TV-Series
Description
Aotabō, also known by his human alias Kurata, is a prominent yōkai from the Nura Clan who is recognized as the physically strongest member of the household. His epithet, "the degenerate priest who wears the iron blue robe," refers to his typical attire, which consists of an iron blue robe worn under a black cloak with a cream-colored furry collar. He has a tall and muscular build, brown skin, and white hair, and he is often seen in the company of his close associate Kurotabō, with the two of them serving as the assault officers of the Nura Clan.
Aotabō's backstory is central to understanding his character. Long before joining the Nura Clan, he was a warrior monk who was arrested after killing a thousand warriors. While on the verge of execution, a holy man offered him a path to redemption, telling him that he could regain his humanity by saving one life for each of the sins he had committed; otherwise, he would transform into a demon god. Aotabō dedicated himself to protecting children who had lost their parents to war, but when bandits attacked the home where he and the children were staying, he slaughtered the intruders. This act of violence caused him to lose all hope of becoming human again, and he instead became a demon god, or Kishin.
In terms of personality, Aotabō demonstrates unwavering loyalty to the Nura Clan and its heirs. He has served under Nurarihyon and Rihan Nura for centuries, and he took on the role of a caretaker for the young Rikuo Nura, often falling victim to the boy's pranks. This protective instinct drives his primary motivation in the present timeline: to safeguard Rikuo and, by extension, the human friends who are unaware of his supernatural heritage. To fulfill this mission, he poses as a high school student named Kurata alongside Yuki Onna, who disguises herself as Tsurara Oikawa. While he initially follows orders given by the clan's supreme commander, he eventually makes the personal decision to pledge his allegiance directly to Rikuo and become a member of his personal Hyakki Yakō, or night parade of a hundred demons.
Aotabō's role in the story is predominantly that of a bodyguard and frontline fighter. He is present during the Gyūki Arc, where he helps rescue Rikuo and his classmates from rogue yōkai, and he later forms a biker gang called the Blood Night Hyakki Yakō. During the Shikoku Arc, he battles the powerful yōkai Tearai Oni and ultimately saves his opponent from being killed. In the Kyoto Arc, which is the focus of the Demon Capital anime season, he travels to Kyoto with the Kiyojūji Paranormal Investigation Squad to protect them. When the yōkai Shōkera and his underlings attack the Keikain house, Aotabō puts the human members of the squad to sleep to shield them from danger before joining the battle. His rage is fully unleashed when the enemy threatens to harm Kana Ienaga and other human friends, leading him to destroy Shōkera with a single, devastating blow.
Aotabō's key relationships are primarily within the Nura Clan. His partnership with Kurotabō is notable, as the two are frequently depicted fighting side-by-side as the clan's assault officers. He also shares a close bond with Rikuo, having watched over him since the future clan head was a young child. Following the battle in Kyoto, his loyalty and service are rewarded when he ascends to the upper echelons of the Nura Clan, becoming an executive member. This marks a significant development in his character, transitioning from a field operative and bodyguard to a figure of greater authority within the clan's hierarchy.
Regarding his notable abilities, Aotabō's defining characteristic is his immense physical strength. This power is so overwhelming that he wears a white skull rosary around his neck specifically to keep it under control. When he removes the rosary, his power increases dramatically, transforming him into a Demon God, or Kishin, a state in which his full destructive potential is unleashed. In this state, he possesses enough power to kill a high-ranking yōkai like Shōkera in a single hit. One of his known techniques is Gōriki Raisan, which is the act of removing the rosary to release his full demonic strength. Another is Katsu, a spell that uses the rosary's energy to emit a wave that can induce sleep in humans, which is useful for his covert protection duties.
Aotabō's backstory is central to understanding his character. Long before joining the Nura Clan, he was a warrior monk who was arrested after killing a thousand warriors. While on the verge of execution, a holy man offered him a path to redemption, telling him that he could regain his humanity by saving one life for each of the sins he had committed; otherwise, he would transform into a demon god. Aotabō dedicated himself to protecting children who had lost their parents to war, but when bandits attacked the home where he and the children were staying, he slaughtered the intruders. This act of violence caused him to lose all hope of becoming human again, and he instead became a demon god, or Kishin.
In terms of personality, Aotabō demonstrates unwavering loyalty to the Nura Clan and its heirs. He has served under Nurarihyon and Rihan Nura for centuries, and he took on the role of a caretaker for the young Rikuo Nura, often falling victim to the boy's pranks. This protective instinct drives his primary motivation in the present timeline: to safeguard Rikuo and, by extension, the human friends who are unaware of his supernatural heritage. To fulfill this mission, he poses as a high school student named Kurata alongside Yuki Onna, who disguises herself as Tsurara Oikawa. While he initially follows orders given by the clan's supreme commander, he eventually makes the personal decision to pledge his allegiance directly to Rikuo and become a member of his personal Hyakki Yakō, or night parade of a hundred demons.
Aotabō's role in the story is predominantly that of a bodyguard and frontline fighter. He is present during the Gyūki Arc, where he helps rescue Rikuo and his classmates from rogue yōkai, and he later forms a biker gang called the Blood Night Hyakki Yakō. During the Shikoku Arc, he battles the powerful yōkai Tearai Oni and ultimately saves his opponent from being killed. In the Kyoto Arc, which is the focus of the Demon Capital anime season, he travels to Kyoto with the Kiyojūji Paranormal Investigation Squad to protect them. When the yōkai Shōkera and his underlings attack the Keikain house, Aotabō puts the human members of the squad to sleep to shield them from danger before joining the battle. His rage is fully unleashed when the enemy threatens to harm Kana Ienaga and other human friends, leading him to destroy Shōkera with a single, devastating blow.
Aotabō's key relationships are primarily within the Nura Clan. His partnership with Kurotabō is notable, as the two are frequently depicted fighting side-by-side as the clan's assault officers. He also shares a close bond with Rikuo, having watched over him since the future clan head was a young child. Following the battle in Kyoto, his loyalty and service are rewarded when he ascends to the upper echelons of the Nura Clan, becoming an executive member. This marks a significant development in his character, transitioning from a field operative and bodyguard to a figure of greater authority within the clan's hierarchy.
Regarding his notable abilities, Aotabō's defining characteristic is his immense physical strength. This power is so overwhelming that he wears a white skull rosary around his neck specifically to keep it under control. When he removes the rosary, his power increases dramatically, transforming him into a Demon God, or Kishin, a state in which his full destructive potential is unleashed. In this state, he possesses enough power to kill a high-ranking yōkai like Shōkera in a single hit. One of his known techniques is Gōriki Raisan, which is the act of removing the rosary to release his full demonic strength. Another is Katsu, a spell that uses the rosary's energy to emit a wave that can induce sleep in humans, which is useful for his covert protection duties.