. I wonder if the chanting sounded like “naa-amidabuu”
• [162]I wonder why you thought it was a past life. Normally, people would think of spirit possession. Even for other past life memory stories, from an occult perspective, possession seems more plausible than reincarnation.

Good morning everyone. Currently, my son is operating normally. Normal temperature, good appetite, and high spirits. He seems to like going to daycare. I’m glad… Although I really don’t want to go to work lol. Everyone, please be careful on your commute to work or school!

• [183]A post from just 4 minutes ago, how delightful! I have meaningless regrets about not correcting my long writing mistake, as we might have posted at the same time… Sorry for my rubbernecking, but I’m looking forward to more. Good luck at work!
• [182]Oh, thread creator, good morning. Somehow this case makes me feel like ghosts or past lives might really exist, regardless of which it turns out to be. Please investigate and report back!
• [213]Thread creator is here! Thank you for your efforts(?) I understand you’re worried and anxious as the person directly involved, but I’m excited, sorry! I’m praying from afar that this leads in a positive direction

I’m reading all your comments during my lunch break and other free time! I’ll try to respond as much as possible. My wife is planning to go on Friday. Since I’m worried about her going alone, my wife’s mother will be accompanying her. I’d like to go too, but I can’t take time off work… Depending on how Friday goes, I’m thinking of going on the weekend, but that also depends on how they react (I’m a bit worried about being yelled at lol)

• [215]Wow, I just posted and the thread creator appeared lol I meant you came here in the sense of this thread lol Thank you for your hard work

I’m the only one writing these comments, but my first-person pronouns switch between “ore” and “watashi,” and sometimes I use polite language, sometimes not… Sorry for the inconsistency. Using “watashi” with polite language is easier for commenting, so I’ll stick with that from now on. When the incident (?) happened, I was panicking and saying “ore” lol

• [19]I wonder where you took your son during Golden Week… Maybe you brought something back from there. I hope you don’t get cursed.

We traveled to Iwaki City in Fukushima Prefecture for 3 days from the 28th to the 30th. I wanted to see the coelacanth specimen at Aquamarine Fukushima… Other than that, we played around the city or stayed home. In Fukushima, we visited about 6 spots centered around Iwaki City, but unfortunately, nothing stands out as a possible connection…

Iwaki City in Fukushima Prefecture was affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, tsunami, and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. “Aquamarine Fukushima” is an aquarium in the city.

• [161]Oh, thread creator came to Iwaki during Golden Week

It was very enjoyable and educational. Embarrassingly, despite being from Tohoku, it was my first trip to Fukushima – I usually just pass through on the highway to Tokyo. The melancholic atmosphere of Futaba Town, with roads blocked off on all sides, left a strong impression on me.

• [165]He might have just been possessed by something, so why did this person think it was a past life story? Did I miss something??

We’re also not sure whether it’s a past life or something else, but at the time I created the thread, I considered it a past life. For me, the existence of past lives is more believable than ghosts, so that’s why I wrote it that way. As many of you have pointed out, it might not be a past life, but who knows…

• [222]Thread creator, thank you for your efforts. I live in the same prefecture, so if there’s anything I can help with, let me know! I can help with spiritual concerns too, of course at your own risk!
• [199]This might be nitpicking, but I don’t think you can enroll in daycare if your wife is a stay-at-home mom. Is that a typo?
• [202]That’s not the case in rural areas. While big cities have issues with waitlisted children, rural areas have fewer children, so in cities with populations under tens of thousands, most daycares will say “we’ll take your child from 6 months old even if your wife isn’t working”

In urban areas, daycare is prioritized for working parents, making it difficult for stay-at-home mothers to enroll their children. However, in depopulated areas with fewer children, daycares may accept children regardless of parents’ employment status.

• [203]Is that how it is in Tokyo? I think my mother was a stay-at-home mom when I was in daycare. Maybe things were different in Tokyo in the past. Also, I noticed a small detail – the thread creator wrote “Namu Amida” but wasn’t it “Namu Amida Butsu”? Maybe it’s just how he wrote it, or maybe that’s how it sounded

About the chant: He was chanting at the very beginning of the incident, and I didn’t record it on video, so I can’t be certain, but I think he was saying “namu amida bu.” It might have been “namu amida butsu,” but to my wife and me, it sounded like “namu amida bu.” Either way, “Namu Amida” was incorrect; it should be “Namu Amida Butsu.”

