Often called lion-dogs in English, komainu strongly resemble a cross between the two creatures. The idea of them originated in China, and is thought to be inspired by Asiatic lions. Statues of them are often displayed outside of shrines as they are thought to ward off evil spirits.
Statues of this creature always appear in pairs, with one having its mouth open and the other having it closed. They used to be portrayed as having more differences with the open mouthed version looking more like a lion and the one with its mouth closed looking more like a dog. However, over time their appearances have become identical aside from their mouths.
FUN FACT: Starting in the Edo period, other guardian animal statues have been placed outside of shrines. These include wild boars, tigers, dragons, and foxes.
Examples in various media:
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Komachiyo (One Piece)
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Arcanine (Pokemon)
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