OGA, Akita Prefecture On a recent cold winter s night, a family here faced off with terrifying house guests massive ogre-like figures with broad, toothy maws and straw-covered bodies.
OGA, Akita Prefecture Even grotesque demons are taking safety precautions against novel coronavirus infections.
Oga city has garnered international praise and attracted visitors from around Japan for the Namahage festival held in various parts of the municipality on New Year’s Eve. Locals dressed as Namahage demons storm homes and scream at crybabies and lazy individuals.
But the pandemic has forced changes to the familiar winter sight in some communities. Others, including Oga’s Ashizawa district, have decided to call off their events this year.
Satoshi Tamaki, 61, head of the Ashizawa Namahage committee who has served as a demon for more than 40 years, was reluctant to give up the act.