Ideal for gifts
Paint it, make a wish and decorate it. It is also suitable as a gift. Enjoy the blessings of the gods of Japanese mythology.
Recommended in the following cases
- Interested in traditional Japanese culture.
- Want a product that can experience.
- Looking for a gift for someone who is in business.
- Looking for a gift for someone who is getting married.
- Looking for a gift for someone who loves fishing.
paint & pray・・・It can be enjoyed in two ways.
(1) Painting experience
You can enjoy face painting with watercolors while looking at the finished product. Mask painting experience is sometimes held as a Kagura sightseeing event. However, with this product, you can take your time and finish it at home until you are satisfied. (2) Decorate your room and enjoy the benefits
The gods that appear in Japanese mythology are said to have their own benefits.You may display it for good fortune, or simply as a sundry item of traditional Japanese culture.
There are two types of pairs to be painted and prayed for. Please choose the type you prefer.
Gods of abundant harvest and prosperous business "Daikoku & Ebisu (大黒様と恵比寿様)"
Presence in Kagura
They are Okuninushi no Mikoto (大国主命) and Kotoshironushi no Mikoto (事代主命), who appear in Kagura "Kuniyuzuri (国譲り)". It is also called Daikoku-sama and Ebisu-sama. Daikoku-sama on the left is said to be the god of good fortune for a bountiful harvest, with a large bag on his shoulder and a mallet in his hand.
Ebisu on the right is holding a fishing rod and holding a sea bream under his arm. It is the guardian deity of fishermen and the god of prosperous business.
Kagura "Kuniyuzuri (国譲り)"
Kagura "Ebisu Daikoku dance"
※These masks used in the kagura photos and videos and the products for sale are different. Please refer to how this type of mask is used in kagura.
Gods of marital bliss and childbirth "Susano-o & Hime (須佐之男命と奇稲田姫)"
Presence in Kagura
Kushi Inada Hime is the eighth daughter of a couple who were plagued by a monster called the eight-forked serpent [Yamata-no-orochi], which ate their daughter every year. Just before she was about to be sacrificed, "Susano no Mikoto" offered to slay the eight-forked serpent on the condition that she become his wife. Susano no Mikoto successfully vanquished the eight-forked serpent and married Kushi Inada Hime.
Kagura "Orochi-taiji (大蛇退治)"
The dance of conjugal union.
※These masks used in the kagura photos and videos and the products for sale are different. Please refer to how this type of mask is used in kagura.
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.
