Happy Halloween! I carved up a trio of Japanese folklore inspired Jack O'Lanterns for the occassion. From left to right we've got:
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Daruma - Modeled after the popular Daruma dolls that are found everywhere in Japan. They are made with no pupils in their eyes. One pupil is drawn in when a goal is made and then the other eye is drawn in when the goal is achieved. As you can see, this Daruma has both eyes.
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Kuebiko - The scarecrow god from the Kojiki, Japan’s oldest surviving chronicle. He can’t walk, but he stands in the fields watching all day, and the Kojiki says he knows everything under heaven. I carved his face with henohenomoheji (へのへのもへじ), a doodle face made from hiragana that Japanese kids learn to draw and that often shows up on scarecrows.
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Okame- Also called Otafuku, is the smiling woman mask with chubby cheeks and a plump mouth. She stands for good luck and cheer. The shape of this pumpkin was perfect for Okame.