Onigawara

They are generally roof tiles or statues depicting an oni (ogre) or a fearsome beast.

Onigawara were historically found on Buddhist temples, but are now used in many traditionally styled buildings.

Prior to the Heian period, similar ornaments with floral and plant designs (hanagawara) preceded the onigawara.

[1] The present design is thought to have come from a previous architectural element, the oni-ita, which is a board painted with the face of an oni and was meant to stop roof leaks.

During the Nara period the tile was decorated with other motifs, but later it acquired distinct ogre-like features and became strongly tridimensional.