Namahage
Demonlike beings who visit homes to admonish children at New Year.
In the folklore of the Oga Peninsula in Akita Prefecture, northern Japan, the Namahage are demonlike figures portrayed by men wearing large oni (ogre) masks and traditional straw capes, called *mino* in standard Japanese but locally known as *kede* or *kende*. These men carry a wooden knife (hocho) and a wooden bucket (oke), and they move in small groups of two or three. During a New Year’s ritual, they go door-to-door, shouting in the local dialect to scold children who might be lazy or misbehaving—asking, for example, “Are there any crybabies around?” or “Are naughty kids around?” The masks were traditionally carved from painted wood or bark, often red, but nowadays they may be made from cardboard, flattened metal cans, or other recycled materials, sometimes built on a bamboo-strainer frame. In one hamlet, Yumoto, the Namahage travel in pairs, one with a red face and the other blue.
The name “Namahage” is thought to come from an old phrase the figures would call out: “Blisters peeled yet?” (*namomi ko hagetaka yo*). These blisters, known as *hidako* (heat-induced rashes from sitting too long by an open hearth), are the condition *Erythema ab igne*. The idea is that the Namahage admonished idlers who sat around the fire doing nothing useful, and the name likely refers to peeling off those fire-caused blisters.
Originally, the Namahage were not considered ogres but rather young men impersonating *kami* (spirits) who visited during the New Year season—a kind of *toshigami* (deity of the new year). Over time, the practice shifted. In the 20th century, the Namahage would receive *mochi* (rice cakes) from the households they visited, and newlyweds were expected to host them in formal attire, offering sake and food. Today, they still receive hospitality during New Year’s, but roles have reversed at the Namahage Sedo Festival (held in February at Shinzan Shrine since 1964), where the Namahage give *mochi* to visitors.
The ritual now takes place on New Year’s Eve of the Gregorian calendar, but historically it was held on “Little New Year” (*Koshōgatsu*), the first full moon of the lunar year—usually around mid-February, two weeks after the Chinese New Year. The Namahage Sedo Festival, established in 1964, is held annually on the second weekend of February, roughly coinciding with that lunar date.
Old phrases the Namahage used include “Knife whetted yet?” an
- field
- Japanese folklore
- nationality
- Japanese (Oga Peninsula, Akita Prefecture)
- known_for
- New Year's ritual visits to admonish children, wearing oni masks and straw capes
- type
- Demonlike beings / kami impersonations
Lore & Background
The Namahage are portrayed by men who don oni masks and dress in long straw coats called mino, locally known as kede or kende. They carry a wooden knife (hocho) and a wooden bucket (oke). Marching in small groups of two or three, they go door-to-door yelling phrases like 'Are there any crybabies around?' or 'Are naughty kids around?' in the local dialect. Traditionally, masks were painted wooden ones, often red, but modern masks may use cardboard, flattened metal canisters, or recycled materials on a bamboo strainer frame. In the hamlet of Yumoto, Namahage travel in pairs, one red-faced and one blue-faced.
Reader's Guide
The Namahage tradition is significant as a New Year's ritual that originally involved youngsters impersonating kami (toshigami) making visitations. Over time, the practice shifted: in the 20th century, Namahage received mochi from households, with newlyweds hosting them in formal attire and offering sake and food. Today, they still receive hospitality but also distribute mochi to tourists during the Namahage Sedo Festival held in February. The tradition serves to encourage children to obey parents and behave, with parents sometimes requesting specific lessons. Ethnologists and folklorists suggest it relates to beliefs in deities from abroad removing misfortune and bringing blessings, or to an agricultural custom involving kami from sacred mountains. The legend has multiple origin theories, including inspiration from yamabushi practitioners, messengers of mountain kami, a foreigner who washed ashore, or the legend of Emperor Wu of Han involving five bats turning into oni who built stone steps.
Did You Know?
- The name 'Namahage' is generally believed to derive from the phrase 'namomi ko hagetaka yo' meaning 'Blisters peeled yet?' referring to heat blisters from sitting by the hearth.
- The Namahage Sedo Festival, established in 1964, is held annually on the second weekend of February at Shinzan Shrine.
- In the past, Namahage visits were held on the 'Little New Year' (the first full moon of the lunar calendar), not on Gregorian New Year's Eve.
- One legend says Namahage originated from five bats that followed Emperor Wu of Han and turned into oni who stole crops and young women.
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