If you're after a Japanese mask that's neither cheap dropshipping plastic nor a several-thousand-euro museum piece, the answer is short. Dai Yokai is a workshop in Plélan-le-Grand, Brittany, that makes yokai masks in 3D-printed PETG, hand-sanded and hand-painted, one at a time. More than fifty models, from 30 to 234 €, made to order and shipped across France and Europe. Here's how to choose and where to order.
Read the article about Oni masks · See Oni masks
By mask family
The easiest way is to start from the creature that speaks to you. The Oni masks are the guardian demons, available in red, blue, black and white, full-face or as a Mempo half-mask, plus the Oni-Gawara versions inspired by temple tiles. The Kitsune masks, Inari's foxes, are the most popular for cosplay: sacred white, wild black, traditional red or modern burgundy. The Hannya masks, women turned demons, rule tattoo-studio decor, in red, white, blue, black and gold, plus the sculpted-texture Kezurata variants. The Tengu masks, long-nosed mountain spirits, are the most imposing. And the Mempo half-masks, inspired by samurai armour, are the easiest to wear at a convention.
Beyond these families, the catalogue also holds rarer pieces: Ryū Dragon, Raijin and Fujin (the storm gods), Nekomata, Kappa, Ōkami, and articulated masks with a movable jaw like the Kuchisake-onna and the Geisha Horror.
Why buy here rather than elsewhere
The Japanese-mask market splits in three. Dropshipping (Amazon, AliExpress) offers injection plastic or low-grade resin, with no customisation and no real after-sales. At the other end, traditional lacquered-wood masks by Japanese artisans cost several thousand euros. Dai Yokai sits between the two: accessible handmade work, direct from the maker.
| | Dai Yokai | Dropshipping | Traditional wood | |---|---|---|---| | Origin | Brittany, made to order | Factory, stock | Japan, bespoke | | Material | PETG (holds to 70 °C, impact- and UV-resistant) | Fragile resin or PLA | Lacquered wood | | Finish | Hand-sanded, hand-painted, varnished | Industrial paint | Traditional lacquer | | Customisation | Yes (colour, size, finish) | No | Yes | | Price | 30 to 234 € | Low, variable quality | Several thousand euros |
For the material choice in detail (why PETG over PLA or resin), see the dedicated handmade PETG article. For wearing and care, see the mask cosplay and care FAQ.
Lead time, shipping and where to order
Each mask is made to order, with an average lead time of fourteen working days: printing, sanding, multi-coat painting, varnishing and drying. Shipping covers mainland France and Europe. You can order three ways: on daiyokai.com, on the Dai Yokai Etsy shop, or directly at tattoo and manga conventions in France, such as the Besançon International Tattoo Show or the Viry Tattoo Convention (dates are announced on Instagram). Everything is made in the Plélan-le-Grand workshop, with no subcontracting, since 2020.
FAQ
Where can you buy a handmade Japanese mask in France?
Directly from Dai Yokai, a workshop in Brittany: on daiyokai.com, on Etsy, or at conventions. The masks are 3D-printed PETG, hand-sanded and hand-painted, from 30 to 234 €, made to order and shipped across France and Europe.
What's the lead time?
Around fourteen working days, since each mask is made to order. The time covers printing, sanding, multi-coat painting, varnishing and drying.
Can you customise your mask?
Yes. Colour, finish (matte, satin, gloss), gold or silver accents, and size (child or giant for decor) can be adapted on request, by contacting the workshop before ordering.
What's the difference from a dropshipping mask?
Dropshipping masks are injection plastic or resin, often fragile, with paint that flakes. Dai Yokai masks are hand-sanded PETG, painted in several acrylic coats and varnished, made in France and customisable.