History Literature / TeitoMonogatari

* [[spoiler:BrotherSisterIncest: In an odd twist of fate, this ends up being the reason Kato can't truly control Yukiko and use her to awaken Masakado.]]

* CrossOver: ''[[http://www.gamefaqs.com/neo/583698-quiz-daisousa-sen-part-2-quiz-meintantei-neo-geo Quiz Daisousa Sen Part 2]]'' crosses over the ''Teito Monogatari'' series with UsefulNotes/NeoGeo's quiz game series. In one of the scenarios, the main characters travel back in time and befriend Yukiko. [[spoiler:And then Kato steals their time machine.]]

* FromClonesToGenre: If "Modern day Onmyoji" (like Clamp's popular ''Manga/TokyoBabylon'' series) even qualifies as a genre, then it originated here.

* CutAndPasteTranslation: The English version removed a lot of the cultural context from ''Doomed Megalopolis,'' as they thought it might confuse western audiences. Unfortunately, it just made things even more confusing.

** In the film, they use [[SimpleStaff shakujo staves]] to corner Kato after he has captured Yukari.

* {{Familiar}}: The shikigami and gohou doji.

* TragicHero: Yukio Mishima.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: The art direction in ''Doomed Megalopolis'' makes almost everyone look like they all have purple hair for some reason.

* HypotheticalCasting: Realized in the form of actor Ko Nishimura, who got to play his real life father Dr. Makoto Nishimura in the live action film. Also legendary Kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando V was allowed to portray his favorite author Kyoka Izumi in the live action film as well.

* EpicMovie: At the time, the first film was one of the most expensive Japanese films ever made, almost matching Film/{{Ran}}.

** [[spoiler:Kato himself does not survive the end of ''Doomed Megalopolis'']]

The novels won the Nihon Science Fiction Taisho Award in 1987, have sold around some 4 million copies in Japan alone, and are widely considered the first major work to popularize Onmyodo (Yin Yang) magic and Feng Shui in its native country. Of course the series immense success has resulted in several visual adaptations including films, manga and even a stage adaptation. In Japan, the most well known adaptation is the 1988 live action special effects film ''Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis''. However because western audiences aren't as inviting to [[{{tokusatsu}} Japanese live action special effect heavy films]] (Godzilla excluded), the most known adaptation in the west is the heavily stylized, DarkerAndEdgier 1991 anime adaptation known as ''Doomed Megalopolis''. Both adaptations are (very) abridged adaptations of only the first 1/3rd of the series.

* FollowTheLeader:
** It's believed that Baku Yumemakura's incredibly popular ''Onmyoji'' series (also made into a film of the same name) was written in response to the success of this novel (the first ''Onmyoji'' short story emerged 3 years after ''Teito Monogatari'' started being published).
** Within the franchise itself, the disgusting imagery in ''Doomed Megalopolis'' was most likely inspired by the commercial success of hyper violent, perverse "adult" anime like ''Legend of the Overfiend''. Also, the excessive perverse horror elements in ''Teito Monogatari Gaiden'' were most likely inspired by the commercial success of ''Doomed Megalopolis''.

* {{Onmyodo}}: The first modern fictional novel to popularize onmyodo mysticism in the Japanese media. The whole first portion of the novel is the battle between two rival factions of onmyoji. Only the Tsuchimikado family, the faction that serves the Emperor of Japan, is considered to be the official onmyoji.

A historical fantasy novel series published from 1985-1987, and written by Hiroshi Aramata, '''''Teito Monogatari''''' (literally "Tale of the Imperial Capital") is a retelling of the history of Tokyo from an occultist perspective, beginning with the Meiji Era and going up to the end of the 20th century. Upon his death, the samurai Taira no Masakado cursed the new city and its inhabitants. Over the course of the next hundred years, numerous characters, both fictional and historical, come into conflict with Yasunori Kato, an immortal villain out to harness Masakado's spirit to destroy the city.

* FromClonesToGenre: If "Modern day Onmyoji" (like Clamp's popular ''TokyoBabylon'' series) even qualifies as a genre, then it originated here.

