How do people in Japanese culture view demons?

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Curiosity Strikes

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This is a question that came about while I was watching "Howl's Moving Castle", when Sophie mentions Turniphead being a "good demon".

Now, I realize that the movie was based on a non-Japanese book - one that I've never read before and don't know how it compares to the movie - but since demons seem to often play a role in anime/manga, I thought I'd ask: How do people in Japanese culture view demons?
To elaborate, when they say "demons" do they really just mean "spirits" - spirits that can be either good or evil?

Help me out here, people! I'm curious!
 
originally, demons in western understanding, were not evil either. this connotation was added to the word by christianity.
 
The traditional Japanese demons or "Oni" are an interesting breed. They are more ogre than evil spirits. They are often shown wearing tiger skin loincloths and wielding iron spiked clubs. Sometimes they are also shown beating drums and summoning lightning. Temperamental and rowdy they are not specifically seen as evil but rather harbingers of destruction, disease and turmoil.
 
The traditional Japanese demons or "Oni" are an interesting breed. They are more ogre than evil spirits. They are often shown wearing tiger skin loincloths and wielding iron spiked clubs. Sometimes they are also shown beating drums and summoning lightning. Temperamental and rowdy they are not specifically seen as evil but rather harbingers of destruction, disease and turmoil.
 
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