Strange Folk (Not Obviously Human; Maybe Something Else)

remenber when this thread was about anomalous people? and not about weird people?
i do
 
@humanoidlord - get thee to the latest FT mag 379, there's a lovely IHTM story about a weird "dad" and his two "children" who spooked a shop assistant, and when they went back to review the CCTV to make sure that had really happened... the relevant half hour was blank!

There's also a story about a weird old lady inquiring about relationships. Both tales involve the Oz factor.
 
GNC said:
@humanoidlord - get thee to the latest FT mag 379, there's a lovely IHTM story about a weird "dad" and his two "children" who spooked a shop assistant, and when they went back to review the CCTV to make sure that had really happened... the relevant half hour was blank!

There's also a story about a weird old lady inquiring about relationships. Both tales involve the Oz factor.
Click to expand...
the Beyond Creepy youtube channel also features a lot of stories of this type
 
Well, i remember my mother telling me, maybe 25 years ago it would be, that she and her friend had just seen a Leprechaun. As far as i recall, my mother was returning home from shopping and was walking along a street that had a bit of a grass embankment sloping up to a wire fence of some kind which enclosed some wasteground or maybe an industrial unit, (I cant claify any of these details or even pinpoint where the incident happened as my mother is now dead.) Anyway there were a few trees planted along this embankment and my mother saw what she initially thought to be a child sitting cross legged beneath one, it appeared to be carving or whittling a stick, as she got closer she realised it was a very small old man,......anyway.........just as she realised this, she saw her pal coming the opposite way and started to wave to her, momentarilly taking her eyes off the little figure. Just then she heard what she described to me as a series of high pitched musical notes, and when she turned to look, the little man had vanished!,,,,,,....wait it gets better..........when she looked back at her friend, her friends expression was one of absolute wide eyed shock, apparently the little man had been carving a whistle of some sort and he played it then just vanished into thin air! My mother told me this over a rather long and excited phone conversation, and i've no doubt that she and her friend saw something very strange.
 
Blunderman:

Just for the sake of clarity ... Did your mother's friend see the little fellow, too? Your account isn't clear on that point.
 
Blunderman said:
Just then she heard what she described to me as a series of high pitched musical notes, and when she turned to look, the little man had vanished!,,,,,,....wait it gets better..........when she looked back at her friend, her friends expression was one of absolute wide eyed shock, apparently the little man had been carving a whistle of some sort and he played it then just vanished into thin air!
Click to expand...

*nods* 'twas Pan.
 
Although the world is almost certainly going to Hell—as it has been since our ancestors first left the trees—this a thread about Strange Folk, not about married life, public policing, the state of the economy or 'Me Too'.
 
This thread was started for the discussion of folks so weird you questioned whether they were human (versus supernatural / alien / mythic / etc.).

This thread has now been purged of all posts relating to "strange folks" of the everyday variety (eccentrics / cranks / nutters / run-of-the-mill jerks / etc.). Posts relating to such everyday weirdos have all been moved to:

Odd People (Human, But Strange: Cranks; Eccentrics; Nutters; Etc.)
https://forums.forteana.org/index.p...-strange-cranks-eccentrics-nutters-etc.69685/

Unless you suspect the weirdo you wish to mention may not be human, please post in that other thread (where circa 90% of the posts from this thread were moved).
 
Once upon a time, I was travelling alone in Japan, and came to a small town called Takayama, famous for its temples, sake breweries and old buildings. An interesting place to visit.

While on my way to visit the town's main Shinto shrine, I was surprised by a heavy rainpour and choose to hide under a roof overhanging the side of the main street.

Alas my shelter was not so great, and I soon ended up soaked from head to toe. But I was young and brave, back then, and acted as if it was only a minor nuisance.

I was almost alone in the street, and assumed that because of the rain most passers-by had retreated to the safety of their homes. Nothing strange about it.

