Have you heard the forbidden tale of Gozu, the Cow Head? This story is said to bring death to anyone who reads or hears it. But curiosity often gets the better of us. So, what is this chilling tale about? Let’s dive into a fictional story inspired by this urban legend.
Tamaki Hattori was having a stressful day. He was a teacher at an all-boys school and was tasked with chaperoning a school trip to a remote village with historical significance. The boys were rowdy and ignored his attempts to keep them in line. Frustrated, Tamaki looked out the window at the passing scenery.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed some boys teasing a quiet student named Ichiro. Ichiro was a good student but very timid. He had no friends and often became the target of bullies. Tamaki felt bad for him. He remembered being bullied as a child and wished he could help Ichiro.
To distract the students, Tamaki had an idea. He stood up and raised his voice. “I know a story you’ve never heard before. Would you like to hear it?” The boys looked at each other, intrigued.
“It’s a scary story,” he continued. “A forbidden tale. But I will tell you if you promise to keep it a secret.” The students settled down, eager to hear the story.
Tamaki smiled to himself. He began telling them about a man named Akio. Akio lived in a village with his wife and son. One day, floods destroyed their home. Desperate for food and shelter, Akio decided to travel to the next village. The journey was long and dangerous, especially in the harsh winter.
Realizing he couldn’t take his family with him, Akio made a tough decision. He found a dead cow on the side of the road and told his wife and son to take shelter inside it. He promised to return by summer. With a heavy heart, he set off alone.
After a grueling journey, Akio reached the next village but collapsed from hunger and exhaustion. The villagers took care of him, but he was delirious. When he finally woke up, he insisted on finding his family.
He returned to the spot where he had left them. In his fevered state, he imagined the cow was alive and attacking them. In a fit of madness, Akio hacked the cow to pieces, unknowingly killing his wife in the process. His son fled in terror.
Now completely insane, Akio wore the cow’s head for days, chasing his son, whom he believed was a monster. Eventually, he stumbled into another village. The villagers, horrified by the sight of a man with a cow’s head, attacked and killed him.
Years later, the son grew up and wrote about his father in a diary. He decided this was not a story he wanted his children to know. He tore out the pages and scattered them.
As Tamaki finished the story, he noticed the students were captivated. He glanced at Ichiro, who was watching him intently with a mysterious smile.
“That’s not what really happened,” Ichiro said suddenly. His classmates laughed, but Tamaki raised his hands to silence them.
“How do you know this isn’t the true story?” Tamaki asked.
Ichiro smiled and pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. “Because I found the true story of Gozu written on this paper.”
His eyes turned wide, and he began to tell the tale of Gozu. It was so horrifying that his classmates begged him to stop. But Ichiro continued, his voice filled with a strange intensity.
The next day, when the children didn’t return home, their parents launched a search party. They found the bus lying in a ditch just a few kilometers from the village.
Help was called, and the police discovered the teacher and children in a catatonic state, foaming at the mouth. All except for Ichiro, who sat alone in his seat, smiling.
When the police questioned him about what had happened, Ichiro said, “I told my classmates the story of Gozu. The driver couldn’t take it and crashed the bus.”
When the police asked him to repeat the story, Ichiro smiled again. “Sure, I’ll happily tell you the true tale of Gozu.”
The legend of Gozu serves as a chilling reminder of the power of stories. It shows how tales can haunt us and even lead to madness. While dogs and cows are often seen as innocent creatures, this story reveals a darker side.
In Japanese folklore, Gozu is a cautionary tale. It warns us about the dangers of curiosity and the unknown. Would you dare to seek out the true story of Gozu? Remember, some tales are better left untold.
As you ponder this legend, consider the impact of stories on our lives. They can entertain, educate, and even terrify us. The tale of Gozu reminds us that some stories hold secrets that should remain buried.
