The character holding the banner is a karyobinga, a creature from Buddhist mythology that is half human and half bird. It's not an angel exactly but something like one. The karyobinga sometimes appears in gagaku performances. Gagaku is the oldest type of classical music in Japan, and is associated with the Japanese Imperial Court.
The karyobinga's assistant on the left has a whistle and a drum, to catch the attention of the newly departed spirits. So put these two together, and it's like a couple of tour guides waving their flags so their charges know where to go!
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to Kyokai no Rinne
Karyobinga help to aid newly deceased souls through the afterlife as they prepare for reincarnation.
The character holding the banner is a karyobinga, a creature from Buddhist mythology that is half human and half bird. It's not an angel exactly but something like one. The karyobinga sometimes appears in gagaku performances. Gagaku is the oldest type of classical music in Japan, and is associated with the Japanese Imperial Court.
