Netsuke "A Demon Holding A Mask" 面持鬼木彫漆塗根付

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This 3 cm wooden sculpture is netsuke in the shape of a demon holding a mask on show at Tokyo National Museum. It was carved by Ryukei from wood in the 19th century.

A netsuke is a small carved ornament, especially of ivory or wood, worn as part of Japanese traditional dress as a toggle by which an article may be attached to the sash of a kimono. (Source: Lexico)

A red horned demon holding a mask by Ryukei, 19th century, wood 面持鬼木彫漆塗根付

The mask also looks like a demon! 面も鬼みたい！

What is the demon thinking? Why is he smiling or smirking? And who is the mask? What's the relationship between the two? I thought about these for about 30 minutes, but couldn't come up with any good answers😅  

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東京国立博物館の面持鬼木彫漆塗根付です。ブサカワ？コワカワ？でしょうか。それにしてもこの赤鬼、何を考えてるのでしょうか？何を笑って（ニヤニヤ）してるんでしょうか？この面って誰？二人の関係は？いろいろ考えたのですが分かりませんでした｡｡｡😅

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