Otakemaru 大嶽丸

Otakemaru (大嶽丸), the “King of the Great Peak,” is one of the three most powerful Yokai in Japanese history—a god-like demon who ruled the Suzuka Mountains with a trio of magical swords and the power to command the very elements.

Meaning and Origin

The name means O (Great), Take (Peak/Mountain), and Maru (a common suffix for names). It translates to “The Great Mountain Peak.”

His origin lies in the Heian period legends of the Suzuka Mountains. Unlike others who were born as humans, Otakemaru is often described as a Kijin (Demon-God) who existed since ancient times. He established a fortress on Mount Arachi and refused to acknowledge the authority of the Emperor. He represents the Primal Resistance of the wilderness against the encroaching rule of human law. He is considered one of the “Great Three” evil Yokai, alongside Shuten-dōji and Tamamo-no-Mae.

Characteristics

Otakemaru was a colossal being, often described as towering over the trees. He possessed three legendary magical swords: Kenkon-ken, Kenzan-ken, and Shōshō-ken, which allowed him to control fire, lightning, and wind.

His primary characteristic is his Divine Might. He was not just a brute; he was a master of high-level sorcery. He could transform his appearance, summon armies of ghost-warriors, and create impenetrable mists that could swallow whole regiments of samurai. He was so powerful that the Emperor’s armies were defeated multiple times, leading the court to believe that Otakemaru was truly invincible.

Legends

The central legend is the “Subjugation of Suzuka Mountain” by the general Sakanoue no Tamuramaro. Finding that his weapons were useless against the demon, Tamuramaro sought the help of the goddess Suzuka Gozen (who was herself a powerful sorceress and sometimes’s Otakemaru’s rival).

Through a combination of divine trickery and Tamuramaro’s legendary archery, they managed to steal Otakemaru’s magical swords and eventually beheaded him. Legend says his head was so heavy it caused an earthquake when it hit the ground. Even after death, his spirit was so strong that it traveled to India and later returned to Japan to haunt the northern province of Mutsu. To this day, his legend is celebrated in the Nebuta Festivals, where massive floats of his terrifying face are paraded through the streets to ward off lesser evil spirits.