Japanese Ogre Emoji 👹: What It Means + How It’s Used

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Plus, learn about the oni 👹 and tengu 👺 in Japanese folklore

Co-authored by Sydney Bermudez and Dan Hickey

Last Updated: May 11, 2026 Fact Checked

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Meanings

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How to Use

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Why does it exist?

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Similar Emojis

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In Japanese Folklore

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Video

The ogre emoji 👹 is one of the creepiest creatures available on your emoji keyboard, but what’s the actual lore behind this monster? And how do you use this emoji anyway? The ogre is actually an oni, or a demonic Japanese folklore monster, but it often represents a generic monster or scary costume outside of Japan. In this article, we’ll explain exactly what the emoji means and how to use it, plus share some fascinating history about the oni in Japan.

What’s the demon face mask emoji? 👹

The demon face mask or ogre emoji 👹 represents an oni, a demonic figure in Japanese folklore. Outside of Japan, it’s commonly used to represent monsters, demons, or scary costumes more generally. You can use the emoji to talk about Japanese culture and myths, spooky creatures, or Halloween costumes.

Section 1 of 5:

What does the ogre emoji 👹 mean?

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The ogre emoji 👹 depicts an oni (a Japanese folk monster). Most people don’t realize this emoji isn’t just any creepy monster—it’s actually an oni, or a Japanese folklore creature. On most platforms, it appears as a red face or mask with fangs, 2 horns, and dark hair.^{[1]
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Research source} The oni is a popular figure in Japanese legends, similar to an ogre or a demon. Depending on the myth, they can be scary agents of evil and chaos, or bringers of prosperity.^{[2]
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- “Be good tonight, or the oni will get you! 👹”
- “The oni in this manga aren’t even scary! 🙄👹”
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The 👹 emoji can also represent other monsters and spooky things. Outside of Japan, the ogre emoji 👹 represents any kind of general scary monster, like ghouls, goblins, demons, or devils. It can also symbolize a scary mask someone might wear on Halloween or to a costume party to dress up as a terrifying creature.^{[3]
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- “I still need a costume for tonight! 👹👻”
- “Who’s up for a horror movie tonight? 👹🎦”

Section 2 of 5:

Using the Ogre Emoji 👹

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Use the 👹 emoji when you’re discussing Japanese folklore. Japan has a rich history of mythology and folktales that are filled with deities, spirits, and monsters. Use the 👹 emoji to reference the oni specifically, or Japanese legends in general:
- “I’m a big fan of Japanese culture and folklore 🇯🇵🏯👹”
- “My favorite monster is the ONI!!! 👹😱”
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Send the 👹 emoji to talk about your favorite spooky creatures. Whether you’re a horror movie buff, a Halloween fanatic, or just interested in ghouls, goblins, and scary stories, the ogre emoji 👹 is the perfect addition to your texts to show off your sinister side. Use it to share your love of monsters, talk about the costume you’re planning, or just share your adoration of all things monsters:
- “I’m so psyched for Halloween! 🎃👹🍭”
- “We need more old-school monster movies! 👹 They don’t make ‘em like they used to.”

Section 3 of 5:

Why is there an ogre emoji?

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Emojis originated in Japan, so many emojis depict Japanese culture. The Japanese pioneered emojis in the 90s as cell phones became more common, so it makes sense that there are a ton of Japan-specific ones. Some are globally familiar, like sushi 🍣 or Mt. Fuji 🗻, while others are more niche, like the oni 👹. When the first globally accessible emoji keyboard was introduced in 2011, many of the mainstream emojis from Japan were grandfathered in.^{[4]
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- This explains why emojis generally have a Japanese flavor, although more countries are working to get representation on your emoji keyboard, too!
- The ogre emoji was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 with the name “Japanese Ogre.” It was added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.

Section 4 of 5:

Similar Emojis

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The goblin emoji, or tengu 👺 Like the oni emoji 👹, the goblin emoji depicts a creature from Japanese folklore called the tengu. The emoji looks like an angry red mask with a very long nose, angry eyes, bushy eyebrows, and a mustache. In Japanese myth, the tengu is a mischievous trickster figure similar to a troll, ghoul, or goblin who often disguises itself as a priest or holy figure to trick unsuspecting humans. In some depictions, they have wings and can fly. The emoji is often used to show feelings of anger, aggression, or naughty behaviour.^{[5]
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- “Me anytime my ex pops up on my feed 👺”
- “I can’t wait for him to stumble into my prank! 👺😆🤷”
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Other monster emojis The oni and tengu are not the only ghoulish beings in your emoji keyboard! Check out these creepy emojis to send a shiver down your friend’s spine when they open your text:
- Skull 💀 or skull-and-crossbones ☠️
- Alien 👽 or alien monster 👾
- Vampire 🧛, bat 🦇, or coffin ⚰️
- Troll 🧌
- Ghost 👻
- Dragon 🐉 or dragon face 🐲
- Zombie 🧟
- Screaming face 😱
- Spider 🕷️ or spider web 🕸️
- Smiling devil 😈 or frowning devil 👿

Section 5 of 5:

The Oni in Japanese Folklore

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Oni are supernatural figures in Japanese culture. According to urban legends expert Sydney Bermudez, oni are horned, ogre-like demons that are often depicted with red or blue skin and iron clubs.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Sydney Bermudez
Urban Legends Expert

Expert Interview} They’re usually depicted as giant beings with great strength, and typically only have 3 toes and 3 fingers (and sometimes 3 eyes). They’ve also got monstrously large fangs and frequently wear tiger-skin loincloths. Most oni are depicted as masculine, but there are also feminine oni called kijo (“oni woman”).^{[7]
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- It’s unclear exactly where oni come from. It’s believed they originally represented humans’ fear of the natural elements, like lightning and earthquakes, or that they were evil spirits from deep in the mountains.
- In folklore, Bermudez says oni represent punishment and chaos, especially in Buddhist-influenced tales of hell, though some stories portray them as protective figures.^{[8]
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  Sydney Bermudez
  Urban Legends Expert
  
  Expert Interview}
- Oni are troublemakers—sometimes cannibalistic, evil, and destructive, and sometimes more like mischievous pranksters (depending on the tale).
- Oni are still a part of modern Japanese culture. During the Setsubun festival each February, participants wear oni masks (like the emoji!) while their family members hurl beans at them. The tradition is meant to drive away oni and other malicious forces and usher in good luck for the spring.^{[9]
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- Oni are also a part of today’s pop culture, appearing as ghoulish antagonists in anime like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, or even as cuddly goofballs in the more kid-friendly series Oni: Thunder God's Tale. Well-known classics like Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away also feature characters with oni-like traits!
EXPERT TIP

Sydney Bermudez
Urban Legends Expert
Sydney Bermudez is a horror content creator and Mexican folklore and urban legends expert. Sydney is a storyteller, who crafts engaging narratives that explore paranormal cases, internet mysteries, and psychological horror. She shares content on TikTok and Instagram to over 400k followers. Sydney specializes in horror storytelling, Mexican folklore, creepy pastas and urban legends, and is interested in how horror intersects with pop culture, social media trends, and modern myth-making. Her videos have received over 12 million likes on TikTok, with some videos reaching over 10 million views.

Sydney Bermudez
Urban Legends Expert

Oni are a type of supernatural creature called yokai. Yokai exist on a moral spectrum; some are terrifying, while others are mischievous or friendly. Examples include oni (ogre-like demons) and tengu (bird-like beings). They often serve as explanations for strange events, fears, or moral lessons.