Namahage

[Oga City, Akita Prefecture] Meet the Namahage at the Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum! Namahage students from Akita Junior High School will attend together.

  • sugar
  • Last updated: 2024.05.21

The Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum shows the Namahage folklore through skits. Also in the Mayama area of ​​the Oga Peninsula is the Namahage Museum where Namahage are exhibited. Namahage is a legend that represents Akita and is designated as a national important intangible cultural property.

They barge into the house while shouting frightening voices, saying, ``Warigo hai negaa~! (Are there any bad kids?)'' ``Lazy things wa gaa~! (Are there any lazy people~!)'' My name is Namahage. The children are frightened to the core and cry out in horror at its strange appearance and wildness.

This is an event called ``Namahage Legend'' that still exists today. It is held every year on New Year's Eve. The Namahage Museum and the Oga Shinzan Densho Museum are open all year round. Even if it's not New Year's Eve, you can meet Namahage and experience its power for yourself.

Namahage appears in a skit at Oga Shinzan Folk Museum

``Oga Shinzan Denshokan'' is shaped like an ordinary private house. Namahage go around and break into houses one by one. Inside, there is a strange atmosphere. An old electric light shines in a space completely closed off with shutters. A storyteller standing below begins to tell the story of Namahage folklore.

Oga Shinzan Tradition Museum
Oga Shinzan Tradition Museum

Then, suddenly, there is a violent knock on the shutters from outside. At the same time, Namahage's voice echoes. He asks if he can come into the house. The reason I ask is because the Namahage rule is not to enter a house where there are sick people.

The Namahage enters the house and starts looking for bad children or lazy people while shouting loudly. The owner of the house desperately pleads, ``There are no bad kids in our house!'' However, Namahage have a ``Namahage ledger''. Looking at the ledger, he goes wild and says, ``According to this, there must be some bad kids who are skipping homework!''

The husband then tries to protect the child by saying, ``No, my child just finished his homework! There are no bad children!'' She begins offering sake and appetizers to appease Namahage's anger. Having served her well, the Namahage calms down on her anger and moves on to his next home.

Roots of Namahage

Namahage wears a demon mask. However, it is said that this is just a mask; in reality, it is a messenger of the gods who prays for the safety of one's family. The most popular theory is that the etymology of Namahage comes from ``Namomihagi.''

If you stay warm by the fire for too long on a cold night, you'll get a "fire octopus." In Akita, this fire octopus is called "Namomi." It is the Namomihagi that comes to peel off this Namomi. And this Namomihagi became sluggish and became Namahage.

A large number of Namahage will welcome you at the Namahage Museum.

Next to the Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum is the Namahage Museum. There are over 100 Namahage in the museum. The Namahage of Akita Junior High School are all here. This is the only place where you can see so many Namahage all at once.

There are also videos available, so you can watch the actual festival, similar to the skits you see at the folklore museum. You can even try on the Namahage costume. It is also possible to make Namahage costumes.

Summary about Oga Shinzan Folk Museum

If you go to the Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum, you can spend a day filled with Namahage color along with the Namahage Museum next door. The Namahage Museum sells cute Namahage dolls brandishing knives. It's also perfect as a souvenir.

Oga Shinzan Tradition Museum＜Information＞

  • Name: Oga Shinzan Denshokan (adjacent to Namahagekan)
  • Address: 48 Mizukaizawa, Kitaura, Oga City, Akita Prefecture, 010-0685
  • Phone number: 0185-22-5050 (Namahagekan)
  • Official URL: Namahagekan - Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum

Google Maps

Articles that may be related to this article

Other articles