demon 鬼 oni

Oni are fearsome demons (devils / ogres) with human proportions, wild hair, tusks and two horns on their heads. They are often seen as the cause of mischief and destruction or spirits of the dead and vengeful. However, Japanese mythology also describes good-natured oni who help ward off evil or who act as guardians in the Buddhist hell. During the setsubun festivities at the beginning of February, the oni are driven away in many places by throwing soybeans at them. The image of the Indian deity yaksha (jap. yasha) which was brought to Japan was decidedly ferocious, and they were incorporated into Japanese culture as a type of oni.