Note: Oni - Japanese Demons

The origins of the oni—a creature widely known in Japanese folklore—can be traced back to the Nara period (710–794 CE).During this era, Buddhism became deeply integrated into the state, and oni came to be widely recognized as beings who punish sinners in hell.

Before that time, they were not imagined in their current form.
Rather, they were feared as invisible threats—something ominous and unknowable.
The term oni itself had not yet come into common use.

In the late Heian period (late 11th to 12th century), oni began to appear in stories as creatures that lived deep in the mountains and attacked humans.

However, oni are not purely terrifying figures.
There are tales of oni who help people, and others who are deeply loyal to their companions.

Such portrayals began to appear around the Edo period (1603–1868) and have been passed down to the present day through old folktales and traditional stories.
They also appear in many seasonal customs and rituals.
Today, oni can truly be called an inseparable part of Japanese culture.

For instance, in February, there is a tradition called Setsubun, where people throw beans to drive away oni and bring good fortune.
In Akita Prefecture, there are oni known as Namahage, who visit households to pray for the health of children.

Because of this rich diversity, oni are incredibly versatile and useful in creative works.

Among the most popular forms of oni-related storytelling is the trope of oni taiji—slaying demons.
The image of humans standing up to powerful, overwhelming foes stirs the imagination and resonates emotionally.

That said, humans were never truly a match for oni in direct combat.
While modern works often feature superhuman techniques or magical powers, such concepts didn’t exist in earlier times.

Instead, one method people used in stories was to get the oni drunk by offering them sake.
In the story Like Water, a line from the character Aiha refers to this tradition.

Oni are capable of drinking astonishing amounts.
Although they may sometimes become senseless from overindulgence, they still possess alcohol tolerance far beyond that of humans.

When translating “oni” into English, the terms “demon” or “ogre” are commonly used.
However, neither word fully captures the cultural and historical nuance of oni in Japan.

As of 2025, the most globally recognized portrayal of oni is likely in the anime and manga Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
However, the “oni” in this story share many traits with vampires, which makes them somewhat different from traditional Japanese oni.

That’s not to say that Demon Slayer is wrong—far from it.
Rather, it’s best to approach it with an open mind and simply say, “Well, that’s one kind of oni, too.”

As a brief aside, although the Chinese character “鬼” is written the same, it has a different reading and meaning in Chinese.

In particular, there is a derogatory term used in China to refer to the Japanese: 日本鬼子 (Rìběn guǐzi), literally “Japanese demon.”

Around 2010, when anti-Japanese sentiment spiked, large-scale protests occurred in China.
Many demonstrators carried signs prominently displaying the characters “日本鬼子.”
Images of these signs frequently appeared in online news coverage.

In response to this insult, Japanese internet users created an original character named Hinomoto Oniko (a reading of “日本鬼子”), envisioned as a beautiful and dignified girl.
The goal was to make it look as if the protesters were holding up the name of a cute character.

A peaceful but somewhat mischievous act, wouldn’t you say?

Today, if you search for “日本鬼子,” you’ll mostly see illustrations of this adorable character.
So if you’re trying to understand the term’s original meaning, you might have to dig a little deeper.

As for the term “鬼子” (guizi) itself—though originally intended as a slur—it gives off a powerful and even beautiful impression to me as a Japanese speaker.

If someone wishes to insult something, they must first understand the culture behind it.
And in doing so, they might begin to see its value—and perhaps stop the insults altogether.
That’s the kind of world I hope for.