Ep 19. The story of the Amanojaku

Dororo is an anime series set in feudal Japan that tells the story of a young orphaned thief named Hyakkimaru, who embarks on a journey to regain his missing body parts that were stolen from him at birth by demons. Along the way, he is accompanied by a young girl named Dororo, who becomes his partner in his quest.

In episode 19, titled "The Story of the Amanojaku", Hyakkimaru and Dororo come across a village that is plagued by a demon known as the Amanojaku. The Amanojaku is a mischievous demon that possesses people and causes chaos and destruction. The villagers have been trying to exorcise the demon, but their efforts have been futile.

Hyakkimaru and Dororo meet a girl named Okowa, who has the ability to communicate with spirits. She explains to them that the Amanojaku was once a boy named Shino who was possessed by the demon. The demon has been using Shino's body to wreak havoc on the village.

Hyakkimaru and Dororo decide to help Okowa and the villagers. They learn that the Amanojaku can only be exorcised by defeating it in a game of rock-paper-scissors. The villagers have been trying to beat the demon for years, but it always cheats by changing the rules.

Hyakkimaru agrees to play against the Amanojaku, but he quickly realizes that the demon is cheating. Using his heightened senses, he is able to detect the demon's movements and anticipate its moves. Finally, he is able to beat the Amanojaku at its own game.

With the demon exorcised, Shino's body is left lifeless. Hyakkimaru performs a ritual to send Shino's soul to the afterlife, and the villagers are finally able to live in peace.

Throughout the episode, we see Hyakkimaru continue to struggle with his own humanity. He is hesitant to kill the possessed Shino because he sees a bit of himself in the boy. In the end, he is able to find a balance between his desire for revenge against the demons and his compassion for innocent lives.

Overall, "The Story of the Amanojaku" is a touching and action-packed episode that highlights the show's strong themes of morality and redemption. It also adds depth to Hyakkimaru's character as he continues to grapple with his identity as a half-demon, half-human.