Black Phone

The Black Phone is a scary ritual or paranormal game from Japan. In Japanese, it is called “How to call the distortion room”. Basically, it is a method of going to Another World, using a black telephone instead of an elevator.

To play the Black Phone game, you need a pen, a piece of paper, a black, old-style dial telephone and two pieces of black string (over 40cm).

Before you play:

1: The only people in the house should be the people who are playing the game.

2: The house should have at least 4 rooms.

3: Shut all the doors and close all the curtains in the house.

4: Turn off every light in the house except for the lights in the room (or hallway) where the telephone is.

5: The ritual will not work if you have salt with you (or any other thing that inhibits the supernatural or wards off evil spirits).

Instructions:

Step 1: Tie one piece of string tightly around the telephone handset so that it cannot be removed.

Step 2: Hold the handset away from your face and dial the following numbers: 2-0-4-0-6-0-8-0. Hang up the handset. Pick up the handset again and dial the following numbers: 2-5-5-1-5-8-2-3. Then leave the phone off the hook. Even if somebody answers, do not speak to them.

Step 3: As quietly as possible, go into the nearest room and close the door. Wait for one minute.

Step 4: Return to the black phone and repeat Step 2 again.

Step 5: As quietly as possible, go into the second nearest room and close the door. Wait for one minute.

Step 6: Return to the black phone and repeat Step 2 again.

Step 7: As quietly as possible, go into the third nearest room and close the door. Wait for one minute.

Step 8: Return to the black phone and dial the following numbers: 2-2-8-2-2.

Step 9: With your eyes shut, go into the fourth nearest room and close the door.

Step 10: As soon as you enter, use the second piece of string to tie a knot around the doorknob in a “double 8”.

Step 11: Open your eyes. Do not utter a word, no matter what.

Step 12: Open the curtains. If the glass in the windows has turned black, then you have succeeded in travelling to another world. (The Japanese source says “you have succeeded in calling the distortion”).

“How to end”:

If you want to return to your own world:

1: Look for a note containing an 8-digit number that is hidden somewhere in the room.

2: When you find the note, keep your eyes closed, repeat the 8-digit number over and over in your head and grasp strongly the black string on the doorknob.

3: Do not answer if someone or something speaks to you. Do not let go of the doorknob, even if someone or something pulls your body.

4: Keep repeating the 8-digit number over and over in your head, no matter how many times it takes, until it seems like you are back in your own world. Then, open the door.

5: If the windows of the other rooms are still black, then it means you still have not returned to your own world.

You must burn the note containing the number to ashes within 7 days. Put the ashes in a black bag or wrap them in paper and carry them with you.

After that, it says, you will “encounter strange phenomenen” and when you encounter these phenomenen, it says, “your happiness will be reduced”.