Beyond the realm we inhabit lies another world, existing outside the boundaries of our time and space. Among the most well-known “otherworlds” are heaven and hell, but there are many more. Legends tell of a sea palace at the ocean’s depths, reached by a man who followed a turtle, or a mysterious cave discovered while chasing a rolling rice ball. Surprisingly, gateways to these hidden realms can often be found in the most ordinary places.
Some otherworlds are destinations we will all inevitably reach one day. Others are stumbled upon by accident. But perhaps most intriguingly, it is said that with the right method, you don’t even need to travel—right here and now, you can take a forbidden peek into the otherworld.
A glimpse into the otherworld through ‘mata nozoki’
The otherworld is a place that cannot normally be seen by human eyes. However, there is a certain mystical technique that allows one to secretly peek into it. This method is called mata nozoki (股のぞき) —literally, “peering through the thighs.”
As the name suggests, it involves bending over and looking at the world upside down from between your legs. This simple act is said to reveal things that are otherwise invisible—ghosts, spirits, and yokai. The reason for this lies in the mystical nature of inversion; by turning the world on its head, one can pierce through illusions and perceive the true nature of supernatural beings.
Seeing ghost ships upside down
This story comes from the folklorist Miyamoto Tsuneichi (宮本常一), who once heard it from a fisherman.
The fisherman claimed to have encountered a ghost ship. While the truth of the apparition remained uncertain, he explained that mata nozoki was a powerful tool in such eerie situations.
According to him, if you ever find yourself at sea and come across a suspicious-looking vessel, the best way to determine its nature is to look at it upside down, through your legs. If the ship appears to be moving along the water’s surface, it is merely an abandoned wreck. But if the ship is floating above the sea, then there is no doubt—it is a ghost ship.
A similar story exists in other coastal regions. In these versions, mata nozoki is not only a way to identify supernatural occurrences but also a method to dispel them. It is said that if one finds themselves entangled in a mysterious phenomenon at sea, peering through their legs can break the spell.
This technique is not limited to the ocean. Imagine, for instance, that you are walking down the road and suddenly encounter a supernatural creature. It may not happen often, but should you find yourself in such a terrifying situation, don’t panic. Instead, immediately perform mata nozoki. The creature will vanish before your eyes.
What a simple yet effective countermeasure! So, if you ever face an encounter with the unknown—remember: the first thing to do is turn yourself upside down.
Peering into people’s homes – Upside down
In ‘Sanshu Kidan (三州奇談),’ a collection of strange tales from Kaga (加賀), Noto (能登), and Etchu (越中) compiled by Edo-period writer Hori Bakusui (堀麦水), there is a peculiar story titled The Mysterious Karashima no ikan (唐島の異観).
‘According to local lore, if one bends forward on the veranda of this temple, peers through their legs, and gazes toward the sea, they will inevitably see the homes of foreign people or dwellings from a distant world. Thus, many attempt it for amusement, eager to catch a glimpse of lands unknown. Sometimes, to their astonishment, houses do appear, and at times, they see unfamiliar places.’
Karashima is a small island off a fishing port, home to a temple dedicated to Benzaiten (弁財天). It was said that if one performed mata nozoki from the temple’s veranda, they would glimpse the homes of foreign people. If this were true, those being observed would certainly find it an unwelcome intrusion. Yet, once you hear such a claim, it’s only natural to want to try it for yourself. The author of the story was no exception.
According to his account, after drinking heavily and falling into a half-dreamlike state, he suddenly recalled the legend and decided to test it. He bent over, looked through his legs, and saw a figure descending from the mountain—clad in Tang Dynasty robes, hair styled in the karako-mage (唐子髷) fashion, and carrying a large flag. As the figure approached, it uttered, “Hanmeri Hanmeri (ハンメリハンメリ).”
However, there’s a twist to the tale. The mysterious apparition turned out to be nothing more than a travelling medicine vendor, simply carrying a flag as he walked along.
For those who wish to see the unseen
In reality, mata nozoki is not some mystical ritual—it’s a movement we unconsciously perform in daily life. Take, for example, the tourists at Amanohashidate (天橋立), one of Japan’s Three Scenic Views, who peer at the landscape upside down. One might be tempted to tap them on the shoulder and ask, “Do you see anything?” But whether the unseen truly reveals itself is a matter of luck. Knowingly or not, these tourists are all engaging in a form of collective ritual to glimpse another world. The sight of them doing so en masse is, in itself, somewhat eerie.
But don’t be discouraged if your mata nozoki doesn’t reveal ghosts or supernatural creatures. There are plenty of other ways to peek into the supernatural.
For instance, by interlacing your fingers in an alternating pattern to form a what is called in Japanese folklore as a ‘fox’s window’, and looking through it, you may be able to see a hidden world with supernatural things. One example, referred to as a ‘fox’s wedding’, is the apperance of mysterious lights during rain showers, believed to be fox spirits holding a wedding procession. Similarly, if you fold your hands backward, interlock your fingers, and create a small hole to look through, you might catch a glimpse of foxfire.
Another method involves peering through naturally forked objects—this is said to reveal whether something possesses supernatural qualities. If successful, you may uncover a supernatural creature’s true form or even transcend the boundary between this world and the next. These are just rumours, of course. But the otherworld remains an unknown place, and who’s to say what might happen? Perhaps it’s worth a try.
Beware what lies when you peer through your legs
Peering through your legs to distinguish ghost ships, glimpse foreign homes, or uncover hidden truths—why did people believe such a peculiar act could bridge the gap between worlds? Consider this: every human is born into the world through the space between their mother’s legs. This part of the body is a sacred threshold through which life enters and exits. If this space is truly a gateway, then it’s hardly surprising that strange things might occur when you tamper with it.
For this reason, excessive use of mata nozoki may be dangerous. If you can see into the otherworld, then surely the otherworld can see into ours. And if, by some misfortune, you lock eyes with something on the other side? If an unseen force were to reach through that threshold and pull you in? Then you might never return. Perhaps, after all, the otherworld is a place best left unseen.
‘Kinsei minkan ibun kaidan shusei (近世民間異聞怪談集成) (edo kaii kiso bungei taikei, 江戸怪異綺想文芸大系)’, Kokusho Kankokai (国書刊行会), 2003
This article is translated from https://intojapanwaraku.com/rock/culture-rock/262827/