* FengShui: Along with onmyodo magic, it was the first modern fictional work to popularize Feng Shui in the Japanese media. This popular interest would serve as a lead up to the academic feng shui "boom" in 1990's, where many Japanese scholars started studying the practice's influence in the history of their country.

* CrossOver: ''[[http://www.gamefaqs.com/neo/583698-quiz-daisousa-sen-part-2-quiz-meintantei-neo-geo Quiz Daisousa Sen Part 2]]'' crosses over the ''Teito Monogatari'' series with {{Neo Geo}}'s quiz game series. In one of the scenarios, the main characters travel back in time and befriend Yukiko. [[spoiler:And then Kato steals their time machine.]]

The novels won the Nihon Science Fiction Taisho Award in 1987, have sold around some 4 million copies in Japan alone, and are widely considered the first major work to popularize Onmyodo (Yin Yang) magic and Feng Shui in its native country. Of course the series immense success has resulted in several visual adaptations including films, manga and even a stage adaptation. In Japan, the most well known adaptation is the 1988 live action special effects film ''Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis''. However because western audiences aren't as inviting to Japanese live action SPFX films (Godzilla excluded), the most known adaptation in the west is the heavily stylized, DarkerAndEdgier 1991 anime adaptation known as ''Doomed Megalopolis''. Both adaptations are (very) abridged adaptations of only the first 1/3rd of the series.

* DivingSave: In the anime, Hirai does a rather spectacular one to save Kamo from a Kato blast in his apparition on the train station. Unfortunately, Kamo's two bodyguards are not so fast to put themselves out of danger and end eating the attack.

** Kyoka Izumi passes as this in the Western dubs of ''Doomed Megalopolis'', as his name wasn't mentioned in the anime and the dubbers probably didn't a clue about who he was. In the credits, he tend to appear as simply "the fortuneteller" or something like it.

** Kato's servant in the film doesn't have a name, or at least, her name is not mentioned. In the original novel though, her name is Hong Feng.

* RedshirtArmy: Tsuchimikado cultists are pretty much CannonFodder to Kato and his shikigami. More in the film than in the anime, however.

A historical fantasy novel published from 1985-1987, and written by Hiroshi Aramata, '''''Teito Monogatari''''' (literally "Tale of the Imperial Capital") is a retelling of the history of Tokyo from an occultist perspective, beginning with the Meiji Era and going up to the end of the 20th century. Upon his death, the samurai Taira no Masakado cursed the new city and its inhabitants. Over the course of the next hundred years, numerous characters, both fictional and historical, come into conflict with Yasunori Kato, an immortal villain out to harness Masakado's spirit to destroy the city.

The novel won the Nihon Science Fiction Taisho Award in 1987, has sold around some 4 million copies in Japan alone, and is widely considered the first major work to popularize Onmyodo (Yin Yang) magic and Feng Shui in its native country. Of course its immense success has resulted in several visual adaptations including films, manga and even a stage adaptation. In Japan, the most well known adaptation is the 1988 live action special effects film ''Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis''. However because western audiences aren't as inviting to Japanese live action SPFX films (Godzilla excluded), the most known adaptation in the west is the heavily stylized, DarkerAndEdgier 1991 anime adaptation known as ''Doomed Megalopolis''. Both adaptations are (very) abridged adaptations of only the first 1/3rd of the novel.

The original novel was never published in English, but there is currently a [[https://www.facebook.com/pages/Translate-TEITO-MONOGATARI-into-English/122760147810664 campaign to get it translated.]]

* PsychicNosebleed: As Kato brings the moon closer to earth in ''Doomed Megalopolis'', he starts bleeding out his nose, as well as his [[TearsOfBlood eyes]], ears, and [[BloodFromTheMouth throat]].

** {{Flight}}: Kato is a master of this.
** MindControl: Kato can take control of people, either by using ''kodoku'' or by brainwashing.
** MindOverMatter: Mainly used by Kato and Hirai. More seen in the second movie ''Tokyo: The Last War''.

* ActionGirl: Keiko.

