These designs probably inspired by the Nebuta Matsuri (festival) in Aomori prefecture (far north of Japan). The famous feature of the Nebuta festival are gigantic floats made of rice paper and illuminated by many lightbulbs from the inside (so they are really sort of lanterns), constructed in the shape of warriors on horses, and so forth. The origin is said to be by General Tamuramaro in the early 800s who had his army create the large creatures to scare away the enemy. Here again we note the apotropaic (warding off danger) aspect of conveyance decoration-- found also in the eyes on Bangladesh rickshas, or the demon mask on a Kerala truck.
Tokyo, 1997