During the turmoil of the Jinshin civil war in 762, a boy was born bearing a tiny horn upon his forehead. His mother branded him an oni and abandoned him. An aged shūgenja woman took the infant in, naming him Utsunomiko—'Divine Child of Heaven'—and explained that the horn represented the harmony between sky and earth. Growing up in solitude, he studied Shugendō and eventually wandered into nearby villages out of curiosity. There he witnessed the villagers' poverty and misery, and used his spiritual gifts to aid them. Yet his fury toward selfish rulers and their petty power struggles intensified, eventually provoking open hostilities with the Imperial Court. Thus began Miko"s long journey as a defender of the oppressed. His reputation spread, and people began seek guidance. Even as court tightened its grip, Miko refused bow, rallying the oppressed.
Nippon Animation Japan