* {{Badass}}: Yasunori Kato.
** BadassCape: That's also an AllEncompassingMantle.
* BadassGrandpa: Yasumasa Hirai.
* BadassNormal:
** Shigemaru Kuroda may pass as a bumbling character, but he can hold his own when the occasion requires it. In the anime, he has mystical powers and can even fend off shikigami with chants.
** Koda Rohan by his own right. He chops dozens of shikigami with his wakizashi and even attacks Kato with it.
* BarehandedBladeBlock: At the end of ''The Last Megalopolis,'' Kato blocks Keiko's tanto by nonchalantly grabbing its blade. His hand bleeds from doing so, however. [[SubvertedTrope And he immediately guides her blade into his chest]].
* BigBad: Kato, although WordOfGod has stated that he is the [[VillainProtagonist true protagonist]] of the story.
* BigGood: Hirai to an extent.

* CaneFu: In the anime, Hirai impales a shikigami with his cane.

* ClothingDamage: Specially in the anime. In the third episode, Yukiko is stripped naked before she is served to the underground dragon as a sacrifice. In the final episode, Keiko steadily loses her clothing while fighting Kato and his creatures. She's completely naked at the end, while channeling Kannon.[[note]]Mind you, this is due to nakedness symbolizing purity, and not simply {{Fanservice}}[[/note]]
* CoolHorse: Masakado sends one to Keiko at the fourth episode of ''Doomed Megalopolis''. It appears as a furry, equine mystic being.
* CourtMage: Yasumasa Hirai. He is the leader of the Tsuchimikado Family, an onmyodo clan that serves the Emperor.

* CuteAndPsycho: Yukari Tatsumiya while controlled by Kato.
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Hirai is wise enough to know a way to protect Yukari from Kato's influence, but Kato knows it too and thus is able to thwart it.

* DrillTank: Gakutensoku is equipped with drills in the anime and crushes some shikigami with them.

* EvilSorcerer: Yasunori Kato.

* FangsAreEvil:
** In ''Doomed Megalopolis'', Kato has vampire-like fangs that he bears whenever angry, shouting, or cracking a SlasherSmile. The cover of the OVA gives him a [[MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily mouth full of shark-like teeth]]. ''The Last Megalopolis'' emphasizes his canines sometimes, too.
** Also from ''Doomed Megaloolis'', Kato tortures Keiko in a vision in an attempt to get her to hate him. Just as she's giving in to the dark side and breaks free, she suddenly grows fangs.

* FullFrontalAssault: In the climactic battle at the end of the anime, Keiko ends completely naked due to ClothingDamage. In this case, her nudity symbolizes her newfound spiritual purity as a Bodhisattva [[spoiler:which is how she defeats Kato.]]

* TheGhost: Taira no Masakado. Subverted in the anime, in which he appears under the form of a ghostly samurai.

* GoodHurtsEvil: In the anime, [[spoiler:Keiko defeats Kato with this.]]
* GrewBeyondTheirProgramming: At the end of the live action version, the robot Gakutensoku momentarily becomes sentient to defend his master (the historical character Dr. Makoto Nishimura, who is played by his real life son Ko Nishimura) from the last of Kato's shikigami. This is never explained, although it somehow fits with the mysticism around Gakutensoku.

* HistoricalHeroUpgrade:
** Gakutensoku was reformatted into an excavation robot to drill through a rock wall in an EldritchLocation when the human miners kept getting attacked by shikigami or started hallucinating. [[TruthInTelevision Yes,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gakutensoku it was a real robot]].
** Koda Rohan not only challenges Kato several times, but also manages to cut his hand off!
* HistoricalRapSheet: Kato winds up being responsible for the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923.

* HotBlooded: Koda Rohan, who doesn't care about the risks if he has his reliable sword.
* HumanoidAbomination: While Kato is portrayed as an almost normal human in the original novels, the anime and the films prefer to portray him with a much more [[BizarreHumanBiology sinister biology]], complete with TaintedVeins and a unnaturally long face.

* IHaveTheHighGround: Kato does this a lot. The box art of ''The Last War'' even features him standing around on a high metal tower. In the anime, he stands on poles, roofs, treetops, etc.

* InterplayOfSexAndViolence: Kato flirts with Keiko several times in order to [[InLoveWithYourCarnage provoke her into attacking him]]. In the anime, he even has his black slime shikigami grope her breasts in an attempt to enrage her.

