In the reign of the Emperor Ichijo (mid Heian era, around 1000 A.D.) an ogre Shuten Doji lived in Oeyama mountains, Tamba (old name for the area around Kyoto and Hyogo prefecture). Shuten Doji and followers haunted cities and villages and tormented people.
The emperor ordered Minamoto no Raiko (Yorimitsu) and Shitennoh, the Four Great Retainers of Raiko to subdue the gang of ogres.
Raiko and shitennoh disguised themselves as itinerant priests and asked the ogres for a night’s lodging.
They served the ogres with sacred sake (rice wine) feigning that it’s fine sake from the capital city and the gang drank deep.
Raiko and shitennoh watched for a chance and they defeated the gang of ogres.
