Sekiro: 7 Weirdest Enemies (And What They Represent)

Just as Tesso is a part of the supernatural tales of Japan, Oni, rather loosely identified as ogres, are ingrained into the folklore of the country, too.

Whilst Oni are often depicted as red-skinned demons with tusks, this ogre is curiously free of any such markers of a classic monster - instead defined by his entrapment in a wooden pillory that serves as a pretty hardcore necklace when he smashes his way free.

The Oni of legend are often regarded as those that will dish out punishments to people that were wicked in life, making Sekiro's shameful death and quest for redemption ripe for this chained ogre's ceaseless attacks. It would explain why he wanted to break free to beat the crap out of Wolf, and we could say his red eyes are symbolic of expelling demons or disease. Dragonrot, anyone?

In modern iterations of Oni however, they can be portrayed as protectors, used at the front of parades and painted on rooftops to ward away bad omens. As this ogre is chained up pretty tightly around the outskirts of Ashina, perhaps it was there as a last-ditch effort to protect the area, before being tied up for its own good.