There was a small pastry shop on the other side of the street, where a middle aged lady with long, flowing white hair was working. I noticed she was inviting me to come to her side of the street. I wondered what she wanted, so I crossed the deserted road to join her.

She proceeded offering me a small cake. As a wary tourist, used to travelling in mainland China, I immediately suspected she wanted to sell me her cakes. So I vehemently made signs (I did not speak Japanese) to make myself understood : I did not intend to buy anything.

To my surprise, she kept insisting on offering me her small cake. So finally, I accepted to take it. It was one of these Japanese cakes filled with sweet red bean paste. The cake's taste felt so warming. It was really comforting. She smiled serenely while I ate it.

She was very peculiar. Her long hair seemed naturally white as if she was an elderly lady, but her face did not match this picture. Her skin was smooth and yet I couldn't see any trace of make up on her. I was left wondering how old she could be ... For a moment, I wondered if she could be one of these immortals and fairies from the Asian lore. Because it was really impossible to assess her age, from her appearance. Taken one by one, her features seemed completely natural, but together, it simply did not match. It left me the feeling that she was "ageless". Ageless and radiating benevolence. It was unsettling, but I thought, "hey ! those Japanese ladies surely know how to use cosmetics !".

I was deeply moved by this shopkeeper's initiative to offer one of her cakes to a wandering stranger lost in the storm, especially since I had been confronted to acts of racism towards caucasian singles in other parts of Japan ...

But, I was young, and stubborn, and I had previously decided that I would never be lured to buy any of her cakes. So, seeing that the rain was abating, I did my best to thank her, and then left towards the shrine.

After walking for less than a mile, I thought that it was actually rude not to do something to repay this act of compassionate generosity towards a distraught foreigner. So I decided to go back to the shop and do the only thing I could imagine ... Buy some cakes !

To my surprise, the lady with white hair was no longer behind the counter. She had completely vanished. The shop keepers were now a couple of middle age people with black hair.
I found it strange. These two were not there when I was offered my cake ...

I checked my map, I checked the surrounding buildings. I was at the right place. But the lady with white hairs was no longer there.

I stayed two or three nights in Takayama, but never saw her again. Neither did I meet any other people looking like her anywhere in Japan. For yes, there were some youngsters with weird hairstyles, but none with such astounding features, none giving this impression to be ageless, outside of time.

So, in retrospective, I wonder if she was human at all. There was something divine, or spiritual in her appearance and demeanour. A very impressive sight, and yet, a completely, unnaturally peaceful one.

I must add that after this unsettling encounter, I went to the Shinto shrine. There, a few locals were marvelling at something among the foundations of the temple. I came close, to see what they were looking at, and saw a very large snake, lying among the rocks.
 
AmStramGram said:
Once upon a time, I was travelling alone in Japan, and came to a small town called Takayama, famous for its temples, sake breweries and old buildings. An interesting place to visit.

While on my way to visit the town's main Shinto shrine, I was surprised by a heavy rainpour and choose to hide under a roof overhanging the side of the main street.

Alas my shelter was not so great, and I soon ended up soaked from head to toe. But I was young and brave, back then, and acted as if it was only a minor nuisance.

I was almost alone in the street, and assumed that because of the rain most passers-by had retreated to the safety of their homes. Nothing strange about it.

There was a small pastry shop on the other side of the street, where a middle aged lady with long, flowing white hair was working. I noticed she was inviting me to come to her side of the street. I wondered what she wanted, so I crossed the deserted road to join her.

She proceeded offering me a small cake. As a wary tourist, used to travelling in mainland China, I immediately suspected she wanted to sell me her cakes. So I vehemently made signs (I did not speak Japanese) to make myself understood : I did not intend to buy anything.

To my surprise, she kept insisting on offering me her small cake. So finally, I accepted to take it. It was one of these Japanese cakes filled with sweet red bean paste. The cake's taste felt so warming. It was really comforting. She smiled serenely while I ate it.

