Ibaraki-dōji 茨木童子

Ibaraki-dōji (茨木童子) is the feared chief lieutenant of the demon king Shuten-dōji—a brutal, high-ranking Oni who is as famous for his tactical cunning as he is for his terrifying strength.

Meaning and Origin

The name Ibaraki (茨木) refers to a “Thorn Tree,” and Dōji (童子) means “Boy” or “Child.”

His origin is often linked to the village of Ibaraki in Osaka. Legend says he was born a beautiful human child, but his teeth grew in prematurely, and he was so strong that he accidentally killed his wet nurse with a single squeeze. Terrified of his own nature, he fled to the mountains where he met Shuten-dōji. The two formed a blood-bond, and Ibaraki became the “Right Hand” of the demon army on Mount Ōe. He represents the Monstrous Apprentice, the loyal retainer who is just as dangerous as his master.

Characteristics

Ibaraki-dōji is typically depicted as a muscular demon with one or two horns and long, wild hair. Unlike the bumbling “cannon-fodder” demons, Ibaraki is shown as a Warrior-Demon, wearing fine armor and wielding a massive iron club (Kanabō).

His most defining characteristic is his Shape-shifting. He was the “spy” of the demon king, able to transform into a beautiful woman or an old man to infiltrate the capital and scout for victims. He is also famous for his Persistence; even after being defeated or maimed, he would spend years plotting his revenge, showing a level of long-term thinking that is rare among Yokai.

Legends

Ibaraki-dōji’s most famous legend is his encounter with Watanabe no Tsuna at the Rashōmon (or Ichijō Modoribashi). Tsuna managed to sever Ibaraki’s arm in a fierce duel. The demon fled, but later used his magic to return disguised as Tsuna’s Nurse. Through trickery, he reclaimed his arm and escaped back to Mount Ōe.

Another legend says that after the death of Shuten-dōji, Ibaraki was the only survivor of the massacre. He spent the rest of his immortal life wandering the mountains, sometimes appearing as a wise hermit to test the virtue of traveling monks. He is remembered not just as a monster, but as a guardian of the “old ways” of the forest, a bridge between the human world of law and the demon world of nature.