• [226]Thread creator, thank you for answering. As I wrote above, monks’ chanting sounds like “namuamii-dabuu,” doesn’t it? I don’t know if he was chanting with the same intonation as a monk, but I think that’s what he was saying (“namu amida bu”)
• [228]It’s my hometown. Though Iwate is a big place
• [232]It’s good to go to the hospital and verify the details of the story, but shouldn’t you first get an exorcism at a temple or shrine?

Also, I wrote that Shusaku-san’s family had 5 people, but it was his parents, grandmother, and himself – 4 people. My mistake.

• [233]If the thread creator can go on Saturday, it might be better for the couple who witnessed their son’s strange behavior to go together, rather than the wife and her mother going just one day earlier. If they encounter Shusaku-san’s bereaved family, the couple could complement each other’s explanations. I understand wanting to clarify things quickly, but it’s a difficult situation.

That’s a good point… I’ll discuss it with my wife again! Thank you.

• [242]There’s a case of a child with past life memories named James Leininger, but compared to him, your son’s responses were clearer, so this case might be closer to shamanism. However, since you have video evidence, it’s valuable footage. Experts might be able to tell you something if you show it to them.

James Leininger is a famous case of a “child with past life memories” in America. He was said to have memories of being a pilot during World War II and was studied by many researchers.

• [247]This is my theory, but genetic memory somehow became extremely specific and manifested itself. I have no way of knowing the mechanism, and I can’t sleep despite having to wake up at 4 am tomorrow
• [265]Looking forward to progress reports
• [288]Speaking of Iwate, there’s Ryomen-Sukuna or the Forest of Consolation. It would be interesting if either were related…
• [291]As a fellow prefectural resident, I’m very curious about updates. I hope you find something.
• [296]I like these kinds of stories and want to believe. Since you took a video, which is decisive evidence, could you upload it with a mosaic or something? Sorry for the trouble, but I really want to believe. If this is “a strange but true fact,” it would be exciting.
• [309]Let’s pray that Shusaku-san’s possession ends with this one incident.
• [312]I don’t believe in the occult, but doctors are understanding with a “these things happen” attitude, though minimal. They work night shifts in hospitals where patients die. CT scans use radiation, are expensive, and are probably bad for small children. The decision that it wasn’t necessary was correct
• [313]Such an interesting update while I wasn’t paying attention
• [320]I usually only hear about these mysterious stories secondhand, but this time you have video, right? I’d like to see it with some privacy protection. Strange stories are always just stories, so I can only read them as entertainment, but if I could see the video, I might feel childlike excitement again.
• [364]You’re going to risk revealing a bunch of personal information all at once for the sake of excitement? lol

Good evening everyone. I’ve returned home…! First, my son is fine. There’s no change in his behavior. A small update… We were planning to have my wife and mother go on Friday, but as advised, we’ve decided to go on Saturday with me and my son included – all four of us. I’m a bit concerned about taking my son, but after visiting Shusaku-san’s address, we plan to go to my wife’s parents’ place and stay overnight, so I think it’s okay to bring him.

• [372]Exciting exciting
• [343]Thank you for your hard work! Please don’t overdo it, especially with your son…
• [341]Welcome back, thread creator~ Glad your son is doing well. Whether something happens or not, having more people is reassuring, so be careful when you go.
• [347]Thread creator came again today. Thanks for the update. Looking forward to further developments. Please proceed at your own pace
• [352]Thread creator, looking forward to updates! By the way, as someone with slight memories of a past life, my view is that memories are memories, separate from possession. Probably, the strong thoughts of a past life spirit that hasn’t passed on are possessing your son as a separate person. What you can do is listen to his story through your son’s mouth, respect it, and empathize. Otherwise, you could consult a specialist who can help spirits pass on, not exorcise them. Exorcism is inappropriate for past life spirits, as they will possess again. This is just my personal view
• [365]I can’t believe something this interesting is happening. Well, for the reporter it’s no laughing matter, but I’m looking forward to it.
• [384]I think cats have past life memories too. I was walking in a field when a kitten came running, showing its belly and rolling around, panting and purring while playing with me. It strongly resembled a black cat I said goodbye to 10 years ago
• [392]Don’t write completely unrelated things, you’re making me feel sad and about to cry.
• [385]Depending on how this develops, I might start believing in spirits or not~👻
• [387]First time seeing the thread creator appear. Curious about developments

Good evening. Sorry for the late update! Tomorrow, as planned, the four of us will be heading out. The report might come tomorrow night or Sunday, but I hope to report back sometime during the weekend. Going to bed now to prepare for tomorrow. Good night.

