Ask John: What is the Japanese Concept of Demon?

Question:
What is the Japanese concept of demon? Sometime demons seem somewhat akin to the Western concept of an evil bat wing creature. Other times they appear more like spirits, not always evil but a good idea to stay away from. In Urusei Yatsura episode 6 it is stated that demons are Western, yet Inuyasha is full of demons. Ryoko is called a demon summoner, but the one time she summons something it appears to be more elemental than something from the lower planes. But in the second Tenchi movie the character Yuzuha comes close to the traditional concept of demon. In the series Saiyuki demons are often portrayed as good and noble people.

Answer:
In fact, from a very literal sense, the statement in Urusei Yatsura that demons are Western is accurate. Japanese mythology has an abundance of evil spirits, monsters and ghosts, but the use of the term “demon” to broadly refer to an evil spirit is a Western concept. Traditional Japanese ghouls and evil apparitions commonly fall into distinct categories and varieties including tengu, kappa, yurei, and oni. Tengu are magic using mountain monsters with long noses and small wings. Kappa are water imps with bald skulls and duck bills. Yurei are white clad ghosts most commonly depicted without feet. Oni are ogres with horns that wear tiger skins and carry iron clubs. Of course, there are far more. The Western concept of “demon” can refer to virtually any malicious, supernatural being. Japanese folklore is much more precise about categorizing and distinguishing the exact characteristics of different types of monsters and spirits, and giving them specific names.

In the anime that’s presented to English speakers, the representation of demons is a mixture of multi-cultural Japanese and Western cultures, and the result of English translations. The “demons” of Gensomaden Saiyuki, for example, are clearly influenced by contemporary fiction and Western depictions of vampires and monsters that resemble humans. In other cases, what English speakers read or hear in the translation may not be exactly what was spoken in the Japanese dialogue. English translations may intentionally use the less literal, vague term “demon” in place of specific Japanese terms like “akuma” or “oni” to make the translation easier for English speakers to comprehend. In such cases, the original anime isn’t referring to some vague evil being but rather a very specific type of creature, but the English translation may not be literal enough to clarify that distinction.