Yasunori Kato

Yasunori Katō (加藤保憲) is the villain of the Japanese literary epic Teito Monogatari (Hiroshi Aramata).

Origin

In the story, Kato is an evil Onmyoji who was supposedly crafted from the resentful souls of the ancient mystics who lived during the Heian era. This dark sorcerer is possessed of enormous power, almost destroying the entire Tsuchimikado Clan in a single night.

In the original novel, Kato is supposed to be a reincarnation of Taira no Masakado himself, who (in the story) had cursed the city of Edo just before his death. Kato is that curse, and although he doesn't know it, he is also Masakado. Thus, he's the reincarnation of Masakado mingled with the power of the Onmyoji, and having the presence of Yama, the God of Death.

Villainous traits

His characteristics of passion and resentment are portrayed in such a manner, that he bears a striking personality resemblance to Satan from the epic poem Paradise Lost. What's engaging about his character is the realistic manner in which his personality is displayed. He is a veritable bully in every sense of the word, and abuses and tortures any opponent who dares stand up to him. His credo of capturing and torturing women and killing the men who protect them makes him the archetypal image of a savage barbarian. Obviously, the military outfit he wears symbolizes his connection with Japan's army during the Second World War. Kato is most likely a symbol of Japan's conversion from tradition to militarism during the Second World War. In the final chapter of the anime, Kato's evil and anger is destroyed by Keiko through her counteracting love of the mother. Keiko, knowing that even Kato needed love, managed to use her light and love of her adopted family to "balance" the karma that Kato created. His fate is that he willingly goes to the underworld with his consort, his spirit cleansed of rage.

Kato Yasunori, claims to be a descendent of Seimei. Since it is believed that Abe no Seimei never passed on his characteristics to following generations, Kato is more credibly the descendent of the most powerful onmyoji in history. According to plot of Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis, Kato is supposed to really be the culmination of the dead, resentful souls of the onmyoji, striking out against the foreign invaders of Japan during the 1920s. Since Kato possesses so much power in the magic of onmyodo, it could even be inferred that he is actually an incarnation of Seimei's dark side.

Film versions of "Teito Monogatari"

In every film version of "Teito Monogatari" that has ever come to the screen, Kato has always been portrayed by the Japanese stage actor Kyasaku Shimada. Both the anime Doomed Megalopolis and the live-action movie share the same story following Kato's creation and his initial attempts to destroy Tokyo by awakening the spirit of Taira no Masakado and disturbing the Underground Dragon. The film Teito Taisen, a live action adaptation of the ending sections of Teito Monogatari, displays Kato's resurrection in 1945 and his subsequent demise at the hands of a young, psychic apprentice of the Onmyoji. His disembodied spirit returns (meaning Kyasaku Shimada did not portray him) in a third live action movie, Teito Monogatari Gaiden, wherein he possesses the body of a mental hospital patient during 1995. His motives are more unclear here, however he is once again subdued through the actions of the shrine maiden, Keiko Mieko.

Trivia

* Kato has also been compared to Dracula in many cases, with the plot of Teito Monogatari being a Japanese retelling of the famous horror story.
* Kato also makes an appearance as the main villain of the movie Yokai Daisenso (2005). Since Hiroshi Aramata was one of the screenplay writers, he most likely threw this in as a silly homage to the original character.