• [394]Thank you, thread creator! Please don’t push yourself! I’ll wait patiently
• [407]This is quite intriguing. I really want to know the conclusion
• [408]I’m a neurosurgeon who is semi-retired from emergency medicine. I myself have had experiences that are scientifically inexplicable, so I think there might be worlds beyond human understanding. My daughter also suddenly started using Japanized English words that a young girl wouldn’t recognize when she was 2-3 years old, which surprised me, and I’ve always wondered what that was about. Regarding the thread, it says “after discussing with the doctor and my wife, they decided a CT scan wasn’t necessary. Though my wife and I were worried, our son seemed completely normal with no changes in his condition, so there was no need to unnecessarily perform a CT scan, and they returned home.” I’ve actually had similar consultations, and when I found no neurological abnormalities, I considered it some phenomenon in a child’s developing brain and responded exactly the same way. Just based on this part, it feels authentic to me.

The medical professional’s support adds credibility to the story. The next day, the thread creator finally went to Shusaku-san’s address, and an update arrived.

Just got back…! Since this will be long, I’ll write everything first and then report. I should be able to report by around 6 PM

• [422]Oh, welcome back? Good job, looking forward to your report.
• [423]Did you go today? Looking forward to your report
• [424]We’ve been waiting! Thank you!
• [425]I’m nervous. Hope it’s a happy result

Good evening. We went. Since this will be long, as usual, I want to write everything down before posting. ↓ About the events of May 11th (Saturday): Let me start with the conclusion – no ghosts appear in this report. Also, there are no particular paranormal phenomena. While I’m relieved about this… if anyone was expecting that kind of thing, I might disappoint you, but I will report only the facts, so please understand.

Also, regarding comments from several people asking “Why not disclose important parts, why hide them?” or “You could blur the video,” I’d like to presumptuously share my thoughts. This next part might be a bit long, so those who only want the report can skip it. To answer honestly, it’s because “online statements always carry risks (personal information leaks, human rights violations, etc.)” – that’s my wife’s and my attitude toward internet society.

In that regard, mentioning my son’s name, Shusaku-san’s name, address, and family structure when creating the thread might have been a mistake. However, considering the many pieces of advice I received and the unexpectedly large reaction, it would be rude to end this abruptly. Therefore, I will disclose what we judge can be shared and what the parties involved have agreed to share (after explaining the circumstances), but not what we judge should remain private. Since this is based on our subjective judgment, some may not be satisfied, but again, please understand.

The poster demonstrates consideration for privacy protection while maintaining an honest attitude toward readers. Here’s his account of visiting Shusaku-san’s home.

Now for today’s report. As mentioned earlier, I went with my wife, son, and my mother. Regarding the address Shusaku-san (=my son) mentioned, he stated both the city and district names (in my initial post, I only wrote Iwate Prefecture, ○○ City), and while the city name was familiar, the district name was one I’d never heard before, with kanji that didn’t immediately come to mind.

So when I Googled “○○ City, ×× (written in hiragana ← the number of ×s is different from the actual name),” it came up right away. Furthermore, when I searched Google Maps with the city name + district name, a relatively small area was displayed, showing it was a place with no convenience stores and not many houses. I had researched this much by the previous day (Thank you, Google, I’m truly grateful…). So we decided to head there by car and then ask at old-looking shops or houses in the area. We left home and reached our destination in about an hour. At this point, I was worried my son might show signs of change, but he was fine.

I thought it might be inappropriate to visit houses on the weekend, so I looked for an open shop, but there were hardly any… First, we entered a gas station to refuel and asked the staff, but they didn’t know.

