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Original fileA large, teal-green figure of an Oni, a mythological Japanese ogre, sits atop the flat roof of a grey, multi-story concrete structure. The Oni has muscular limbs, a textured, fur-like appearance on its body, wild hair, and visible horns protruding from its head, with its mouth open in a grimace. It holds a large, vertical, green iron club in one hand and rests its other hand on its knee. The background shows a clear blue sky, distant hills with cherry blossoms, and modern infrastructure including a clock pole and a sign in the foreground.
This statue relates to the Japanese tradition of Yōkai and Oni, folkloric creatures often associated with the Buddhist underworld or as protectors against misfortune. Its placement in Mizokuchi reflects the contemporary cultural integration of traditional folklore into local identity and tourism in rural Japan.
Japanese Folklore
The Oni is a central figure in Japanese mythology, often depicted as a fearsome guardian or antagonist in Buddhist and Shinto narratives.
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