Naughty Children Hide from Namahage at the End of a Year

Namahage Museum

(Oga City, Akita Prefecture)

【Warui-ko (悪い子)】 refers to a naughty child who misbehaves and does not assist parents with household chores. If you are a ‘Warui-ko,’ you might receive a visit from Oga-like figures called ‘Namahage’ at the end of the year. ‘Namahage’ have demon-like faces, carry large Japanese-style kitchen knives, and wear straw outer garments as they seek out and discipline the lazy.

In the Oga Peninsula area of Akita Prefecture, each village hosts a Namahage festival at the year’s end within the local community. Although Namahage have frightening, horned faces akin to demons, they are actually local mountain deities. Each village’s Namahage mask and costume are unique, handcrafted by villagers using available materials for their festival.

On the night of December 31st, young men from the villages gather in the community house, donning costumes and masks. They visit homes within the community, making loud noises by roaring, speaking in rough and loud voices, banging on doors and walls, and asking, ‘Are there any naughty children, ’Warui-ko’, here?’ The children, terrified by the Namahage’s appearance and intimidating performance, cry out and hide.

The head of the household deals with the Namahage by offering Japanese sake and meals. The Namahage and the master engage in a dialogue about the year’s farming results and whether the children have behaved well. The master defends the children by denying any bad behavior.

However, the Namahage consult their book, which records the children’s misdeeds for the year—such as watching TV instead of doing homework or neglecting household chores—and move about the house making loud noise, admonishing the children. While the festival is a folk event, it also serves as an educational event for the community’s children, teaching discipline through a frightening experience, in contrast to Santa Claus, who rewards with gifts.

Visitors can experience the Namahage festival at the Namahage museum located in the center of the peninsula, where the interaction between the Namahage and the master is reenacted. Additionally, a variety of Namahage masks used in the festival are on display.

Statues and representations of Namahage can be found throughout the peninsula—in towns, at stations, and even in the mountains. It’s a delightful challenge to spot them.

The Namahage festival has a history of at least 200 years, although its exact origins remain unknown. The oldest written record of the Namahage festival dates back to 1811, documented in a travelogue by a scholar of herbalism. This unique festival has been recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage under the designation of “Raiho-shin: Ritual Visits of Deities in Masks and Costumes.”

(map: Namahage Museum, Official Site)