Traditional craft
Sanshu Onigawara Kogeihin
三州鬼瓦工芸品
Hand-sculpted clay roof-end tiles from western Mikawa in Aichi, with fierce demon faces and family crests, made by specialist oni-shi craftsmen.
Key facts
- Officially recognised
- 30 November 2017
- Type
- Ceramics
- Region
- Chubu
- Official name in Japanese
- 三州鬼瓦工芸品
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 碧南市、安城市、高浜市
The demons on Japan's roofs
Onigawara are the decorative tiles at the ends of a Japanese roof ridge, often shaped as demon faces. Sanshu craftsmen also make onigawara with family crests, small onigawara for indoor display, and garden and exterior pieces. It is made in Takahama, Hekinan and Anjo in Aichi.
Sculpted by oni-shi
The makers are called oni-shi or oni-ita-shi, demon masters. They sculpt each tile by hand from Mikawa clay, mountain clay and refined clay, then fire it.
Three hundred years of tiles
Production grew lively from the early 18th century, giving the craft more than 300 years of tradition. It was designated a traditional craft on 30 November 2017, one of the newest ceramic designations.
Good to know
- Look up at temple and old house roofs in Japan: the demon at the ridge end is an onigawara.
- A small indoor onigawara makes an unusual, very Japanese souvenir.
Questions travellers ask
What is an onigawara?
A decorative roof-end tile, often with a demon face, placed at the end of a roof ridge.
Who makes onigawara?
Specialist craftsmen called oni-shi or oni-ita-shi.
Where it comes from
More crafts from the same area
Local foods from the same area
Heritage stories from the same area
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.