The Mengu covered either the entire face or part of it from possible combat wounds with arrows, shrapnel, and glancing blows, and also provided a way to support the kabuto — the top heavy samurai helmet. The cord (belt) of the kabuto for its fixation (shinobi-no o) was tied under the chin to the mang. There were small hooks (ori-kugi) or fasteners (odome), located in different places, to more securely fasten the mengu and kabuto. The neck and shoulders were protected by a metal rim — nodava (nodova, edare-kake), which was attached to the lower part of the helmet or disguise.

Mengu could be made of metal or leather (nerigawa) or a combination of both. The disguises could be varnished or corroded, and they could also include various facial details, such as a bushy gray mustache and eyebrows, protruding teeth, a removable nose (from ordinary to huge sizes), the beaks of tengu demons: all these additional elements were intended to inspire the enemy with various emotions, from sympathy to superstitious horror. Most of the mengu are for