OVA
Description
Aotabou, known in his human guise as Kurata, stands as the Nura Clan's physically strongest yōkai. His epithet, "the degenerate priest who wears the iron blue robe," reflects his distinctive appearance: brown skin, white hair, an iron-blue robe beneath a black cloak featuring a cream-colored furry collar. Crucially, he wears a white skull rosary to suppress his immense strength; removing it transforms him into a Demon God (Kishin), unleashing overwhelming power at the cost of his humanity.
His origins lie in a past life as a warrior monk condemned for killing a thousand warriors. Nearing execution, a holy man intervened, advising Aotabou that regaining his humanity required saving one life for each taken. He dedicated himself to protecting war-orphaned children, but bandits attacked their sanctuary. Slaughtering these attackers shattered his path to redemption, irrevocably forging him into a demon god.
Serving the Nura Clan for centuries, Aotabou participated in the Hyakki Yakō (Night Parades) under both Nurarihyon and his son Rihan. He later became a caretaker for Rihan's son, Rikuo, enduring the young heir's frequent pranks. Four years before the series' main events, he aided in rescuing humans during a school bus incident involving the Gagoze Alliance. Since then, he has operated undercover as the human student "Kurata" at Ukiyoe Middle School, protecting Rikuo alongside Tsurara (Yuki Onna) in her human disguise.
Aotabou demonstrates unwavering loyalty across conflicts. During the Gyūki Arc, he reveals his true identity to Rikuo and forms the "Blood Night Hyakki Yakō" biker gang to bolster the clan's presence. He physically intervenes to rescue allies like Kana and Yura from threats such as the Kyūso Clan. In the Shikoku Arc, he battles adversaries like Tearai Oni and thwarts assassination attempts against Rikuo. His most notable contributions occur in the Kyōto Arc, safeguarding the Kiyojūji Paranormal Investigation Squad at the Keikain main house. When Shōkera and his underlings endanger the squad—specifically targeting Kana and others for sacrifice—Aotabou's rage triggers the release of his rosary, enabling him to obliterate Shōkera in a single strike.
His combat techniques leverage the rosary's power: *Gōriki Raisan* (剛力礼讃) removes it to unleash full demonic strength, while *Katsu* (喝) uses it to emit energy inducing sleep in humans, aiding covert operations. His mythological connection to the deity Shōmen Kongō designates him a natural enemy to yōkai like Shōkera, who report human sins to heaven.
Following the Kyōto conflict, Aotabou ascends to an executive position within the Nura Clan's upper echelons, formalizing his role as a key strategist and enforcer in the clan's hierarchy.
His origins lie in a past life as a warrior monk condemned for killing a thousand warriors. Nearing execution, a holy man intervened, advising Aotabou that regaining his humanity required saving one life for each taken. He dedicated himself to protecting war-orphaned children, but bandits attacked their sanctuary. Slaughtering these attackers shattered his path to redemption, irrevocably forging him into a demon god.
Serving the Nura Clan for centuries, Aotabou participated in the Hyakki Yakō (Night Parades) under both Nurarihyon and his son Rihan. He later became a caretaker for Rihan's son, Rikuo, enduring the young heir's frequent pranks. Four years before the series' main events, he aided in rescuing humans during a school bus incident involving the Gagoze Alliance. Since then, he has operated undercover as the human student "Kurata" at Ukiyoe Middle School, protecting Rikuo alongside Tsurara (Yuki Onna) in her human disguise.
Aotabou demonstrates unwavering loyalty across conflicts. During the Gyūki Arc, he reveals his true identity to Rikuo and forms the "Blood Night Hyakki Yakō" biker gang to bolster the clan's presence. He physically intervenes to rescue allies like Kana and Yura from threats such as the Kyūso Clan. In the Shikoku Arc, he battles adversaries like Tearai Oni and thwarts assassination attempts against Rikuo. His most notable contributions occur in the Kyōto Arc, safeguarding the Kiyojūji Paranormal Investigation Squad at the Keikain main house. When Shōkera and his underlings endanger the squad—specifically targeting Kana and others for sacrifice—Aotabou's rage triggers the release of his rosary, enabling him to obliterate Shōkera in a single strike.
His combat techniques leverage the rosary's power: *Gōriki Raisan* (剛力礼讃) removes it to unleash full demonic strength, while *Katsu* (喝) uses it to emit energy inducing sleep in humans, aiding covert operations. His mythological connection to the deity Shōmen Kongō designates him a natural enemy to yōkai like Shōkera, who report human sins to heaven.
Following the Kyōto conflict, Aotabou ascends to an executive position within the Nura Clan's upper echelons, formalizing his role as a key strategist and enforcer in the clan's hierarchy.