Assassin (Shuten-dōji)

A mythical oni that lived atop the mountain of Ooe, near Kyoto. According to at least one legend, Shuten was the child of the famous Yamata no Orochi, after it had fled after it’s crushing defeat at the hands of Susanoo.

It was said that Shuten was so pretty, that all the girls flocked around him with piles of love letters which he burned. The smoke from these letters enveloped him and he transformed into an oni. It was also told that any woman who approached him would be cursed to die.

Another tale tells, that whilst out-drinking every person at a festival, he placed a mask over his head and found he could not remove it, thus transforming into a monster.

He was close friends with Ibaraki-doji but some speculate that Ibaraki was actually female and also his lover. Shuten was also one of the three most evil Youkai in Japan along with the ghost of Emperor Sutoku and the kitsune Tamamo no Mae.

He and his allies settled upon Ooe and devoured the flesh of noble maidens, until he was beheaded by the great Minamoto no Yorimitsu who had drugged his alcohol.