Tara A. Devlin > Quotes

“wells in old Japan used to be popular locations for people to end their own lives. But the ground at the bottom of a well is soft, so you don’t die instantly. Instead, you die slowly and in great pain. That’s why it’s so easy for grudges to accumulate in them.”
― Tara A. Devlin, Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet: Volume Thirteen

“Having a unique culture in a closed off village such as that is terrifying,” my grandfather told me. “In places like that, common sense isn’t common sense. The children grow up brainwashed and become just like their parents. That’s why you should make lots of friends, hear their different opinions, and always question whether what you are doing is right or wrong.”
― Tara A. Devlin, Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet: Volume Nine

“By now you should realise that if anybody asks if you would like something in a Japanese toilet, it won’t end well.”
― Tara A. Devlin, Toshiden: Exploring Japanese Urban Legends: Volume Two

“Bored people find the bravery to do strange things.”
― Tara A. Devlin, Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet: Volume Two

“In effect, Japanese horror is less about a character reaching a certain goal and growing as a person and more about a regular person reacting to what happens around them. Scary things happen, they react, more scary things happen, usually there’s a twist to make things even scarier and then everyone dies.”
― Tara A. Devlin, Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet: Volume Three