What is Turbo Baba/Turbo Granny? Exploring a Famous Urban Legend
Sasaki
From Yokohama
A Japanese urban legend / modern yōkai (supernatural entity) said to be an old woman who sprints at unbelievable speeds.
Also known as Dash Babā, 100-km Babā, or Jet Babā. The nickname varies by region and generation.
The Legend
“You’re driving through a highway tunnel when you notice something keeping pace beside you. You glance over and see a white‑haired old woman, hair whipping in the wind as she runs. She turns toward you with a grin—then, in a burst of speed, overtakes your car and vanishes ahead.”
That’s the version I’ve personally heard. She’s usually described as being around eighty years old, and her speed is often said to be 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph). Needless to say, for an ordinary elder—rather, for any ordinary human—running at that speed is impossible.
What happens if Turbo Granny “beats” you?
Turbo Granny is known to race alongside cars at high speed. If she overtakes you, what happens next varies by rendition. The most common outcomes include:
- You crash at the very moment she passes you (some say the crash happens because you’re startled).
- You get cursed or suffer misfortune.
- Nothing happens
Given these risks, it’s hard to call her harmless, though it’s unclear whether she bears any malicious intent. Insofar as it makes people mind their surroundings while driving, I suppose she isn't all bad.
Then and Now
Turbo Granny gained popularity as a Japanese urban legend in the 1990s, and became widely known thanks to works like the "Ghost Stories" novel series and the manga "Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube". Among modern yōkai, she’s one of the most widely known. For those born in the 1990s–2000s, I feel like there are hardly any people who haven’t heard the name (including her alternate names). For a while, recognition among younger generations seemed to fade, overshadowed by internet‑born modern yōkai like Hasshaku‑sama ("The Eight Foot Woman"). But the hit series "Dandadan" brought her back into the spotlight. The manga had long been popular in Japan, and after the anime began, its overseas popularity exploded—making Turbo Granny well known around the world as well.
Where She Appears
Her main haunts are highways and tunnels (as noted above). A specific place often mentioned is Mt. Rokkō in Hyōgo Prefecture. Stories resembling hers also crop up at various "haunted tunnels" across Japan. Many people likely used their local tunnel as the setting when swapping tales with friends. The thought that such a strange entity might lurk in an otherwise ordinary tunnel is captivating enough to make anyone lean in and listen.
Related Urban Legends
Jinmenken (Human‑Faced Dog)
One urban legend tells of a dog with a human face that runs alongside cars, and that seeing it brings misfortune.
That’s just one of many Jinmenken stories. Others say it rummages through trash, or that it swears at you if you stare at it in shock.
Yotsunbai Babā (Crawling Granny)
Like Turbo Granny, she moves extremely fast, but on all fours. Turbo Granny’s sheer speed can feel surreal and even a bit funny; imagining a figure sprinting on all fours at high speed, however, cranks up the horror gauge significantly.
Murasaki Babā (Purple Granny)
Listed here simply because she’s also an elderly woman figure. This urban legend, mainly popularized in primary schools says that if you look into a bathroom mirror in the school at 4:44 a.m., before sunrise, a purple‑colored granny appears and pulls you in.
Cultural note: The number 4 is considered unlucky in Japan because one reading is shi, which is a homophone of 死 (“death”).
In recent years, this legend has been fading into obscurity due to stronger school security and higher parental awareness, meaning children almost never go in or out of schools at that hour.