She was very peculiar. Her long hair seemed naturally white as if she was an elderly lady, but her face did not match this picture. Her skin was smooth and yet I couldn't see any trace of make up on her. I was left wondering how old she could be ... For a moment, I wondered if she could be one of these immortals and fairies from the Asian lore. Because it was really impossible to assess her age, from her appearance. Taken one by one, her features seemed completely natural, but together, it simply did not match. It left me the feeling that she was "ageless". Ageless and radiating benevolence. It was unsettling, but I thought, "hey ! those Japanese ladies surely know how to use cosmetics !".

I was deeply moved by this shopkeeper's initiative to offer one of her cakes to a wandering stranger lost in the storm, especially since I had been confronted to acts of racism towards caucasian singles in other parts of Japan ...

But, I was young, and stubborn, and I had previously decided that I would never be lured to buy any of her cakes. So, seeing that the rain was abating, I did my best to thank her, and then left towards the shrine.

After walking for less than a mile, I thought that it was actually rude not to do something to repay this act of compassionate generosity towards a distraught foreigner. So I decided to go back to the shop and do the only thing I could imagine ... Buy some cakes !

To my surprise, the lady with white hair was no longer behind the counter. She had completely vanished. The shop keepers were now a couple of middle age people with black hair.
I found it strange. These two were not there when I was offered my cake ...

I checked my map, I checked the surrounding buildings. I was at the right place. But the lady with white hairs was no longer there.

I stayed two or three nights in Takayama, but never saw her again. Neither did I meet any other people looking like her anywhere in Japan. For yes, there were some youngsters with weird hairstyles, but none with such astounding features, none giving this impression to be ageless, outside of time.

So, in retrospective, I wonder if she was human at all. There was something divine, or spiritual in her appearance and demeanour. A very impressive sight, and yet, a completely, unnaturally peaceful one.

I must add that after this unsettling encounter, I went to the Shinto shrine. There, a few locals were marvelling at something among the foundations of the temple. I came close, to see what they were looking at, and saw a very large snake, lying among the rocks.
Click to expand...
Japanese people do tend to age very well.
It sounds as if you experienced an unusual event.
 
Kondoru said:
Albino shrine attendant?
Click to expand...
Hahaha ! I do not think so ... She did not look like the other albinos I've met. On the other hand I have never met a Japanese albino, so who knows ?

It still prefer to think of her as a kind of angel, because of her "supernatural" kindness ... Not because I want to believe in angels, but because I want to believe we can all turn "godly" when we accomplish selfless, benevolent gestures towards other people.
 
To be fair I know two women who have gone prematurely grey. They have very smooth faces (one is quite a bit older than the other, one must be in her early 60s but her face is absolutely smooth as though she's never been in the sun, the other is in her early thirties and has the appropriate wrinkles and lines - ie not many, but the grey hair would lead you to believe she was much older).

So the lady may not have been as old as her hair led you to believe. And maybe she just offered you a cake because you were obviously foreign, soaking wet and slightly confused?
 
catseye said:
To be fair I know two women who have gone prematurely grey. They have very smooth faces (one is quite a bit older than the other, one must be in her early 60s but her face is absolutely smooth as though she's never been in the sun, the other is in her early thirties and has the appropriate wrinkles and lines - ie not many, but the grey hair would lead you to believe she was much older).

So the lady may not have been as old as her hair led you to believe. And maybe she just offered you a cake because you were obviously foreign, soaking wet and slightly confused?
Click to expand...
That may be. But I prefer to remember this event with a touch of poetry.
 
catseye said:
To be fair I know two women who have gone prematurely grey. They have very smooth faces (one is quite a bit older than the other, one must be in her early 60s but her face is absolutely smooth as though she's never been in the sun, the other is in her early thirties and has the appropriate wrinkles and lines - ie not many, but the grey hair would lead you to believe she was much older).

