It has been said that Shuten-dōji was the strongest oni of Japan. Academic folklorist Kazuhiko Komatsu has counted Shuten-dōji among the three most feared yōkai in medieval Kyoto, alongside the vixen Tamamo-no-Mae and the demon Ōtakemaru.

Similarly, Is oni good or bad?

Oni are widely perceived as frightful and evil, so it is quite understandable that the Japanese dislike them. Naita akaoni is unique, for it describes the oni as a good creature” (199–200). In his Naita Akaoni (Red Oni Who Cried, 1933), the kind red oni is determined to be good.

Additionally, Who is the most evil Japanese god?
Japanese Legends: The Three Most Evil Yokai of Japan

  • Shuten dōji, oni. Before he became a legendary monster, Shuten dōji was a troublesome orphan child. …
  • Tamamo no Mae, kitsune. Tamamo no Mae was a wicked, shape-changing, nine-tailed fox whose evil was only matched by her ambition. …
  • Emperor Sutoku, tengu.

Who is the king of Oni?

Shuten dōji (Japanese: 酒呑童子 or しゅてんどうじ, meaning “little drunkard”) was the king of Oni, and a local tyrant from Mt Oeyama before he was slain by Minamoto no Yorimitsu.

What are the most deadliest yokai?


15 Deadly Japanese Yokai You’d Never Want to Meet

  • Aka Manto (赤マント) As a child, were you afraid of public toilets? …
  • Amanojaku (天邪鬼) The Amanojaku is an imp-like Yokai with no notable physical abilities. …
  • Gashadokuro (餓者髑髏) …
  • Jorōgumo (絡新婦) …
  • Jubokko (樹木子) …
  • Kappa (河童) …
  • Kuchisake Onna (口裂け女) …
  • Kyōkotsu (狂骨)

What does a Oni do?

An oni’s job is to mete out horrible punishments such as peeling off skin, crushing bones, and other torments too horrible to describe to those who were wicked (but not quite wicked enough to be reborn as demons themselves). Hell is full of oni, and they make up the armies of the great generals of the underworld.

What does an Oni symbolize?

What Does Oni Mask Tattoo Symbolize? An Oni mask is used in the Japanese culture and is a common tattoo choice for those who believe in good and evil forces, as well as different power that surrounds us. This mask is a symbol of protection for those who believe in the spiritual world.

What are the powers of an Oni?


Powers and Abilities

  • Invisibility – If an oni wishes, they can disappear from human perception. …
  • Weather manipulation – An oni displayed the ability to create damaging thunderstorms to herald his arrival in a town. …
  • Telepathy – An oni is capable of reading the minds of its targets for information on them.

Who is the most powerful yokai?

One such list is the Three Most Evil Yokai of Japan (japanese: 日本三大悪妖怪, Nihon san dai aku yōkai). These are the three monsters who, according to legend, posed the greatest threats to Japan’s existence. They are Shuten dōji, Tamamo no Mae, and Sutoku Tennō.

Is Yo Kai Real?

Yokai had existed in Japanese folklore for centuries, but was during the Edo period (17th-19th centuries) that they began to be widely seen in art. … One of the oldest examples of yokai art was the Hyakki Yagyo Zu, a 16th century scroll that portrayed a pandemonium of Japanese monsters.

Is Tengu a God?

Tengu (Japanese: 天狗, lit. “Heavenly Dog” or “Heavenly Sentinel”) are a type of legendary creature found in Japanese folk religion. … He is the Shinto monkey deity who sheds light on heaven and earth, some experts theorize that Sarutahiko was a sun god worshiped in Ise region prior to the popularization of Amaterasu.

Who is the strongest yokai?

One such list is the Three Most Evil Yokai of Japan (japanese: 日本三大悪妖怪, Nihon san dai aku yōkai). These are the three monsters who, according to legend, posed the greatest threats to Japan’s existence. They are Shuten dōji, Tamamo no Mae, and Sutoku Tennō.

Can oni be killed?

Trivia. According to the lore Sam finds online, the oni can’t be killed and they weren’t able to find anyone who knew of a way to kill one. Even Roy Dempsey, who knew of their fear of obake, knew of no way to kill an oni.

How do I become a oni?

Oni are born when truly wicked humans die and end up in one of the many Buddhist Hells, transformed into Oni. They become the ogreish and brutal servants of Great Lord Enma, ruler of Hell, wielding iron clubs with which they crush and destroy humans solely for enjoyment.

What is the best yokai?


But it’s anime that arguably features the most prevalent and well-known examples of the yokai genre in pop culture.

  • 3 Inuyasha.
  • 4 Natsume’s Book Of Friends. …
  • 5 Mushishi. …
  • 6 Mob Psycho 100. …
  • 7 Yo-kai Watch. …
  • 8 Mononoke. …
  • 9 Hozuki’s Coolheadedness. …
  • 10 XxxHOLiC. …

What is the most famous yokai?

1. Kappa. Kappa is a famous yokai that every Japanese person knows. The body of this creature is covered in green and it has fins for hands and feet.

What is the most popular yokai?


10 Yokai That Appear The Most In Anime

  • 3 Gashadokuro.
  • 4 Kappa. …
  • 5 Tengu. …
  • 6 Wanyūdō …
  • 7 Mizuchi. …
  • 8 Oni. …
  • 9 Tanuki. Tanuki and kitsune have the same sort of relationship as cats and dogs. …
  • 10 Kitsune. Kitsune are often the first yokai to be known by foreigners due to their popularity in Japanese media. …

Are oni masks evil?

Oni masks are a little bit similar to hannya masks, wherein both characters play evil roles. While its origins point to the oni being evil, its demon portrayal has mellowed down in recent times. In fact, oni creatures now are sometimes depicted as protective beings.

Is an oni an ogre?

An oni ( 鬼 おに ) is a kind of yōkai, demon, orc, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore. They are typically portrayed as hulking figures with one or more horns growing out of their heads. Stereotypically, they are conceived of as red, blue, or white-colored, wearing loincloths of tiger pelt, and carrying iron kanabō clubs.

Whats the opposite of an oni?

The Amanojaku or Amanjaku ( 天 あま の 邪 じゃ 鬼 く , “heavenly evil spirit”) is a demon-like creature in Japanese folklore.

Is it OK to get a yakuza tattoo?

In modern times, the practice is not as common; many yakuza in the 21st century maintain clean skin to better blend in with society. Conversely, more and more non-yakuza in Japan are getting tattoos. Despite these changes, being tattooed is considered a rite of passage for the yakuza.

What is the most powerful yokai?

One such list is the Three Most Evil Yokai of Japan (japanese: 日本三大悪妖怪, Nihon san dai aku yōkai). These are the three monsters who, according to legend, posed the greatest threats to Japan’s existence. They are Shuten dōji, Tamamo no Mae, and Sutoku Tennō.

Can Onis have wings?

Often they possess animal features (such as the Kappa, which is similar to a turtle, or the Tengu which has wings), other times they can appear mostly human, some look like inanimate objects and others have no discernible shape.

How do you defeat an Oni?

To beat an oni, the party either has to nova it before it can run away or shut down all of its escape options. The best option the oni has is a combination of invisibility and flying, and any grappling or grappling spell will pin down the oni for an easy win.