Oni, ogres and more!

One of the most prevalent creatures in Japanese lore is are the Oni.  Sometimes described as similar to the European ogres in that their general physical appearance, not to mention the lack of intellegence, is similar but that's where the similarities end.  Where are European ogres are huge malevolent brutes with a rather cruel streak that eat humans, Japanese oni are merly large brutes with more muscle than brain.

Oni are generally described as large humanoids, either red, blue or green skinned, with clawed three-fingered hands and feet.  They can have one or two short horns and anywhere from one to three eyes.  They usually only wear a loincloth, often tigerskin, and their weapon of choice is a kanabo.  Oni are almost always depicted as male, as that the female equivilant to an oni is the yamauba or onibaba.

Oni can be cruel and malicious, but generally too stupid to cause much true harm.  They are lecherous, having been said to rape women when they get the chance, and enjoy human flesh.  It is said that someone who commits a great misdeed can become and oni, one of the more famous human to oni converts is Shuten Doji.