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Japanese fairy tales    Oni     Tengu     Kitsune     Tanuki     Kami Koremotschi and the Oni Koremotschi was one of the bravest generals of the eleventh century. He was an avid hunter who roamed the wild mountains which were densely covered with maple forests with a small hunting party. The mountains were haunted by evil oni and yokai which lured people into traps and danger. It was out here in these dangerous and lonely mountains that Koremotschi experienced the most miraculous of occurrences. One day while the brave warriors were out hunting Koremotschi saw a gorge under the mountains with a beautiful girl dancing and singing with a group of servants. Koremotschi was astonished by this and sent one of his vassals to ask the pretty girl if he might speak with her. The messenger bore the request to one of the girl’s maids who said that her mistress would be pleased to entertain the excellent samurai. Koremotschi handed his bow to his men then entered the circle of lovely women. The lady told him that he was welcome. Charmed by the very nature of the girls, Koremotschi sat down and listened to the beautiful music which was song in his honor. Their hostess meanwhile handed his men the most delicious foods and wine for dessert. Koremotschi grew so relaxed that he suspected no evil from the girls, and so after some time he and his men fell into a deep sleep due to some evil magic. For the girl was in fact a bloodthirsty oni who had lured the brave samurai to kill him. Now that he had fallen into a magic sleep the oni took his sword and dagger from him. Knowing what had happened the Kami Jalmta Hatschiman, one of the patrons of brave samurai in Japan knew of the danger which had befallen Koremotschi and so laid a sword beside Koremotschi and pulled on his garments to wake him. Koremotschi awoke with great surprise to the twilight sky. The beautiful enchantment which had hidden the identity of the oni had vanished. Seeing the strange sword at his side Koremotschi knew that the kami was with him, so he leapt up with sword in hand. But Jabata’s presence stopped the Oni from coming forward at first. With his sword in his hand Koremotschi attacked the oni, blocking a blow from his heavy club. The oni in his true form was an evil spirit with long tangled hair which fell around his blood-red face.  The two of them entered battle but the yokai knew he could not hold up against the power of the kami’s sword. So he jumped in quickly hoping to strangle his opponent before he could gather himself. But Koremotschi struck with the holy sword, cutting down the goblin. Then he took the oni as a trophy and held it aloft with the sword of the kami in hand. He returned home that night to find his men worried about his late returned and so he was received with great rejoicing and greater praise and wonder as recounted his battle with the oni. They then praised his fame and the kami Zjabata. The news of his adventure soon filled the world and the name of Koremotschi continues to be told to this day.