Youzou Torii is the South Edo Magistrate during the Tenpō era, holding the title Lord of "Kai." He staunchly backs Chief Elder Mizuno Tadakuni's Tenpō Reforms, enforcing strict societal rules amidst famine and unrest. Operating within the Shogunate's hierarchy, Torii engages in political schemes against rivals such as North Edo Magistrate Tōyama Kagemoto and financial magistrate Atobe Yoshisuke. He commands a covert group under the South Edo Magistrate's office, mirroring the Ayashi's monster-hunting activities but pursuing distinct objectives. This group employs artificially bred Yokai-like creatures as a task force against supernatural threats; these entities are created by his relative Matsue Sote, who gained creature-breeding abilities after returning from the "Other World." Torii's methods involve espionage and manipulation, utilizing retainers like Honjō Tatsusuke for intelligence gathering and covert operations against political opponents. His faction represents government interests viewing foreign influences and Western studies (rangaku) as threats to Japan's stability, leading to conflicts with scholars and the Ayashi group. Torii demonstrates a specific interest in Ryūdō Yukiatsu's unique Ayagami power to draw out true names and form weapons, though his motivations regarding Yukiatsu remain undisclosed. As a key antagonist, Torii leverages political authority and supernatural resources to advance his agenda amid escalating Yōi attacks and government corruption. In the "Ayashi Divine Comedy" OVA, set six months after the main events, Torii's influence persists as the Ayashi confront new conspiracies and supernatural threats tied to his machinations. His actions consistently position him as an obstruction to the Bansha Aratamesho group, reflecting broader power struggles within the Shogunate government during this turbulent period.