The Home of Namahage
For long years, the Namahage have been believed to be the incarnations of deities in Oga, Akita. On New Year’s Eve, they descend from the sacred mountains and visit house-to-house to warn children against misconducts crying "any bad kids?" At the same time, they give blessings to the residents. In 2018, the Namahage culture was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list as a part of the "Raiho-shin, ritual visits of deities in masks and costumes."
Why was the Namahage born in Oga? Wh...