Shi-sa
Shīsā is a traditional Ryukyuan decoration, often in pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog, from Okinawa mythology. People placed pairs of shisa on their rooftops or flanking the gates to their houses. Shisa are wards, believed to protect people from evil spirits. When in pairs, the left shisa traditionally has a closed mouth, the right one has an open mouth. The open mouth wards off evil spirits, and the closed mouth to keep good spirits in.
Sources: Wikipedia
