Namahage
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Namahage is a tradition that is observed throughout the Oga Peninsula peninsula that juts out into the Sea of Japan from northern Honshū, Japan. The ritual is carried out to cleanse the soul and offer prayers that the year to come will be a good one.
On New Year's Eve, villagers (virgin men) dress up as fierce monsters (or demons, bogeyman), called Namahage and enter the houses of the village asking if any misbehaving children live there. They warn children not to be lazy or cry. The small children are often frightened and run and hide. The parents will reassure the Namahage that no bad children live in their house, and offer the Namahage refreshments.
An obvious purpose of the festival is to encourage young children to obey their parents and to behave, important qualities in Japan's heavily structured society.
Similar traditions in other regions are called:
- Amamehagi in Hokuriku.
- Amaburakosagi in Shikoku.
- Suneka, Anmo, Nagomi or Nagomihakuri in northern Iwate prefecture.
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