So the lady may not have been as old as her hair led you to believe. And maybe she just offered you a cake because you were obviously foreign, soaking wet and slightly confused?
Click to expand...
An old gf had thick black hair that was almost entirely grey, by the time she was in her mid-twenties.
 
AmStramGram said:
Once upon a time, I was travelling alone in Japan, and came to a small town called Takayama, famous for its temples, sake breweries and old buildings. An interesting place to visit.

While on my way to visit the town's main Shinto shrine, I was surprised by a heavy rainpour and choose to hide under a roof overhanging the side of the main street.

Alas my shelter was not so great, and I soon ended up soaked from head to toe. But I was young and brave, back then, and acted as if it was only a minor nuisance.

I was almost alone in the street, and assumed that because of the rain most passers-by had retreated to the safety of their homes. Nothing strange about it.

There was a small pastry shop on the other side of the street, where a middle aged lady with long, flowing white hair was working. I noticed she was inviting me to come to her side of the street. I wondered what she wanted, so I crossed the deserted road to join her.

She proceeded offering me a small cake. As a wary tourist, used to travelling in mainland China, I immediately suspected she wanted to sell me her cakes. So I vehemently made signs (I did not speak Japanese) to make myself understood : I did not intend to buy anything.

To my surprise, she kept insisting on offering me her small cake. So finally, I accepted to take it. It was one of these Japanese cakes filled with sweet red bean paste. The cake's taste felt so warming. It was really comforting. She smiled serenely while I ate it.

She was very peculiar. Her long hair seemed naturally white as if she was an elderly lady, but her face did not match this picture. Her skin was smooth and yet I couldn't see any trace of make up on her. I was left wondering how old she could be ... For a moment, I wondered if she could be one of these immortals and fairies from the Asian lore. Because it was really impossible to assess her age, from her appearance. Taken one by one, her features seemed completely natural, but together, it simply did not match. It left me the feeling that she was "ageless". Ageless and radiating benevolence. It was unsettling, but I thought, "hey ! those Japanese ladies surely know how to use cosmetics !".

I was deeply moved by this shopkeeper's initiative to offer one of her cakes to a wandering stranger lost in the storm, especially since I had been confronted to acts of racism towards caucasian singles in other parts of Japan ...

But, I was young, and stubborn, and I had previously decided that I would never be lured to buy any of her cakes. So, seeing that the rain was abating, I did my best to thank her, and then left towards the shrine.

After walking for less than a mile, I thought that it was actually rude not to do something to repay this act of compassionate generosity towards a distraught foreigner. So I decided to go back to the shop and do the only thing I could imagine ... Buy some cakes !

To my surprise, the lady with white hair was no longer behind the counter. She had completely vanished. The shop keepers were now a couple of middle age people with black hair.
I found it strange. These two were not there when I was offered my cake ...

I checked my map, I checked the surrounding buildings. I was at the right place. But the lady with white hairs was no longer there.

I stayed two or three nights in Takayama, but never saw her again. Neither did I meet any other people looking like her anywhere in Japan. For yes, there were some youngsters with weird hairstyles, but none with such astounding features, none giving this impression to be ageless, outside of time.

So, in retrospective, I wonder if she was human at all. There was something divine, or spiritual in her appearance and demeanour. A very impressive sight, and yet, a completely, unnaturally peaceful one.

I must add that after this unsettling encounter, I went to the Shinto shrine. There, a few locals were marvelling at something among the foundations of the temple. I came close, to see what they were looking at, and saw a very large snake, lying among the rocks.
Click to expand...
You mentioned that you travelled to a shinto shrine. I'm assuming that this was not far from the bakery. Perhaps she was kitsune.

From Wikipedia:
In Japanese folklore, kitsune(狐, キツネ, IPA: [kʲi̥t͡sɯne̞](listen)), are foxes that possess paranormal abilities that increase as they get older and wiser.

