Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Possibly Immora Oni
Category: Bird

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The Myth

The Inmō Oni is a bird-like yōkai said to inhabit abandoned and neglected temples.

According to the legend, there was once a ruined temple in the castle town of Ina Takatō. Its former head priest, Mugai, had trained at the head temple in Kyoto, but he suddenly lost his sanity. He stopped chanting sutras, wandered aimlessly, and the temple gradually fell into decay.

When an official from the Takatō domain inspected the abandoned temple, he found a strange blue bird, about the size of a chicken, perched upon a wooden fish drum. The creature had long ornamental feathers growing from its head and held a Buddhist sutra in its beak. As soon as it noticed the visitor, it spread its wings and flew wildly around the temple hall.

The mysterious bird was identified as the Inmō Oni, a yōkai said to dwell within ruined temples. Of the priest Mugai, however, there was no trace, leaving only the strange bird as the temple’s silent inhabitant.

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Sources

TYZ. (n.d.). 陰毛鬼 (Inmō Oni). In 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1072742115.html

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