In Shinto mythology, an Onmoraki is a bird-demon created from the spirits of freshly-dead corpses. They resemble a black crane, and if a person is caught sleeping in a temple's sermon hall, the Onmoraki will rebuke them while flapping its wings. Onmoraki are also said to shout the Degeneration Sutra in the household altar of priests who neglect to read their sutras.
"A type of specter found in Japanese legends. Onmoraki are former humans whose spirits have been transformed by hatred because they did not undergo rites of purification after they died. They appear as cranes with human heads and forked tongues. They shake their feathers and wail in high-pitched human voices. The greatest desire of the Onmoraki is to undergo purification rites, and they are said to appear in Buddhist temples. They are also known to appear to monks who are lax in reciting their sutras."
—Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE Compendium
One of the final tests of the Virtual Battle training quests is to kill an Onmoraki. Onmoraki can be contracted with at night time on Suginami field and in both bronze and silver instances of Suginami Tunnels. Stronger variants can be fought against in the higher levels of Shibuya's Quartz instance.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
"A Japanese bird that takes the form of a bird with the face of a man and a sickening chirp. It can also spit fire. It's true identity is a corpse that has not had a proper memorial service. It is said to appear before monks who neglect their duties."
—Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Compendium
Devil Children Fire/Ice Book
Onmoraki is a boss in Fire Book, where he guards the gate on top of the Angels Tower that leads to Time's Edge. When Jin attempts to pass Onmoraki stops him and attacks, informing him of how the children will take part in the holy battle. Upon defeat he mentions he should go to Makai, dying afterwards. Onmoraki is one of the demons given as a prize for beating Eligor's quiz in Ice Book.
In modern Japanese art, the Onmoraki will often take on the comical appearance of a roasted chicken. This is most likely due to the works of a seventeenth century artist, Toriyama Sekien.
Gallery
Onmoraki as it appears in Card Summoner
Onmoraki as it appears in Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE
