Hanging on the walls of Jake Davies' home are around 20 artifacts that seem at odds with the idyllic village in Sakurae, Shimane Prefecture where his rustic abode is set.
Some depict outlandish beings with horns and frightening fangs. Even those that seem more terrestrial possess some quirky feature — a wonky, spoutlike mouth, or eyes so droopy that given half a chance they might just slide away down their chubby cheeks.
However, in this part of the prefecture, which locals still refer to by its old name, Iwami, households not displaying these traditional masks are few and far between, he says.