Shuten-dōji

demon · Japan · East Asia and Pacific

Leader of oni in Mt. The most powerful oni in Japan, feared as one of Japan's 'Three Great Evil Yokai' (日本三大悪妖怪) alongside Tamamo-no-Mae and Emperor Sutoku. His name 'Shuten' means 'sake drinker' - he's called the 'King of Drinking' for his legendary love of alcohol. He commanded hundreds of oni from his mountain stronghold, kidnapping young women from Kyoto to serve as his concubines or be devoured at his gruesome banquets. In the 14th-century Ōeyama Ekotoba scroll, he was identified by diviner Abe no Seimei as the culprit behind the disappearances. The Emperor commissioned Minamoto no Yorimi

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