TV-Series
Description
Raijū is a supporting character in Kakuriyo -Bed & Breakfast for Spirits- who serves as one of the more formidable recurring antagonists in the Hidden Realm. He is an ayakashi of the thunder beast race and a high-ranking noble of the demon capital, a status reflected in his appearance. He has gold eyes and long blond hair that falls in front of his face while the rest is tied back into a ponytail, a lightning-shaped tattoo on the left side of his face, pointed ears that tilt slightly downward, and red stud earrings in both ears. His clothing is elegant, consisting of a gold haori worn over a dark blue kosode-like outfit with white tabi, fitting his aristocratic position.
In temperament, Raijū is arrogant, capricious, and fond of chaos. He is impulsive and cruel, and he appears to take genuine pleasure in the suffering of others. The character Hatori describes him as a twisted hedonist with a penchant for impulsive and cruel behavior. He is not merely destructive for its own sake, however; he is also a schemer who operates behind the scenes, alternating between open provocation and subtle manipulation in pursuit of his own amusement and interests.
His background is defined by an ancient betrayal. Three hundred years before the main events of the story, Raijū sabotaged an important ceremony and exposed the true identity of Odanna, the master of the Tenjin-ya inn, directly in front of the Ayakashi King. This act made him a significant antagonist connected to the inn's past. During the course of the story, he carries out schemes in the southern lands, and although those plans are ultimately thwarted by Aoi and her companions, he continues to make unsettling moves afterward, suggesting his ambitions remain unfinished.
His most personal connection is with Byakuya, the bath keeper of Tenjin-ya. The two share a history of bad blood, and Raijū, who is usually composed and overbearing, visibly loses his composure in Byakuya's presence, indicating that Byakuya represents something he cannot easily handle. His relationship with Odanna is shaped by the betrayal of three hundred years earlier, and his dealings with Aoi and the other residents of Tenjin-ya are consistently adversarial. The Ayakashi King is another figure tied to the pivotal events of his past.
In terms of abilities, Raijū controls thunder and lightning and can take on a thunder beast form. According to the light novel, injuries inflicted by his claws while he is in that form are very difficult to heal and carry a curse-like effect that causes his victims to lose spiritual power, making him a dangerous opponent even among powerful ayakashi.
In the anime, Raijū primarily appears as an arrogant and scheming noble whose love of disorder drives his actions. The light novel explores his inner life in greater depth, portraying his betrayal and hostility as rooted in older conflicts, contradictions, and burdens rather than simple malice. His long history of misdeeds eventually catches up with him, and the consequences of his choices continue to influence his role as the story progresses.
In temperament, Raijū is arrogant, capricious, and fond of chaos. He is impulsive and cruel, and he appears to take genuine pleasure in the suffering of others. The character Hatori describes him as a twisted hedonist with a penchant for impulsive and cruel behavior. He is not merely destructive for its own sake, however; he is also a schemer who operates behind the scenes, alternating between open provocation and subtle manipulation in pursuit of his own amusement and interests.
His background is defined by an ancient betrayal. Three hundred years before the main events of the story, Raijū sabotaged an important ceremony and exposed the true identity of Odanna, the master of the Tenjin-ya inn, directly in front of the Ayakashi King. This act made him a significant antagonist connected to the inn's past. During the course of the story, he carries out schemes in the southern lands, and although those plans are ultimately thwarted by Aoi and her companions, he continues to make unsettling moves afterward, suggesting his ambitions remain unfinished.
His most personal connection is with Byakuya, the bath keeper of Tenjin-ya. The two share a history of bad blood, and Raijū, who is usually composed and overbearing, visibly loses his composure in Byakuya's presence, indicating that Byakuya represents something he cannot easily handle. His relationship with Odanna is shaped by the betrayal of three hundred years earlier, and his dealings with Aoi and the other residents of Tenjin-ya are consistently adversarial. The Ayakashi King is another figure tied to the pivotal events of his past.
In terms of abilities, Raijū controls thunder and lightning and can take on a thunder beast form. According to the light novel, injuries inflicted by his claws while he is in that form are very difficult to heal and carry a curse-like effect that causes his victims to lose spiritual power, making him a dangerous opponent even among powerful ayakashi.
In the anime, Raijū primarily appears as an arrogant and scheming noble whose love of disorder drives his actions. The light novel explores his inner life in greater depth, portraying his betrayal and hostility as rooted in older conflicts, contradictions, and burdens rather than simple malice. His long history of misdeeds eventually catches up with him, and the consequences of his choices continue to influence his role as the story progresses.