Tradition: Japanese Mythology
Alternative Names: Oni Hitokuchi, Kamikakushi
Category: Demon
The Myth
Oni hitokuchi describes an oni that devours a person in a single bite, leaving no trace of the victim behind. When someone disappears suddenly without leaving any evidence, such a disappearance may be attributed to evil spirits. A person carried away by spirits into the other world is said to have experienced kamikakushi, or being spirited away. Some victims eventually return, sometimes many years later and profoundly changed, while others never return at all because they were believed to have been eaten by an oni.
A famous example appears in the Heian-period story collection Ise monogatari. The poet and playboy Ariwara no Narihira desired a beautiful and high-ranking noblewoman named Fujiwara no Takaiko. Because of her social position, the two could not have a legitimate relationship and were forced to conduct their affair secretly.
One night, unhappy with their situation, Narihira secretly entered Takaiko’s room and kidnapped her. He fled with her into the wilderness, but a terrible storm suddenly struck. They found a cave and took shelter inside it. Takaiko remained deep in the cave while Narihira stood guard at the entrance with his bow and arrows.
When morning came and the storm had passed, Narihira went into the cave to retrieve Takaiko. She was gone. An oni living inside the cave had eaten her in a single bite, leaving not even a piece of her behind. Her screams during the night had been completely drowned out by the sound of the storm.
Sources
“Onihitokuchi.” Yokai.com: The Japanese Yokai Encyclopedia. Accessed September 12, 2026. https://yokai.com/onihitokuchi/