Komainu
The shīsā (シーサー) are stone animals that guard the gates or roofs of houses in Okinawa. They are close relatives of the shishi and the komainu, and they share the same origin, function, and symbolic meaning. The name "shīsā" is a regional variant of "shishi-san" (獅子さん, lit. 'Mr. Lion') that has been used for centuries.