After leaving the gas station, we drove around for a while and found a small shop. When we entered, a kind-looking old woman came out from the back. Me: “Sorry for the sudden question. Do you know if someone named ○○ (surname) lives around here?” Grandma: “There are many people with the ○○ surname around here. If you knew the first name…” Me: “○○△△ (the name of Shusaku-san’s father that he mentioned)…” Grandma: “Ah? Ah yes, yes. Wait a moment.” The old woman went to the back of the shop again and brought out a map. Grandma: “We’re here now. △△’s house is here.” Me: “It’s close!” Grandma: “The road is very narrow, so be careful.” After this exchange, we surprisingly found the location quite easily. Moreover, on the map, it was just three turns from the old woman’s shop, standing alone among rice fields, so it seemed hard to get lost.

In rural Japan, community connections are strong, and local shops serve as important information sources. In such areas, human relationships are often valued over privacy.

We thanked the old woman and drove as instructed. After passing through the narrow road she mentioned, we saw a house surrounded by cedar or pine trees at the back, standing alone in the middle of rice fields. There was a spacious area in front of the house where we (presumptively) parked our car, and we stood before the entrance. Facing an impressive nameplate that read “○○△△,” I felt extremely nervous thinking, “So we’ve finally come…” as I rang the doorbell. A woman’s voice immediately responded “Yes” from inside, and a lady about the same age as the shopkeeper came out.

Me: “I’m sorry for visiting so suddenly. My name is (my name). I’ve also parked my car here without permission… This is rude of me, but are you ○○□□ (the mother’s name that Shusaku-san mentioned)?” Mother: “Yes, I am.” (Since my mother doesn’t have many comments, I’ll refer to Shusaku-san’s mother as “Mother”) Me: “Is there someone named ○○ Shusaku…” Mother: “He’s my son, but he’s already deceased.” Me: “Actually, I’ve come about Shusaku-san.” Mother: “Oh? Are you from the government office?” Me: “I’m sorry, no. I’ve come from ○○ City. I’m afraid of how you’ll react to this story, but…”

After considering various approaches, I thought the only way to explain was to show her the video, so I said, “It’s about this…” and showed my smartphone to his mother and played the video. Since the original video was several dozen minutes long, I had prepared a trimmed version focusing on the main parts where Shusaku-san was speaking. His mother watched silently until the end of the video, occasionally murmuring things like “This is (district name)” or “Yes, that’s right” (around the part about his history) and “How strange.” At her request, we replayed it several times.

Mother: “This is your son? (pointing at my son)”

Mother: “He doesn’t seem to be lying… What should I do…” she said, appearing to be thinking for a while, then,

Mother: “I’m sorry. Could I show this to his father too?” she asked.

Me: “That’s fine. I’m really sorry for the trouble.”

Mother: “Father will be back soon, so please wait inside.”

Me: “No, no, no! We’ll wait in the car.”

Mother: “Wait inside.”

Me: “Oh, well then, yes…”

So we were invited into the house.

In rural Japan, there is a culture of warmly receiving even unfamiliar visitors. Especially among the elderly, the traditional spirit of hospitality is valued.

There was a living room immediately to the left as we entered, and we were shown there. There was a large bookshelf with thick books about the Pacific War. There was also a photo of a small girl, which caught my attention. As we sat, his mother brought us coffee and snacks, and the five of us chatted a little while waiting for his father. Though it was mostly small talk, with his mother asking my son about his favorite foods and such, without specifically mentioning the video…

It was such a quiet place with such a kind mother that I relaxed and was absentmindedly looking out the window when I saw an elderly man on an electric wheelchair slowly approaching from the road. It was his father. He parked his wheelchair in a covered area on the property and walked in with a cane, yet with steady steps, entering the living room.

Father: “Hello… (lowering his hat)”

Us: “Hello. Nice to meet you.”

Mother: “This is Shusaku’s father, □□.”

Father: “I’m ○○□□ (the name of Shusaku-san’s father that he had mentioned). Are you acquaintances of Shusaku?”

Mother: “Well, actually…”

Shusaku-san’s mother explained the situation to his father, and as I provided more explanation, we all gathered around to watch the video. His father also showed similar reactions to his mother, looking very surprised.

Father: “Please, please sit down. May I ask for more details?”

As his father asked about everything from the day of the incident until today and about our son’s condition, we answered while explaining things we’ve reported on this message board. His father kept saying “Hmm…” with his eyes closed at times, but finally said, “I wonder. It might be Shusaku.” His mother also said, “That might be the case…” with a slight smile.

