Wiki Category: Oni

Onihitokuchi Onihitokuchi (鬼一口 – One Swallow of an Oni) is the act of an Oni swallowing a person whole. It is included in yōkai compendiums including the Konjaku Hyakki Shūi by Toriyama Sekien. One such tale can be found in the Tales of Ise in which the unnamed protagonist of[...]

Momiji-gari Momiji-gari (紅葉狩 – Momiji Hunting) is a depiction of a woman with a connection to a particular demoness in the Konjaku Hyakki Shūi. In this depiction she is shown in a mountain, holding a long-handled sake pot. This particular creature relates to the Demoness known as Kijo (a possible[...]

The Oni of Adachigahara The Oni of Adachigahara is one of many Japanese folktales, this one centering around an evil oni. Synopsis In Mutsu there was said to be oni who took the form of an old woman. People would go missing in the area and it was thought she was[...]

Kintarō Kintarō (金太郎) is a Japanese folktale centered around the life of a boy with the same name as the story. There are several versions of this tale and as we come across more of them we will add them to the website. Synopsis There was a man called Kintoki who[...]

Konjaku Hyakki Shūi Konjaku Hyakki Shūi (今昔百鬼拾遺 – More of the Demon Horde from Past and Present) is a compendium of Yōkai, demons and ghosts compiled by Toriyama Sekien, published in 1780/81. The books were inspired by the 10th Century Demon Horde’s Night Parade. These books, alongside the previous book, the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō, Konjaku Gazu Zoku[...]

Jami Jami (邪魅 – Evil Spirit) is a type of Yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki by Toriyama Sekien. The creature is described as a type of ‘chimi‘ (Mountain Spirit/kami), with Toriyama stating it is the manifestation of uncanny malevolence. The text known as the Wamyō Ruijūshō (Japanese[...]

Megijima Megijima (女木島) is a small island within the Seto Inland Sea, north of the city of Takamatsu on Shikoku Island. Its small size only reaches 2.7km squared. The island is made famous due to its associations with the folktale of Momotaro where this island is known as Onigashima, an[...]

See also: List of Folktales Momotarō Momotarō (桃太郎 – Peach Boy) is a Folktale about a man with the same name, as well as a Dog, Monkey and Pheasant and their journey to the island of Onigashima to stop the Oni.1 There are many verisons of the tale (and will[...]

Zenki and Goki Zenki and Goki (前鬼 & 後鬼) are two well known Oni with strong associations with the founder of the Shugendō Religion, En no Gyōja. Said to have dwelt in the mountains ranges close to Nara, they would regularly terrorise the people there by taking their children. En[...]

Period: Asuka Period Occupation: Religious Founder Family: Birth: 634? Death: 701? En no Ozunu En no Ozunu (役小角) lived during the Asuka Period, perhaps from 634-701AD. He was born with the name Kamo-no-e-no-kimi, but over his life he gathered many others such as En no Gyōja (役行者 En the pilgrim), Jinben[...]

Hannya Hannya (般若) is a is a is a type of Yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki by Toriyama Sekien. However, the word has multiple meanings. It is a mask used in the Noh play Aoi no Ue, and is used to depict a jealous woman. Or a[...]

Birth: – Death: – Period: Occupation: Warrior Minamoto no Yorimitsu Minamoto no Yorimitsu (源 頼光) has ties to the creature known as the Shuten-dōji. In this tale he learns that this Yokai has captured several maidens, and so he takes a band of men with him in an attempt to[...]

Hashi-Hime Hashi-Hime (橋姫) is a is a is a type of Yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki by Toriyama Sekien. Notes by Sekien state this creature has a shrine next to the Uji Bridge in Yamashiro Province. Tales of her can be found in the Tale of the[...]

Shuten-dōji Shuten-dōji (酒呑童子) is a is a is a type of Yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki by Toriyama Sekien. This creature is said to live on Mount Ōe where he keeps his treasure pile. Upon this mountain he also steal from travellers passing over it. He is[...]

Sansei Sansei (山精 – Mountain Spirit) is a type of Yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki and the Wakan Sansai Zue. It is stated as a type of mountain Oni, dwelling in Anguo, China. The creature is humanoid in appearance, but only has one leg. The Wakan Sansai[...]

Oni The Oni (鬼) are a type of Yōkai depicted in the Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki by Toriyama Sekien. They are generally portrayed as enormous muscular creatures with either red or green skin, as well as having horns. They are said to wear loincloths or tiger-pelt togas, are known as[...]

Nihon Ryōiki The Nihon Ryōiki (日本霊異記 – A Record of Strange Ghostly Happenings in Japan) is an old piece of Japanese literature. Yōkai Within its collections it contains the story surrounding the Yōkai known as the Gagoze. It tells of a farmer finding a ‘thunder child’ in a storm. For[...]

Gagoze The Gagoze (元興寺, also known as Gangoji) is a type of Yōkai, depicted in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō and Hyakkai Zukan. He is a kind of bogeyman from and is still used in Tokushima Prefecture and Awaji Shima to scare crying children into being quiet. The Kanji used to[...]