Akabeko by Nakashimamenya

Papier-mâché, paint, thread
5" x 2.25" x 2.5"

Akabeko are a traditional toy and talisman from Northern Japan, including the Tohoku region where in one dialect beko means “cow” or “bull.” There are different types of Akabeko, the most famous of which is a red cow believed to ward off plague. Other Akabeko are depicted carrying symbolic items that form their purpose as power objects, including those with money boxes for prosperity and the straw bales carried by this Akabeko believed to bring abundant crops.