Akabeko

The Akabeko is a traditional papier-mâché folk toy from the Aizu region of Fukushima, shaped as a red cow with a gently nodding head. Born from a legend in which a red ox helped build a temple and came to embody devotion and protection, it has been treasured for centuries as a charm against illness and misfortune. Its bold vermilion body, black-and-gold markings, and swaying head make it one of Japan's most recognizable good-luck talismans.