The Battotai

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## Battotai

The Battotai (抜刀隊 Battō-tai, lit. Drawn Sword Regiment) is the underground organization of combatants in the world of Shintoist Japan, officially founded by the Meiji government in 1877 at the height of the Satsuma Rebellion. Armed with traditional Japanese swords, the first members of the Battotai assisted in the destruction of Satsuma rebels by the end of the rebellion. However, they were quickly repurposed to assist in the discrete removal of any Oni and Yōkai that dwelled throughout Japan. As a fighting regiment, they developed a specialized culture towards the hunting and fighting of evil demonic spirits. Organized into regions and subdivided by prefectures, they are commanded by the Shugo. Since the end of World War II, however, their strength was greatly reduced as a corps, crippling their ability to unite as a group ever since.

## History

The earliest "demon hunters" of Shinto Japan were the first samurai clans of Japan within the late 12th century, dedicating themselves to not only their regional daimyo but also to eradicate the Oni population. Through their status as samurai, the noble clans of Japan built up centuries of experience in handling a diverse range of Oni. Many samurai would become embedded into Japanese folklore as heroes for killing certain Oni. It is believed that the most famous demon hunter is Susanoo, the slayer of Orochi, the eight-headed dragon. Despite this, the Battotai's early origins began with the samurai clans before they were officially recognized by the Meiji government as a separate, government-sponsored force.

The Battotai was founded by the Japanese government at the height of the Meiji era, the Battotai was initially intended to draft a sizable force to eliminate Satsuma rebels. By the rebellion's conclusion, the Battotai became the official government "agency" dedicated to the extermination of Oni and other demonic spirits throughout Japan. Supported by government recognition and resources, the Battotai grew to be a self-sufficient force that worked with minimal oversight from the government—the Shugo, the leaders of the Battotai, answered only to the Emperor and his family. Aside from the Imperial Army, the Battotai was the only other option for those who wished to legally own and use swords in public. Subsequently, many members from noble samurai clans and families enlisted with the Battotai, bringing with them generations of experience and knowledge against the Oni threat.

With this early surge in popularity, the several thousand strong Battotai earned a prominent but localized reputation as a martially superior fighting force. Alas, they still fell under the umbrella of the Imperial Army, merely working as its own independent regiment with the Emperor's permission. In the early conflicts against the likes of Russia, Korea, and China, the Battotai was used to do battle with their forces in the name of Japan. By the time of World War II, the Battotai was heavily militarized and their purpose was pivoted away from suppressing the Oni population. Instead, they were funneled into the war effort against the Allied powers.

Throughout the Great War, the "Golden Age" of the Battotai was established and recognized. During the war, hundreds of prominent swordsmen staked a claim to repute and recognition for their skills and devotion. Most importantly, the Shodai—the First Generation—would ascend to be the most powerful generation of Shugo in the Battotai's history. Leading the Battotai, the Shugo waged early and consecutive victories against the Allied powers. However, political influence from the Imperial Japanese Army would sever the Battotai's relationship with the Emperor, forcing the regiment to lose its independence as a self-sufficient force. The Shugo had lost their ability to command independently.

It is known that seven of the eight Shugo were ultimately killed at the Battle of Okinawa. Several thousand Battotai swordsmen were also killed throughout the War, draining the regiment of much-needed experience and manpower for decades to come. Since their deaths, the population of Oni increased at an exponential and uncontrollable rate.

## Functions and Purpose

First and foremost, the fundamental purpose of the Battotai is to hunt down and fight the presence of Oni and other malevolent demons throughout Japan. This is to ensure the safety of the population and to ensure that evil is contained at every turn. Led by eight regional leaders known as the **Shugo**, the Shugo currently operate independently of each other and rarely coordinate their efforts in lieu of sparse resources and low manpower. The eight Shugo each command their respective Battotai members based on the traditional regions of Japan: *Chugoku*, *Hokkaido*, *Kanto*, *Shikoku*, *Tohoku*, *Chubu*, *Kansai*, and *Kyushu*. Below the Shugo are their lieutenants—known as **Jito**—who individually oversee a prefecture and are responsible for the recruitment and training of students into the Battotai. The Jito are also responsible for the oversight of missions within their prefecture, assigning students and other swordsmen to fight critical Oni threats in the area. Experienced students who pass their trial are eventually promoted by their respective Shugo to inherit a prefecture.

Since the end of World War II, the Battotai lost official government support and much of its strength, forcing the surviving leadership to commit to an alliance with the post-war *keiretsu* companies for sponsorship and financial support, a relationship which persists to the present day.

## Trivia

• Due to their critically low manpower and high casualty rates, it is common knowledge that the Battotai cannot afford to tackle every threat. Combined, these factors have contributed to an unspoken mental health crisis throughout much of the Battotai's general leadership which has been observed by Battotai doctors. Alas, traditional East Asian culture does not permit the topic to arise easily for address.

• As of the present day, the average lifespan of a well-trained swordsman in the Battotai is four to six months. This is presuming that the swordsman is involved in at least one mission per week or two. For reference, the Shodai Shugo fought Oni and in World War II for eight consecutive years.

• The Shugo are largely uninvolved with the day-to-day logistics of their region's missions and operations. Instead, they act as general arbiters and figureheads who intervene when necessary. This is largely due to their nomadic lifestyle, forced to constantly wander and travel across their regions to independently hunt down the strongest of Oni — this is to more strategically leverage the Shugo's immense experience and strengths to target significant threats, including Shinigami. The cultures and attitudes between the Shugo are all absolutely separate. Some Shugo elect a succeeding heir from their Jito ahead of time — others do not have such a process.

• Historically, the only ways a Shugo has died since World War II was through the following: old age or clashing with a Shinigami.