Namahage（なまはげ）

Namahage is a festival held in the Oga region of Akita prefecture. It was originally a folk festival welcoming the gods held on the 15th of January by the lunar calendar. It is now either held on January 15th or on New Year's Eve. The namahage are a group of young men from the local village dressed up as monsters. They go around to the different houses warning children of the punishment they will receive for being bad. Despite often being frightening to the children themselves, the parents will assure them that there are no bad children there, and the namahage are believed to bring happiness and prevent misfortune. The name "namahage" is said to come from the phrase "namomi", a local word that refers to burns on one's hands and feet as a result of hanging around the fireplace, a sign of laziness in the cold weather found in Akita.

The appearance of the namahage is indeed frightening. The masks typically have large, piercing eyes, mouths with a menacing smile that extends ear to ear, and long fangs. Their outer full-body costume, called gede ゲデ, as well as shoes are made from straw. In their hands they carry a large machete, a bucket, and a go-heibō 御幣棒, which is a wooden pole with multiple pieces of sacred paper attached to ward off evil spirits. The machete is meant to scrape off the "namomi" burns, and the bucket is for sake, which they supposedly receive and take back with them into the mountains.

The namahage go around to the different houses in the village in groups of two. When entering a house, they announce their arrival, then stomp their feet seven times after entering the house. They then walk around the house bellowing such things as "Are there any lazy children in here? I smell lazy children!" while stomping on the tatami. The head of the house must treat the namahage with respect, and serve them food and drink. The namahage then stomp their feet five times and bellow more. After a short interaction including a prayer for next year's crops, the namahage walk around again, this time stamping their feet three times. These numbers, seven, five, and three, are said to be auspicious, and stomping them out keeps the children of the household free of disease and injury. Lastly, the namahage are served mochi 餅 rice cakes, and leave for the next house.