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tengu - tokyo

The tengu is a yokai or traditional Japanese Shinto spirit. It was originally a sort of monkey-bird hybrid creature, but most modern representations are much more human looking. His most distinguishing characteristic, besides his bright red face, is his excessively long nose, which was once thought to be a bird’s beak, but nowadays looks more like something else . . .

 

He was originally considered an evil spirit, but his image has softened over the centuries, and he is now looked as a more benevolent protector of the forest.

 

Photo taken @ Art Aquarium Museum in Ginza

 

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Uploaded on August 8, 2023
Taken on July 6, 2023