** The most obvious example is Kato since in the original novel, he's proficient with a katana and wielded a magical sword.
** Koda Rohan is a skilled swordsman, and later on in the novel he learns magic.
** Kamo, the minor onmyoji, is also skilled with the short sword.
** In the anime, Yasumasa Hirai uses a daikyū or longbow to fire a magic arrow against Kato.
** Also Keiko qualifies, as she fights with a naginata.
* LightIsNotGood: Played with in the anime. Yasumasa Hirai, the good sorcerer dressed in bright white, is beaten by the dark and evil Kato because in fact he is not morally better than Yasunori; they share the same magic. However the power of the curse fueling Yasunori is far older and stronger than anything Hirai or his ancestors have encountered, giving Kato the advantage.

* MamaBear: Keiko towards Yukiko.

* MauveShirt: Kamo. He's a powerful onmyoji in his own right, but he ends up being gruesomely killed by Kato.
* MentorOccupationalHazard: Justified. [[spoiler:Hirai sacrifices himself to show his devotion to the Meiji Emperor (who has just passed away). It also happens to divine the year of Tokyo's destruction.]]
* {{Miko}}: Keiko Tatsumiya.
* MiniatureSeniorCitizen: Hirai is pretty short in the anime, but not too.

* NaginatasAreFeminine: Keiko uses one.
* NiceHat: Kato's CommissarCap.
* NightmareFace: Usually courtesy of Kato.
** In ''The Last Megalopolis,'' Kato's face [[http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/images/easyblog_images/77616/thumb_1_lookingatyou.jpg twists into something demonic]] after Rohan chops his hand off. Yukari's does too.
** In ''The Last War,'' Yukiko manages to rip the skin off part of Kato's face, leaving him with a dangling eyeball.
** In the third episode of ''Doomed Megalopolis,'' one of Kato's trippy MindRape attacks features his face with bared fangs painted over the ground.

* NoPeriodsPeriod: Averted in a flashback in ''Doomed Megalopolis.'' A very young Yukari begins menstruating in front of a teenaged Yoichiro [[spoiler:who then decides it's a good time as any to try out his [[EroticAsphyxiation choking fetish]] on her.]]
* NotSoDifferent: Kato invokes this in the anime after Hirai calls him a monster. He tells Hirai to stop acting so self-righteous, as they, being onmyoji, both inflict curses on people for a living.
* OldMaster: Yasumasa Hirai.

* ParanormalInvestigation: Shigemaru Kuroda, the feng shui expert.

* ThePowerOfLove: [[spoiler:How Keiko defeats Kato at the end of the OVA.]] Averted in the books and the first movie, where [[spoiler:Kato is NotQuiteDead and gets away.]]

* Really700YearsOld: Yasunori Kato was born somewhere in the 19th century at the latest.

* SealedEvilInACan: Taira no Masakado could qualify as this, but the twist is that he serves as a GuardianEntity as long as his rest isn't disturbed.

* ShootTheDog: Kamo is perfectly willing to sacrifice Yukiko to banish Kato forever. It doesn't work, however.
* SquishyWizard: The anime version of Yasumasa Hirai is a subversion. While not a [[KungFuWizard hand-to-hand fighter]], he is incredibly agile and resilient for a man of his age, being able to move faster than a magic blast and survive to an arrow through his torso. On the other hand, his live action film counterpart is never shown in the battlefield.

* TheUnfettered: Absolutely nothing will stop Kato from trying to destroy Tokyo, whether it be being turned to stone, stabbed in the neck, getting his eye gouged out, ''nothing''. [[spoiler:Although channeling a celestial bodhisattva seems to do the trick in the OVA.]]

* VillainousBreakdown: In the climax of the OVA, Kato completely freaks out as the Kannon-possessed Keiko advances on him, and all of his dark magic [[NoSell has no effect on her]]. He finally has a VillainousBSOD and drops to his knees, not even bothering to try and run away.
* [[WarriorPoet Warrior Writer]]: Koda Rohan, who is not at all afraid to challenge demonic sorcerers by himself.

* WizardBeard: The anime version of Hirai.

* YouMonster: Hirai calls Kato a monster in both the anime and the film.