Also known as: シーサー
Shiisaa are wards from Okinawan mythology that are believed to protect from various evils; they take the form of statues that resemble a cross between a Lion and a Dog. They are often seen guarding the entrances of homes and villages or perched on rooftops.
For lion-dog statues that sit at the entrances of Shrines in mainland Japan, see Komainu.