From there, they told us a lot about Shusaku-san. His mother brought down a photo album from upstairs, and they shared about Shusaku-san’s life and family while looking at photos of him during his lifetime. By the way, regarding Shusaku-san’s appearance, I thought he resembled Hoshino Gen. We talked for about an hour, so I’ll bullet-point the important parts:

– The family structure, elementary/middle/high schools mentioned in the video were accurate. Also, his manner of speaking did resemble Shusaku-san’s now that they mentioned it.
– After high school graduation, he got a job in yet another city within the prefecture. He worked there until his death.
– He died at age 31. The cause was a heart attack. He developed symptoms while at work and never returned.
– They are Buddhist parishioners (I can’t reveal the sect). However, they don’t think Shusaku-san was strongly religious or studied Buddhism. He might have done so while living alone, but they’re not certain.

“Danka” refers to Japanese Buddhist families affiliated with a temple. Many Japanese families maintain generational connections with specific temples for ancestral graves and memorial services. However, in modern times, many families maintain these ties traditionally even without strong faith.

I also heard a lot about Shusaku-san’s character. He was quiet and kind. He always said my cooking was delicious. Since they were farmers, they had him help from a young age, but he never complained. He enjoyed haiku poetry and reading…

The photo on the bookshelf was of their neighbor’s grandchild. Shusaku-san apparently had a girlfriend at the time, but since he passed away, they never had grandchildren. It was a photo they received in a New Year’s card, and they displayed it because she was cute.

Later, his father said, “Please pay your respects,” and led us to the Buddhist altar room. Shusaku-san’s photo was displayed in the center of the altar, and we lit incense and all put our hands together in prayer. “I wonder where he is…” his mother whispered beside me, then his father said, “Would you like to go to the temple? It’s partly about Shusaku, but Shusaku won’t come back, so what’s important is that your son is safe and well. Even if it is Shusaku, Shusaku would never do anything harmful… but still, let’s go and have someone look at him.”

By the way, our son showed no signs of change either during the conversation about Shusaku-san or while offering incense.

In Japanese Buddhism, it’s customary to display a photo of the deceased on the family altar and offer incense while putting hands together in prayer to respect the deceased and comfort their souls. The phrase “Please pay your respects” is a conventional expression encouraging someone to honor the deceased at the altar.

So the six of us got into our car (it’s a family car) and headed to the temple with his father guiding us.

In the car, his father mentioned that the current chief priest is the son of the priest who was there when Shusaku-san passed away, and that he’s an understanding person, but he was hesitant about whether to explain the detailed circumstances.

However, since we, who have no connection to the temple, were present, it seemed inevitable that an explanation would be necessary, so we decided to explain.

We arrived at the temple and headed to the temple office. When we rang the bell at the office, the priest came out.

Father: “Hello, hello. Thank you for your services.”

Priest: “Hello. You seem well…”

Father: “Actually…”

His father introduced us and explained why we had come. Then as usual, we showed the video.

Priest: “This is your son? Excuse me for asking, but has he experienced any physical or mental changes… Have you been to a hospital?”

Me: “Yes, we have. Based on the doctor’s and our judgment, we believe there’s nothing abnormal.”

Priest: “I see… how should I put this… it’s very interesting. Let me be clear, I have no spiritual sensitivity. Of course, I’m not denying the existence of spirits… So I don’t perform what you might call exorcisms. However, whether it’s Shusaku-san or not, something may have passed through your son. Let’s help him pass on peacefully. Not an exorcism, but a spiritual purification.”

“Exorcism” means driving away evil spirits or possessions, while “spiritual purification” means helping a spirit be purified and pass on peacefully. In modern Japanese Buddhism, many monks maintain a balance between scientific perspectives and traditional rituals, providing peace of mind through traditional ceremonies.

It’s difficult to convey in writing, but he had a very gentle demeanor and way of speaking, creating an almost mesmerizing atmosphere. Without hesitation, we requested the purification ritual, and all of us entered the temple where sutras were chanted for about 10-15 minutes. Afterward, we went to Shusaku-san’s family grave near the temple and offered incense again. Throughout all this, our son just looked bewildered.

