As monstrous as oni are, they have been linked to bringing good fortune and wealth. When in disguise, oni are capable of appearing as a man or woman, regardless of their gender. Female oni are sometimes referred to by the name Yamauba. Oni can be male or female, but have been predominantly male throughout history. Oni are able to change their looks to fool their victims into trusting them. They also have three to six digits on each hand and foot tipped with claw-like nails. They are typically depicted with red, blue, black, or yellow colored skin, wearing loincloths of tiger pelt, and carrying iron kanabō clubs. They are typically portrayed as hulking figures with one or more horns growing out of their heads, massive teeth, and occasionally a third eye in the center of the forehead.
Oni are known for their superhuman strength and have been associated with powers like thunder and lightning, along with their evil nature manifesting in their propensity for murder and cannibalism. They are believed to live in caves or deep in the mountains.
An oni ( 鬼 （ おに ）) ( / oʊ n i/ OH-nee) is a kind of yōkai, demon, orc, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore.
