Iwami Kagura Mask - Akko (Evil Fox) - Yoshiaki Kusaka - Protective Charm - Folk Craft

● Product
Iwami Kagura Mask - Aku-ko (Evil Fox) Mask
Crafted by Yoshiaki Kusaka

● Size
・Frame
Height: 50cm, Width: 34cm

・Kagura Mask
Height: 37cm, Width: 30cm, Depth: 19cm

*Please note that slight variations may occur.

● Condition
There are minor paint chips, scratches, and dirt.
Subjectively, the condition is considered relatively good.
Please check the photos for the condition.

*We appreciate your understanding that this is a used item.

● Description
Iwami Kagura masks are lightweight yet durable masks used in Iwami Kagura, a traditional performing art from the Iwami region of western Shimane Prefecture. They are primarily made from Sekishu Washi paper and persimmon tannin. Crafted by artisans since the late Edo period using the datsukatsu technique – layering washi paper over a clay mold, breaking the mold after drying – these masks are not only essential for the vigorous dances of Kagura but are also treasured as auspicious charms for warding off evil and as interior decorations.

Iwami Kagura masks are unique crafts that combine functional beauty and artistic merit, supporting a traditional art form that is a source of pride globally, both technically and culturally.

The Aku-ko (Evil Fox) mask in Iwami Kagura primarily depicts the nine-tailed fox with golden fur (Tamamo-no-Mae) that appears in the performance Aku-ko Den (The Tale of the Evil Fox). The Aku-ko mask, with its intense presence, is believed to bring the following blessings and benefits:

Benefits and Meanings of the Aku-ko (Fox) Mask:
Ward off evil and disaster
Fox masks are considered guardian spirits displayed at the entrances of homes in Shimane Prefecture (especially the Iwami region). The Aku-ko mask, with its fearsome expression and powerful aura, is believed to possess a strong power to drive away (repel) evil spirits and calamities.
Abundant harvests and business prosperity
Foxes are traditionally known as attendants (messengers) of the god of agriculture (Inari Okami) and are symbols of bountiful harvests and wealth. Although the Aku-ko is a fox that has committed misdeeds, in the context of Kagura masks, its strong supernatural powers are transformed into a charm for family safety and business prosperity.
The Story of Aku-ko Den and the Mask

・Displaying the Mask
When displaying it as a charm to ward off evil, the most common practice is to place it at the entrance of the house.
In this way, the Iwami Kagura Aku-ko mask is not merely a representation of an evil character but is cherished as an auspicious home-protecting mask that channels its powerful mystical energy into warding off evil.