Oni Jaw Mask

鬼の顎 (oni no ago): "the oni's jaw."

Look up at the end of a temple roof ridge in Japan and there's often a demon looking back. It's an onigawara, a ridge-end tile with an oni face, set at the ends of the roof lines to keep evil and bad luck off the building. Tiled roofs reached Japan with Buddhism in the 500s, and the oni faces followed. Many later tiles swap the face for clouds or a family crest, and people still call them onigawara.

Only the lower half, nose to chin, in glossy red and black. Two big gold tusks curl up past smaller fangs, gold spirals sit on the chin, and swirling ridges run back across the cheeks. Against the gloss, the gold does most of the talking.

A half mask leaves your eyes and forehead in view, so your own expression becomes part of the costume at a festival, a party or a photo shoot. Hang it by a door like a small onigawara, and let the other oni masks keep it company.

• Type: decorative oni half mask, nose to chin
• Material: resin
• Colors: glossy red and black, gold tusks, teeth and chin spirals
• Details: two big tusks, smaller fangs, swirling ridges
• Use: display, cosplay, costume and photos