On New Year's Eve, performers dress as terrifying monsters called namahage. They barge into people's homes, condemning laziness and frightening children. But this good-natured tradition strengthens family and community bonds. In Tayazawa, a small village in Akita Prefecture, the practice came to an end several years ago, but was recently restarted by an enthusiastic group of locals. They made costumes and succeeded in reviving a custom at risk of slipping away.
On New Year's Eve, terrifying figures descend from the snowy mountains.
They're called namahage.
They barge into people's houses, and shout questions.
Any lazy people here?!
Are you a spoiled child?
Do you spend all day watching YouTube?
Laziness infuriates the nahamage.
We're taking any naughty children
back to the mountains!
The children get a chance to appreciate their parents' efforts to protect them.
Eventually, the namahage leave with a friendly but strict warning.
Do as you're told and be a good kid!
Namahage are messengers of the deities.
They banish misfortune, and usher in a happy new year.
They are treated with the greatest respect.
The city of Oga is on a peninsula jutting out into the Japan Sea.
There are many small villages here, with a backdrop of mountains.
The mountain-dwelling namahage are said to watch people as they go about their lives.
Their appearance differs from village to village.
And in some places, the tradition has been lost.
In 1992, this namahage made what many thought would be its last appearance.
That was in Tayazawa, a small village of rice farmers with just 27 households.
I can tell you a bit about
why the custom came to an end.
Namahage wouldn't visit any home where
someone had died in the previous year.
But that gradually became
true of more and more households.
So the event wouldn't be held at all.
Also, there were too few performers,
as young people were leaving town.
With only retired performers left,
a decision was made to cancel it.
But the namahage eventually made a comeback, thanks to one man.
When I was 30, I joined the
volunteer fire department.
Some older members of the group
had done nahamage in the past.
I told them I wanted to do it, too.
But back then there was no one
to do it, and no equipment.
Right from the get-go, they said
it was out of the question.
I was really disappointed,
but I understood.
Then when I was 35, someone younger
joined the same fire department.
He also wanted local kids
to experience namahage.
So again we spoke to the older members
about reviving the tradition.
They asked if we were serious,
and we said we were.
We definitely wanted to do it.
So they said they'd bring it up
at the next local meeting.
And that's how it happened.
In 2015, the namahage custom returned to Tayazawa.
The costumes are made using rice straw that's left over from the autumn harvest.
The stems are threshed to remove anything that might fall off and need to be cleared up in someone's home.
The stalks are pounded to soften them up.
Getting the costume ready is hard work.
The straw is then woven together.
The younger participants, including Itabashi, had no idea how to do this.
At first, I was clueless. You have to
twist the straw, which I couldn't do.
I had to ask the older members
to teach me everything.
Those techniques have to be passed
down to the younger participants.
And that has started to happen.
When the sun goes down, the group heads to a shrine at the edge of town.
There they transform themselves into namahage - messengers of the deities.
When you put on the costume and mask at
the shrine you feel so different.
Just naturally pumped up.
You well?
Not drinking too much?!
To keep the event going during the pandemic, the namahage would only come as far as the front door.
However, COVID-19 measures made it impossible for some participants to perform.
As we revived namahage,
we have a serious responsibility.
We can't just say, "There aren't
enough people; let's take a year off."
That would take things
in a bad direction locally.
It would send the wrong message.
So we have to keep it up even
if we don't have enough people.
People always look forward to seeing the namahage.
You well?
Still playing mahjong?
Yes, yes!
Conversation is an essential
element of the namahage act.
You learn who lives where,
and what job they do.
You make it clear you know about them.
That really strengthens social bonds.
That's why I think this
namahage custom is so important.
Thank you very much.
Happy New Year! Come again!
Every year, I look
forward to their visit.
They help bring in the new year.
I'm glad it was a success.
It's all thanks to local
cooperation and understanding.
I'm really grateful to everyone.
The namahage head for the hills.
But next year... they'll be back!