19/08/2023
Around a millennium ago, a gathering of fearsome oni materialized in the shadowy confines of Senjogatake, a rugged expanse within the realm of Mount Oe. Under the enigmatic leadership of the cunning Syuten Doji and supported by the formidable Ibaraki Doji, this malevolent band embarked upon a tumultuous spree that threw the capital city into disarray, evoking widespread terror among its inhabitants. In the aftermath of their audacious escapade, Emperor Ichijo, moved by concern for his subjects' safety, summoned forth the valiant Minamoto Yorimitsu to extinguish the nefarious threat that had emerged.
With resolute determination, Yorimitsu rallied the aid of Fujiwara Yasumasa, a figure renowned for his unwavering valor, and four other stalwart champions whose courage was held in high regard: Watanabe Tuna, Sakata Kintoki, Usui Sadamitsu, and Urabe Suetake. Under the cloak of wandering Buddhist mendicants, they embarked on a covert pilgrimage to the foreboding domain of Mount Oe. Along their arduous journey, they paid homage to the revered Zaogongen atop the venerable Mount Mitake, entreating for divine favor. Following days of navigating treacherous ascents and plunging descents through craggy gorges and towering peaks, they finally found respite beneath the tranquil canopy of a blossoming Sakura tree.
In a moment of unforeseen encounter, three enigmatic figures emerged before them, armed solely with vessels of sake and adorned with helms. With an air of mystique, they divulged that the potent libation possessed the power to strip oni of their supernatural might upon consumption, while conferring medicinal benefits upon humans. Their cryptic message delivered, they vanished as swiftly as they had appeared, leaving behind an aura of intrigue.
As the valiant warriors continued their march through the heart of the forbidding mountains, fate delivered them to a distressing tableau: a woman tending to garments marred by telltale stains of crimson. This unfortunate soul, once captive in the clutches of the nefarious Shuten Doji, became their unexpected guide, steering them toward the inner sanctum of the Oni's fortress. Seeking shelter within its stone walls, they cunningly proposed a revelrous night of merrymaking, thinly veiling their true intentions. At the behest of the discerning Shuten Doji, who saw through their guise, a feast ensued, replete with a curious concoction of blood-laced sake and macabre victuals fashioned from flesh. In a desperate bid to elude detection, the brave champions consumed the grisly offering.
Amidst this unsettling communion, Shuten Doji, driven by a misguided camaraderie, recounted the tale of his desolate existence, yearning for understanding. In a climactic turn of events, the warriors unveiled the enigmatic elixir bequeathed to them by the trio, coaxing Shuten Doji into imbibing its contents. As the potent liquid coursed through his veins, an inebriated haze fell upon him, and in that opportune moment, Yorimitsu's blade found its mark, cleaving the tyrant's head from his formidable form. Yet, in a macabre twist, the severed head of Shuten Doji retaliated, biting into Yorimitsu's own head before succumbing to its final demise. With the malevolent leader's power broken, his reign of terror was brought to a definitive end, and the gallant warriors returned to the heart of the capital Kyoto, triumphant heralds of a dark era's conclusion.
