Oni no Hakata!

First time, I went in 2015 and that was notable because the proprietor gave me a lift to the station since buses were so rare. Next time, was in 2016 and I showed off some Peruvian masks and Gegege jigsaw puzzles. In 2017 I showcased some of the quadriptychs (4-part triptychs). Then in 2018, I convinced a friend to drive there. It's so much more fun to make dumb puns to another rather than to oneself. I took a few years off (stupid COVID) and returned in 2022. At that time, there were some cute paper crafts to espy. Since my wedding last Saturday was so early, I had time to return.

This time the feature display was some very cool papier-mâché masks. 

  

I was lucky enough to make it on the second-last day. I was not there for the workshop though. I'll let you try and figure out how to make your own.

 

I wish I could have made a Kappa mask! 

 

Lots of other masks on the walls, good thing they were behind glass, because I'd have tried them all on.

 

 

 

 

 

And couple of dozen Papier-mâché figures.

 

Back in September, artist Hanjiro Sawato made a large Onikenba Koboshi.

Children wrote their wishes on papier-mâché and pasted them on the figure.

 

Sheesh, I wouldn't want to see this spider again!  

Hanjiro Sawato made this Gongen-sama (lion head for the Gongen dance).

 

 

All in all, a nice little display of paper mache (ooh, that spelling is gauche.)

Onto the interior of the museum. If you're new, welcome. If you've seen these posts before (or clicked the above links), be patient. Hopefully there are a few new sights to be seen.

I don't remember seeing this guy above the entrance before.

To enter the main hall, one has to walk through this haunted forest. Presented for you...

 

Skip the first two minutes if you only wish to see floating Oni and cheesy effects.

Scary! Scarier are several long tapestries behind famous Yokai and Oni.

 

Always liked that Kappa!

Some lovely Oni masks.

 

A day without a look at a Krampus mask is a day ill-spent.

One of the kids at the mask-making workshop made a Krampus. Good Job!

 

He writes, "Krampus: Austrian Namahage is a little scary with its big nose and toothless mouth.

This guy's a sweetheart with a delightful chuckle. Click here to watch his chin wag. 

I have a student from Nepal, so I'll ask her if she knows anything about this guy next week.

 

These masks are from Sri Lanka and I have TWO students from there. Surely one of them knows something. 

Lots more to see, such as this Gegege gang.

But you'll just have to check out the place yourself!

I went to my car and WHOA! That Damn spider did track me down!

This was a special ONI entry on the countdown. I'm gonna watch some TV and maybe I'll have another post tonight about my student's Halloween Treat or Trick!

O-nifty.

A few weeks back I returned to the Oni Museum, just to see if they had any new displays. I first visited in 2015 and click that for a bunch of pics. I also visited there the following year. And again in 2017. It's been about four years since I last visited and that time I dragged a friend along to witness the museum's delights. Clicking any of those links will show off some cool masks and costumes of Oni, thus a few of the pics may be duplicated though with a superior camera.

I know I've snapped these before, though this time I used a vertical panorama mode on my phone

These look new, but probably aren't.

I can never resist snapping a pic of Krampus.

I can't recall what's going on here, but it bugs me. (I believe it's a carnival mask from Peru. But don't quote me.)

I'd be remiss if I didn't include some stabby hijinks.

In the lobby, they had several papercrafts that unfortunately weren't for sale.

There were some colouring pages you could scribble upon and I snagged a few. Feel free to print them off and have a go at them. The crossword puzzle may prove to be a tad difficult.

This time around, I bought a handkerchief of an Oni. Not as impressive as I thought once I got it out of its package yet still fairly neat.

Here's a T-shirt that I haven't yet worn and am considering selling or giving away as a birthday present. I'm sure given time Buffy and her slayerettes would have encountered an Oni in her travels.

I have just enough time to watch Stargirl before I go to bed. Hopefully Solomon Grundy will reappear, he'd make a good Oni.

If the paper crafts above piqued your interest, then The Paper Layer or Calling all Crafters may also be up your alley.