Bloodlust: Homicidal Ideation

[DISCLAIMER]

Photo credit, property of Animate Film and Tokyo Theatres Company, fair use

When stationed in Okinawa, Japan (1997-1999), I enjoyed a number of Japanese animated films. My favorite was Ninja Scroll (1993) that takes place in feudal Japan and follows Jūbei Kibagami, a mercenary swordsman who battles the Eight Devils of Kimon.

The Devils are a team of ninjas with supernatural powers who are intent on overthrowing the Tokugawa shogunate. In one memorable scene, one of the Eight Devils of Kimon (Tessai) rips off character Hanza’s arms and then proceeds to drink blood pouring from the appendages.

Regarding the viciousness of Tessai, I think of bloodlust (desire for bloodshed—the taking of a life). This colloquial term is also known as a yearning for homicide. According to the American Psychological Association, homicide is thusly defined:

[T]he killing of one person by another person. In a legal context, homicide is often subdivided into excusable homicide (as in self-defense or resulting from an accident), justifiable homicide (as in carrying out a death sentence), and felonious homicide (as in murder or manslaughter).

From the perspective of my approach to Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I note that people aren’t their beliefs or ideas, and they aren’t their feelings or behavior. Rather, at our core, we are merely fallible human beings who are capable of adaptive or maladaptive behavior.

This perspective is rational (in accordance with both logic and reason). However, because the Devils of Kimon aren’t human, Tessai is depicted as an evil entity. Subjectively humorous, lyricist Reverse Live blends human and devil qualities on the song “Devils of Kimon”.

Nevertheless, humans aren’t malevolent entities. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that we aren’t capable of maintaining bloodlust or homicidal ideation. Addressing the latter term, one source states:

Homicidal ideation is a common medical term for thoughts about homicide. There is a range of homicidal thoughts which spans from vague and fleeting to detailed and fully formulated plans without the act itself. […]

It may arise in association with personality disorders or it may occur in people who do not have any detectable illness. In fact, surveys have shown that the majority of people have had homicidal fantasies at some stage in their life. Many theories have been proposed to explain this.

Within my blog, I discuss homicidal ideation quite a bit when referencing various hip hop songs. I do this, because I think it’s important to distinguish between fictional demonic entities like Tessai and those of us (yes, this includes me) who’ve experienced homicidal ideation.

Worth noting, one source claims that “homicidal ideation is a psychiatric emergency,” though when addressing this experience I’d first assess for plan, capability, opportunity, and intent before declaring emergency. More than mere flight of ideas, these elements increase probability.

The takeaway point for this blogpost is that thoughts of wanting to harm someone aren’t necessarily concerning unless you maintain a plan, capability, opportunity, or intent to actually harm or kill someone. Likewise, simply thinking of harming a person doesn’t make you devilish.

Still, if you experience unrelenting bloodlust or homicidal ideation, I highly encourage you to immediately seek proper help (i.e., go to the nearest emergency department, call a crisis hotline, etc.). Although you aren’t one of the Eight Devils of Kimon, you may behave abominably.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Homicide. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/homicide

Hollings, D. (2026, February 8). Adaptive and maladaptive emotions and behavior. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/adaptive-and-maladaptive-emotions-and-behavior

Hollings, D. (2025, November 7). Adding fuel to the fire. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/adding-fuel-to-the-fire

Hollings, D. (2024, November 24). Automatic thoughts and beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/automatic-thoughts-and-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2025, May 20). Evil. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/evil

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use

Hollings, D. (2024, May 17). Feeling better vs. getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/feeling-better-vs-getting-better-1

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2026, February 8). Is It Desire, or Is It Love? Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/is-it-desire-or-is-it-love

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2023, January 8). Logic and reason. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/logic-and-reason

Hollings, D. (2025, November 16). Mental health, mental illness, and mental disorder. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-health-mental-illness-and-mental-disorder

Hollings, D. (2023, November 22). Personality disorders. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/personality-disorders

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2025, August 13). Rational versus irrational thoughts and beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-versus-irrational-thoughts-and-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2025, April 12). What’s the big idea? Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/what-s-the-big-idea

Hollings, D. (2026, March 8). You are not your beliefs or ideas. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/you-are-not-your-beliefs-or-ideas

Movie Morgue Wiki. (n.d.). Tessai. Fandom. Retrieved from https://moviemorgue.fandom.com/wiki/Tessai

Ninja Scroll Wiki. (n.d.). Hanza. Fandom. Retrieved from https://ninjascroll.fandom.com/wiki/Hanza

Ninja Scroll Wiki. (n.d.). Jūbei Kibagami. Fandom. Retrieved from https://ninjascroll.fandom.com/wiki/J%C5%ABbei_Kibagami

Omniversal Encyclopedia Wiki. (n.d.). Eight Devils of Kimon. Fandom. Retrieved from https://omniversal-encyclopedia.fandom.com/wiki/Eight_Devils_of_Kimon

Reverse Live. (2022, January 16). Devils of Kimon [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/yr9wiQ-UhuY?si=ywyI04WtuHpR92w_

Shaolin Dboy. (2013, April 10). Ninja Scroll - Tessai rips off arms of Hanza & drinks blood [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/56O6eGPhNm4?si=StHRTKbKNxQBdFAp

Shnaidman, V. C. (2016). The mental status examination v. common sense. Forensic Psychiatry. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/homicidal-ideation

Soundcloud. (n.d.). Devils of Kimon (prod. J.King) [Image]. Retrieved from https://soundcloud.com/reverse-live/devils-of-kimon

Soundcloud. (n.d.). Reverse Live. Retrieved from https://soundcloud.com/reverse-live

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Homicidal ideation. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homicidal_ideation

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ninja Scroll. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninja_Scroll

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Tokugawa shogunate. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa_shogunate