ONIKUMA

Lore

Onikuma, the "demon bear," belongs to that class of animals which, once they reach an extreme age or size, cross over into the supernatural. Legend tells of an incident in the Kiso Valley of present-day Nagano Prefecture, where an abnormally large bear was killed: when its hide was stretched flat on the ground, it covered roughly 100 square feet.

The animal's unusual size made the locals feel threatened, so they declared it not merely a rare specimen but a demonic creature. It is said to be capable of walking on two legs like a man, possessing a terrifying bipedal silhouette that haunts the treeline at dusk. This posture allows it to use its massive forepaws for tasks no ordinary animal could achieve.

Its strength is legendary, with tales describing the beast shoving multi-ton boulders down into the valley to block paths or crush intruders. At night, it is known for raiding settlements, effortlessly hauling bulls and horses out of their stalls. One such boulder, now called the "Onikuma Stone," is still shown today as tangible proof of the predator's mythic power.

While some historical records liken the Onikuma to an unusually large northern brown bear, the local folklore views it as an entirely hostile and intelligent force of nature. Because of its taste for livestock and its unpredictable aggression, villagers believe the only solution when an Onikuma is near is to hunt and kill the beast outright before it claims more lives.