Matsuri Gras masks
Since its Mardi Gras right now, why not enjoy some Japanese masks?
Every Japanese matsuri/street fair has rows of plastic toy masks for sale like these.
Besides traditional Japanese characters like the oni/devil, most of these masks feature commercial characters like Hello Kitty and Pikachu to delight kids at street fairs.
With the Japanimation boom throughout the world, these masks and Japanese faux-festivals have spread in popularity. However, this resulted in some funny reinterpretations and knock-off masks of Japanese characters in foreign markets. The Japanese blog, INTER News, recently ran a headline, “Astonished! Evangelion’s faces abroad are very popular!” about markets in Thailand selling these bizarre Evangelion masks. INTER News writes, “Although I want a Japanimation boom to continue from now on, I want blue-haired Rei Ayanami to stop with the gapping ‘O’ mouth.”
Astonished! Evangelion’s faces abroad are very popular!
2008.02.01 (Fri), INTERNews.jp
And here are a few more “traditional” Matsuri Gras masks just for fun from Japan.
Available via JList
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