Kitsune have become closely associated with Inari, a Shintokami or spirit, and serve as its messengers. This role has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance. The more tails a kitsune has—they may have as many as nine—the older, wiser, and more powerful it is. Because of their potential power and influence, some people make sacrifices to them as to a deity.

  • The zenko (善狐, lit. 'good foxes') are benevolent, celestial foxes associated with Inari; they are sometimes simply called Inari foxes in English.
Full link https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune
 
AmStramGram said:
Once upon a time, I was travelling alone in Japan, and came to a small town called Takayama, famous for its temples, sake breweries and old buildings. An interesting place to visit.

While on my way to visit the town's main Shinto shrine, I was surprised by a heavy rainpour and choose to hide under a roof overhanging the side of the main street.

Alas my shelter was not so great, and I soon ended up soaked from head to toe. But I was young and brave, back then, and acted as if it was only a minor nuisance.

I was almost alone in the street, and assumed that because of the rain most passers-by had retreated to the safety of their homes. Nothing strange about it.

There was a small pastry shop on the other side of the street, where a middle aged lady with long, flowing white hair was working. I noticed she was inviting me to come to her side of the street. I wondered what she wanted, so I crossed the deserted road to join her.

She proceeded offering me a small cake. As a wary tourist, used to travelling in mainland China, I immediately suspected she wanted to sell me her cakes. So I vehemently made signs (I did not speak Japanese) to make myself understood : I did not intend to buy anything.

To my surprise, she kept insisting on offering me her small cake. So finally, I accepted to take it. It was one of these Japanese cakes filled with sweet red bean paste. The cake's taste felt so warming. It was really comforting. She smiled serenely while I ate it.

She was very peculiar. Her long hair seemed naturally white as if she was an elderly lady, but her face did not match this picture. Her skin was smooth and yet I couldn't see any trace of make up on her. I was left wondering how old she could be ... For a moment, I wondered if she could be one of these immortals and fairies from the Asian lore. Because it was really impossible to assess her age, from her appearance. Taken one by one, her features seemed completely natural, but together, it simply did not match. It left me the feeling that she was "ageless". Ageless and radiating benevolence. It was unsettling, but I thought, "hey ! those Japanese ladies surely know how to use cosmetics !".

I was deeply moved by this shopkeeper's initiative to offer one of her cakes to a wandering stranger lost in the storm, especially since I had been confronted to acts of racism towards caucasian singles in other parts of Japan ...

But, I was young, and stubborn, and I had previously decided that I would never be lured to buy any of her cakes. So, seeing that the rain was abating, I did my best to thank her, and then left towards the shrine.

After walking for less than a mile, I thought that it was actually rude not to do something to repay this act of compassionate generosity towards a distraught foreigner. So I decided to go back to the shop and do the only thing I could imagine ... Buy some cakes !

To my surprise, the lady with white hair was no longer behind the counter. She had completely vanished. The shop keepers were now a couple of middle age people with black hair.
I found it strange. These two were not there when I was offered my cake ...

I checked my map, I checked the surrounding buildings. I was at the right place. But the lady with white hairs was no longer there.

I stayed two or three nights in Takayama, but never saw her again. Neither did I meet any other people looking like her anywhere in Japan. For yes, there were some youngsters with weird hairstyles, but none with such astounding features, none giving this impression to be ageless, outside of time.

So, in retrospective, I wonder if she was human at all. There was something divine, or spiritual in her appearance and demeanour. A very impressive sight, and yet, a completely, unnaturally peaceful one.

I must add that after this unsettling encounter, I went to the Shinto shrine. There, a few locals were marvelling at something among the foundations of the temple. I came close, to see what they were looking at, and saw a very large snake, lying among the rocks.
Click to expand...
I wonder if you met the Amazake banbā? She is the counterpart to the Amazake-babaa supernatural spirit : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazake-babaa
 
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