Ushioni, demons with the head of a cow, appear in legends and stories all over western Japan.
Probably the most well-known nowadays are the ushioni of Uwajima in Ehime on Shikoku.
In the third week of July the Ushioni Matsuri takes place involving a parade of 5-8 meter long figures with these heads atop tall poles.
In Uwajima they function as protection in a similar way to Shishi.
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Reminds me of Okinawa's Shisa. Like many things in Japan, interesting variations on a theme.
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