Teito Monogatari

nihongo|"Teito Monogatari"|帝都物語| is a massive Japanese epic written by Hiroshi Aramata in 1971. It was eventually made into three live action movies: "" (1987), "Teito Taisen" (1989), and "Teito Monogatari Gaiden" (1995). There was also a four-part OVA anime which was ported to the US under the title "Doomed Megalopolis" (1991).

Plot summary

The novel provides a twist to the conventional Oni myth. The villain of the story, Yasunori Kato, is actually an Onmyoji, a Ying Yang Master who traditionally practices in exorcising evil Oni. However Kato's personality is so wicked, and his magic so twisted and black, that he seems to unintentionally become the new demon of Japan. Just as the narrative at the beginning of the "Doomed Megalopolis" (the anime version of Teito Monogatari) classifies Kato as "...a creature squirming between light and dark, but men shall learn to call him ONI." The implication Aramata was attempting to make here was that rise of militarism occurring in Japan around the early 20th century was dehumanizing men, making the country a nation full of barbaric and immoral demons.