We thanked the priest and left the temple. Then we returned to Shusaku-san’s house. His mother said, “Would you like to go upstairs? We have Shusaku’s room.” Our son had fallen asleep from tiredness, and my mother said she’d watch him in the living room, so we should go ahead and visit.

It was a small room of about 4 tatami mats, with just a desk and bookshelf. On the desk was a round tin of Chelsea (candies). They were Shusaku-san’s favorite. The bookshelf contained works by Kenji Miyazawa, haiku books, and several cassette tapes. Each cassette tape had the name of an artist written on it. Thinking that this is where Shusaku-san spent his time until middle school… for some reason I almost started crying.

Kenji Miyazawa is a famous poet and children’s story writer from Iwate Prefecture, known for works like “Night on the Galactic Railroad” and “Ame ni mo Makezu.” The presence of Miyazawa’s works on Shusaku-san’s bookshelf might indicate his attachment to his local region as an Iwate resident.

I was truly grateful that Shusaku-san’s parents welcomed us warmly and listened to such a strange story without ridiculing us. We gave them the gift we had prepared, exchanged phone numbers, and finally prepared to leave. As we were leaving, his mother smiled and said, “Please contact us if anything happens again. Even if nothing happens, we’d be happy to see your son.” Both of them saw us off outside until our car was out of sight. After that, we dropped my mother off at a nearby station, returned to my wife’s parents’ home, and that brings us to now.

That’s pretty much my report! My son showed no changes, and I truly think it was good that we went. Although it’s a strange connection, I’m happy that there are more people watching over my son. This applies not only to Shusaku-san’s parents and the priest but also to all of you reading this. I’m very grateful for all the advice and support. That’s all. Thank you very much for listening. Sorry if parts are hard to read since I wrote it all at once.

This strange experience transformed from a potential supernatural phenomenon into a story of human connection. The thread creator’s family and Shusaku-san’s parents, who had no prior relationship, were connected by a chance event. Even on an anonymous message board, many people came together emotionally through this rare occurrence.

• [437]Thank you for your efforts. I feel both relieved and heartwarmed. I think Shusaku-san must be happy in heaven too. What a wonderful connection. May your son grow up healthy!
• [438]I think this is a historic major event in that field. I never thought I’d witness something so amazing
• [439]Thank you for your report. It was concisely summarized and very readable. I’m glad your son shows no abnormalities. You must feel relieved now that you understand what kind of person Shusaku-san was. Why this happened remains a mystery. Since Shusaku-san didn’t seem to have any particular attachments to this world, it feels a bit different from what people commonly call ghosts. As you initially felt, maybe your son’s soul is a reincarnation of Shusaku-san, and past life memories emerged? It was a mysterious story, thanks again for your efforts.
• [443]Since he died suddenly, maybe he had something he wanted to tell his parents. Though Shusaku-san didn’t appear this time, perhaps he just wanted them to feel his presence
• [441]Thread creator, thank you! Thank you for your efforts. What a mysterious yet warm conclusion. Shusaku-san’s father and mother must have been pleased too. May your son grow up healthy. And I pray that your family will have happy days ahead.
• [444]Thank you for your efforts. I wonder if this experience has changed your perception of this world.
• [446]I feel moved(?) to have witnessed such a moment in real-time. Thank you for your sincere report. Shusaku-san’s family seems like wonderful people too. In any case, I pray for your son’s healthy growth
• [453]What a mysterious story. There are invisible connections. The warmth of the thread creator and his wife who listened carefully to Shusaku-san’s (son’s) story seems to be spreading. I sincerely pray for your son’s growth
• [456]What a wonderful connection this turned out to be
• [456]What a wonderful connection this was. I somehow feel a sense of gratitude and relief. Your son was bewildered, wasn’t he? lol
• [463]I wonder if Shusaku-san has passed on peacefully now… There was a hazy feeling when he left your son. I hope he’s at peace now.
• [464]You should cherish this newly formed connection with Shusaku-san’s parents. We can’t know why or for what purpose this connection was made, but if this is a miracle, there must be a corresponding reason. Just having more adults who care about your son is enough. I don’t know if we can call it a harvest or outcome, but thread creator and wife, thank you for your efforts.
• [466]Case closed!

The true nature of this strange and mysterious event remained unclear, but it became a warm story that touched many people’s hearts. It suggests that phenomena that cannot be explained by science can sometimes connect people—a possibility felt in this true story.