paint & play
Paint, dance, play.
A set where you can experience traditional Japanese events and old tales.
Recommended for people who
- I want to experience Japanese culture and learn.
- I want a mask that even small children can enjoy.
- I want something that can be played using the made mask.
Japanese Oni (Demons)
Japanese Oni with various personalities and roles
Oni often appears in traditional Japanese performing arts and traditional events. Oni is generally scary and bad, but Oni that appears in Japanese traditional culture may appear not only as bad guys but also as reliable. The personality of the Oni varies completely depending on the festival and events. Experience such mysterious demons and gods through traditional Japanese events and old tales.
Japanese traditional event "Mamemaki"
What is "Mamemaki"?
It is a Japanese custom to scatter roasted soybeans on Setsubun day in February, saying "Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi".An adult wearing a Oni mask that looks like a demon, or an adult wearing a mask of Otafuku, which is said to bring good fortune, may appear. Throw beans at Oni to drive away bad guys.
It can be said that it is a ritual to ward off diseases and disasters that tend to occur at the change of seasons as Oni.
Formal Mamemaki Method
The method differs slightly depending on the region and family. I will introduce one of them.(1) Prepare fukumame
The beans used for the Setsubun bean-scattering ceremony are called “fukumame” and are said to have spiritual powers. So, until we start throwing beans, we will offer them to a Shinto altar or a high place in the house.
(2) Prevent Oni invasion
In order to prevent Oni from entering through the doorway, "a holly twig with a sardine head" is displayed at the gate or entrance. This is because Oni is said to dislike sardines and holly.
(3) Mamemaki is done at night
It is said that Oni comes at midnight, so the whole family gathers to throw beans at night. Open all doors, such as porches, balconies, and windows.
(4) The head of the family throws the beans.
In some cases, the beans are scattered by the head of the family, or in some regions, by the person who falls under the zodiac sign of the year or the person who is in the year of the unlucky year.(5) Scatter the beans while shouting
Take the lucky beans in the masu and scatter the beans outside the house while chanting "Oni wa soto" from the door or window. Do this twice. Next, immediately close the doors and windows so that the Oni will not come back, and from now on, throw the beans inside the house twice while chanting "Fuku wa uchi~".(6) Eat beans
When you finish sowing beans, eat as many beans as your age.Mask painting + play
Please enjoy the face drawing experience with paint while referring to the finished mask.
The face painting experience is sometimes held as a kagura sightseeing event in rural Japan, but it is only given for a short time. With this product, you can experience painting at your own pace at home, and you will be able to finish the work to your satisfaction.
There are 3 types of sets. Please purchase your favorite combination.
Setsubun and Kagura
There are many shrines that offer kagura on Setsubun (Setsubun Festival). At that time, a bean-throwing event may be held. Kagura's Oni mask is sometimes used as the bean-scattering Oni.Japanese fairy tale "Red Oni who cried"
This fairy tale tells the story of Onis who are feared and avoided by people, but actually want to become friends with humans and make various efforts.As it is also a story of friendship between a red Oni and a blue Oni, it is often used as a teaching material to nurture the minds of young children.
Japanese children's song and hand game "Oni no pants"
This is a children's song based on the Italian song "Funiculi Funicula". At kindergartens, they dress up as Onis and sing while dancing funny.People who make folk craft kagura masks
These kagura masks are made by a group of mainly elderly people in Yakage cho, the home of Bicchu kagura. The income generated by these masks is used to purchase welfare equipment for use by nursing care facilities.
The masks are made from old newspapers. Newspapers and water are mixed with a mixer to make paper clay, which is then placed on top of a plaster mold and allowed to dry thoroughly. It is taken out and the surface is polished with sandpaper to make the original shape.
For the base coat, white paint made from seashells called "gofun" is applied. Then, it is allowed to dry again.
This process is repeated over and over again, with many layers of paint applied. After this process, the paintings are ready to be painted. It usually takes three months to reach this state of production.
These tasks are very rewarding for the elderly.
In this way, the masks are made from recycled resources. This is a wonderful initiative from an ecological and SDGs perspective, and it is an activity that has multiple benefits: it conveys traditional culture, gives the elderly a sense of purpose in life, and ultimately contributes to society.
