Hyaku Monogatari – One Hundred Candles (also referred to as “One Hundred Stories” – a literal translation from Japanese), is a traditional Japanese parlor game. Traditionally played on the eve of a full moon in the summer (a time Japanese folklore names as ripe with spirit activity), the game consists of a group of friends telling scary stories, and legend dictates that the evening culminates with the appearance of a spirit.
The exact origins of the game are unknown; records of the game can be found as far back as the 1600s, but the game is believed to be far older than that. Historians believe that the game originated among the samurai class as a test of courage. The book Yurei Attack! The Japanese Ghost Survival Guide by Hiroko Yoda and Mike Alt suggests that based on the name, “Hyaku Monogatari”, the game may have been based on a supposedly true story of an 11th century invasion of Kyoto by supernatural beings, “The Hundred Demons’ Night Parade”.
The tales of the supernatural and folklore that were told during these games became known as “kaidan”
The game requires the following elements:
1. 100 candles – they must be slow-burning and able to stay lit for up to eight hours
2. A space with three rooms or two rooms with a long, dark hallway separating them
3. A group of friends with 100 scary stories to tell between them
4. A low table
5. A mirror
6. In the earliest versions of the game all the players must wear blue robes or clothing. In modern times, this requirement has been dropped, though there have been fewer spirit sightings in modern times – best to keep as close to the original as possible!
For the initial set-up, pick one room to make comfy for your guests and another (preferably far away down a dark corridor)to fill with 100 candles. In the candle-filled room, also set up a low table and a mirror. Make sure this room is as dark as possible, so the only light will come from the lit candles. Right as your party begins, light all the candles.
The group arranges themselves in the non-candle-filled room and each participant will take a turn telling the scariest story they can think of. Stories can be about ghosts, monsters, real-life horrors, etc. Each story should only be about 3-5 minutes in length (as you have 100 to get through in the evening – this game does take about 8 hours of your night).
After each story, the teller must walk alone to the candle room and extinguish one candle flame. He or she must then kneel by the table and look into the mirror for one minute. This might not seem like a challenge for the first few trips, but as the night wears on, the room becomes darker and the scary stories begin to put one in a fearful state of mind.
After the 100th tale and the final candle is extinguished, the spirits are said to appear in the mirror. Will your group be brave enough to face them? Many groups choose to end their evening at the 99th tale to avoid welcoming the spirits into their homes.
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