| Man From Taured | |
|---|---|
 John Zegrus | |
| Background | |
| Type | Being |
| Continent | Asia |
| Country | Japan |
| One-Time? | Yes |
| Theories | · Extraterrestrial · Interdimensional being · Hoax |
The Man from Taured is a captivating urban legend that has intrigued many for decades, captivating the imagination of countless individuals. The tale unfolds in July 1954, when an enigmatic man reportedly arrived at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, clutching a passport from a country known as Taured.
However, the perplexing twist is that Taured is not recognized on any map, nor does it exist in reality. This incredible story has evolved over time, leading to a myriad of interpretations and theories, including intriguing notions of parallel universes and alternate dimensions, sparking endless discussions among those fascinated by the unknown.
Upon his arrival at the airport, officials quickly informed him that Taured was merely a figment of fantasy. Undeterred, the man presented his passport as irrefutable proof of his nationality, which, tellingly, bore visa stamps indicating his previous business travels not just to Japan, but to several other countries as well.
However, when the customs officials reached out to the company he claimed to be meeting with, their inquiries were met with complete confusion; the business he represented had no record of him, nor did they recognize the name of his company. This peculiar turn of events only deepened the mystery surrounding the man from Taured.
Compounding the strangeness of the situation, the hotel in which he had reserved accommodation had no record of his reservation. Furthermore, when customs officials examined his checkbook, they found the bank mentioned within its pages also appeared to be non-existent.
To illustrate the absurdity of the man's claim, the customs officials presented him with a world map, placing their finger on the small, well-known country of Andorra as a possible location for Taured. In a surprising display of agitation, the man vehemently denied Andorra's existence, insisting that it was exactly where Taured should be located. He adamantly claimed that his homeland had existed for over a thousand years, which only added to the surrealism of the encounter.
Given the baffling circumstances, customs officials decided to detain the man from Taured for further investigation. They arranged for him to spend the night in a nearby hotel, ensuring that immigration officials guarded his room in an attempt to uncover the truth behind his bizarre claims and the mysterious origins of Taured.
However, the following morning, a startling development unfolded: the man from Taured had completely vanished from his hotel room. Despite the round-the-clock presence of immigration officers tasked with monitoring him, he had seemingly slipped away without a trace.
To complicate matters further, all of his personal belongings, including the passport and driver's license issued by his elusive country, mysteriously disappeared from the secure location at the airport where they had been stored. The absence of any evidence or explanation regarding his miraculous escape left authorities in bewilderment, leading many to conclude that the man had vanished into thin air, fueling the legend of the man from Taured and leaving behind a perplexing enigma that continues to captivate those who hear the tale.
As discussions about the inexplicable circumstances surrounding his disappearance persist, the story of the man from Taured stands as a testament to the human fascination with mysteries, unanswered questions, and the uncharted territories of reality, encouraging listeners to ponder the existence of worlds beyond our own and the nature of human perception in an often unpredictable universe.
Appearance[]
The man was described as a neatly dressed middle-aged Caucasian man, someone whose appearance exuded both professionalism and an appreciation for detail. His attire was meticulously chosen, reflecting a sense of style that was both understated and sophisticated. He sported a tailored jacket that fit him perfectly, paired with crisp trousers and polished shoes that gleamed in the light.
Despite his succinct exterior, there was much more to him than met the eye. His primary language was French, a reflection of his cultural background and upbringing, yet he possessed an impressive multilingual capacity. He spoke Japanese fluently and was also conversant in several other languages, showcasing not only his intellectual breadth but also his appetite for exploration and communication with diverse cultures around the globe.
In his wallet, one would find a fascinating assortment of currencies from various European countries, hinting at his extensive travels across the continent. The presence of different notes and coins seemed to serve as tokens of his frequent flyer tendencies, each piece of currency a small memento from a different journey or experience.
This assortment was not merely for show; it indicated that he had a lifestyle marked by adventure, exploration, and perhaps a career that required him to traverse borders regularly. Overall, this man was a tapestry of experiences and skills, blending his refined appearance with a rich tapestry of languages and international travel that painted a picture of someone who truly embraced the world around him.
History[]
The modern version of the story is a highly embellished retelling a short (one-sentence) entry in Colin Wilson's Directory of Possibilities and another only slightly longer one in Paul Begg's Into Thin Air.
The story in Wilson's book is as follows: "And in 1954 a passport check in Japan is alleged to have produced a man with papers issued by the nation of Taured."[1] Many of the details in the current telling derive either from an unknown earlier source or, more likely, have been added to the story over many retellings. The Directory of Possibilities, in its 'further readings' section, credits Begg not just for his book on mysterious disappearances, Into Thin Air, but also mentioned he had an upcoming book tentatively called Out of Thin Air: People Who Appear from Nowhere. Obviously, any further reference to the man from Taured could have been found in said volume... except, ironically, the book itself never appeared. Begg went on to write many other books, largely based on true crimes and history, but he never published any books on mysterious appearances.
In 2020 users on the Fortean Times forums uncovered what appears to be an earlier and more complete version of the story. Prior to Jul 1960 a man named John Alan Zegrus was arrested in Tokyo. The man claimed to be a naturalized citizen of Ethiopia, but born in Tuarid and used a passport issued in "Tamanrosset the capital of the independent sovereign State of Tuarid". [2](sic) (this could be misspelled, other sources use Tuared). His passport is lettered using the Latin alphabet, but is not written in any known language. "Rch ubwall ochtra negussi habesi trwap turapa." It also states that his claimed homeland was unambiguously fake.[3]
Zegrus was at one time linked to the CIA and the nature of his crime and trial appears to have rendered him a stateless person - allowed to enter Japan but not legally allowed to leave as 'self-styled American' due to his insistence on being from 'Taured', Japan could not have deported him, because identifying the person's nationality or equivalent state-related membership is a prerequisite for legal deportation. This opens up the possibility that Zegrus ended up being allowed entrance to Japan, where he became legally stuck. The crime of passing bad checks (mentioned in relation to the 1961 sentencing) could have resulted from desperation while trapped in Japan with no legal means for exiting.
Possible Explanations[]
Theories entertained at various times include
- An Interdimensional interloper.
- He had a fake passport
- His passport was misspelled
- He had an error on his passport
Gallery[]
Photo Gallery[]
