Stamp Passport

Festival Wide

Masks & Myths Stamp Passport

Pick up a Passport Postcard at the info table on MTC 2nd floor landing and travel through the festival to collect all 8 Mask Stamps. Return your fully stamped passport to the Japan Festival Booth to be entered to win a Lego Japanese Maple Lego Kit, Japan Festival T-Shirts, Tote Bags, 2025 Festival Enamel Pins, and much more! 

This year there are 8 stamps to find around the festival for this year’s theme “Masks and Myths”. Each one plays an important part in Japanese culture.

Here is more information about each of the stamps:

Oni Mask – An oni mask is a type of demon or ogre mask, part of wearable Japanese folklore that dates back to the 6th century. Although fearsome, which is why Samurai masks are similar, they can also be a form of protection. Oni masks can be found in theaters, at festivals, and used in holidays like “Setsubun” and others.

Okame Mask – Okame is also known as “Otafuku,” which means “much good fortune.” “Okame” means “Tortoise” and is a symbol of long life. You may see Okame masks in Kyogen comic plays, which usually take place during the intermission of Noh theater performances.

Tengu Mask – Tengu, a Shinto Kami trickster god, who either has a human appearance with a long nose, or a bird-like appearance with a beak. Tengu appears in various aspects of Japanese culture, religion, folklore, and mythology, and is a regular presence in modern Anime. Tengu can be worn at festivals or other occasions. They protect the wearer from malevolent spirits.

Samurai Mask – Samurai Masks are also often called “Menpo” masks, which refer to half masks or Hanbo masks, covering the lower half of the face from below the nose to the chin. These samurai masks, popular among samurai in feudal Japan, were worn on the face in addition to the samurai’s “Kabuto” or helmet armor. These were made from iron, leather, and cotton braid, and often featured an added horse-hair mustache. They added a fearsome component to battle, as well as protection from swords, arrows, and the elements.

Hyottoko Mask– Hyottoko roughly translates to “Fire man.” Hyottoko is often portrayed as a comedic character, typically featuring eyes of varying shapes and sizes, and a mouth that is constantly puckered, as he is always the one blowing the bamboo pipe to keep the communal fire going. Hyottoko may appear alongside Okame as her husband in Kyogen comic plays or at festivals and dances, especially those with fire themes. You might also find a Hyottoko Mask over fireplaces to ward off fire and bring good luck and prosperity.

Kitsune Mask – Kitsune are not ordinary foxes. These fox masks symbolize mystical fox spirits, often linked to the Shinto deity Inari. Fox masks are among the most popular festival masks because they serve as messengers and protectors of Inari, thus representing good luck in many forms, including during rice harvests. You can also see Kitsune masks in Noh theater, Kabuki performances, and in modern media, such as video games, anime, and manga. While traditional colors include red and gold, fox masks come in a variety of forms.

Kabuki Mask – Kabuki masks are not always masks, but sometimes makeup. Kabuki masks or makeup are often exaggerated portrayals of expressions and dramatic displays of traits. Although red is often associated with strength or passion, blue is often linked to fear or villainy, green suggests mythical or supernatural elements, and white conveys purity. The painting of a mask or makeup in Kabuki helps the audience understand the inner character as the performance unfolds.

Kappa Mask– Kappa are a type of water Yokai creature from Japanese Folklore. Although this stamp depiction of Kappa is very cute, Kappa masks often match the rather fearsome creature. Kappa typically have a turtle appearance, a beak-like nose, and have a pool of water in their head. Kappa masks can be found in theater performances, parades, folklore storytelling, and various festivals. Kappa stories regained popularity in the Edo period, although less popular than other masks, wearing a Kappa mask may ward off evil spirits and Yokai.