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The Red Head is a minor demon encountered in Ōkamiden. A more difficult version appears later as the Blue Head. The Red Head is first encountered in the Underground Ruins, and it is most often found around areas accessible only by using Guidance. When Chibiterasu guides one of his partners near the demon, it will grab the partner and run about, tossing them harmlessly in its jaws. It is a bright red lion mask with yellow lining. It has a tan mane and floats in a cloud of purple gas, likely demonic essence.

Background[]

Red Heads were originally costume lion heads that were used as part of some festivals; by some manner, however, they gained demonic life and sentience of their own. They harbor an unexplained hatred towards humans as well as an insatiable hunger for them.[1]

Bestiary Entry[]

  1. "Costume lion heads used during certain festivals that now have life of their
    own. For some reason, they despise humans, and seek to devour
    them with voracious mouths that can never be sated."

Strategy[]

Red Heads are easily dealt with, but only when they are open to attack. In their normal, passive state, they are immune to any form of attack. When they kidnap a partner, though, they become susceptible to any kind of attack by Chibiterasu, whether from Celestial Brush techniques or Divine Instruments. The Providence Crystal is the best Divine Instrument for Chibiterasu use against it, as the Red Head is usually too far away for any other type to reach.

Trivia[]

  • The Red Head is likely based on a shishi-gashira (lion head), the head of the costumes used in the Shishi-mai (lion dance), a traditional dance which originated in China and became part of Japanese tradition as well. The costumes are operated by one or two people and feature a large head of lacquered wood, the shishi-gashira. The lion dance itself is sometimes a part of various Shinto religious festivals.
  • The Red Head is based on the Nukekubi, a variant of the Rokurokubi whose heads come off at night to terrorize the country side, and the head's owner will not remember a thing come sunrise.
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