Modori-bashi (also said Ichijo Modori-bashi) is a name of a bridge in Kyoto.
It was built over Horikawa River in 794 A.D. and remains at the same place today (the bridge itself has been reconstructed many times).
In mid Heian era (794-1192) people were tormented by an ogre Ibaraki Doji which appeared around Modori-bashi and did evil every night.
A general Minamoto-no-Raiko told his retainer Watanabe-no-Tsuna to subjugate Ibaraki Doji. Tsuna was one of “shitennoh”, the Four Greatest Retainers of Raiko and is said to be the best of the four.
At Modori-bashi Tsuna met a beautiful lady. She asked him to escort her home as it is dark at night and she is afraid to go home alone.
Tsuna accepted her request, but in a meanwhile the lady showed her true face as an ogre.
Tsuna fought against Ibaraki Doji and cut off its left arm with a celebrated sword “Higekiri”.
He drove the ogre into a corner, but he missed to give it a finishing blow and Ibaraki Doji disappeared declaring that it would retrieve its arm.
**one of the highlights is quick change of the ogre’s masks……you may feel it’s a magic as it is so quick!
