Gyuki the Ox Monster

I’m in Japan, and it’s great. Obviously.

One of the many reasons why Japan is great is this happy character, known as a gyuki, or ushi-oni (“ox ogre”). (Sometimes people give “oni” as “demon,” but I don’t think that’s really accurate.) I photographed this guy at Negoroji, a temple in Kagawa Prefecture. The wiki article linked above summarizes his story.

IMGP0796

Something something Tom Jones, something something what’s new, pussycat?