Namahage Special Feature Part 1 "What is Namahage?"

Happy New Year!
We hope you will continue to support this yokai blog this year as well.
The first thing we'll be talking about in the new year is the monsters that appear on New Year's Eve.
Too late (LOL)!!! Admin, you completely missed the timing of the article.

What is Namahage?

Speaking of New Year's Eve monsters, there's Namahage!

Strictly speaking, he is a god who punishes lazy people.
It looks scary and has the same name in Yo-kai Watch.
Judging from the fact that it has appeared in many films, it is recognized as a monster throughout the country.
In the first place, Namahage is a type of person who spends all his time warming himself in a kotatsu on New Year's Eve.
To discipline lazy children and adults
Men dressed as red and blue demons
They burst into the house shouting, "Any naughty children here? Any crying children here?
It is a traditional folk event that is said to ward off evil and bring good fortune.
In addition, "Oga's Namahage" has been designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
This time, I will talk about Namahage, including his recent situation.
We will be doing close-ups in several parts.
Ah, posting a New Year's Eve article in the New Year,
I hope I get killed by Namahage.

The origin of the name Namahage

In winter, when you sit by a kotatsu or hearth, you are called "namomi"
Low-temperature burns can occur, and the word "namahage" comes from the "peel" part of the "namomi"
It seems that it came to be called that.

Red Namahage Blue Namahage

It is said that the red-faced one is called Jijinamahage and the blue-faced one is called Babanamahage.
If we had yellow, green and black, it would have been a squadron.

The ritual of becoming Namahage

Apparently, you offer food to the Namahage mask and then pray before putting it on.
It doesn't seem to be a transformational scene.
The spirit of animism is present here too.

The straw that falls from the raincoat brings good fortune

Do not pull it out intentionally.
It is said that straw that falls naturally brings good fortune.

Namahage Hero Appears

Those of you from Okinawa may already know this,
Okinawa's local hero "Ryujin Mabuya" Have you heard of "?
Similarly, in Akita
A local hero from Nikaho City with a Namahage motif
"Super God Neiger" is currently active.

The wave of local heroes is spreading.
If there are heroes, there must be villains too.
So I decided to start a local yokai movement.
I am secretly scheming. Hehehe.
In my own area, Edogawa Ward, Tokyo,
A hero movement has been happening for several years now.Ed Ranger"but
He works day and night. There is no villain who is truly villainous yet.
Now is the timeNishikasai is Chiba" motif
"Bloody Snake Sister Cat (Not Chiba)The only thing we can do is create a cat yokai called "."
The legend begins here!

Fusion of music and Namahage

Apparently there is something called the Oga Namahage Rock Festival.
This two-day rock festival has been held a total of five times since 2007.
As a music lover, this is a rock festival I really want to go to. In fact, I'm definitely going this year.
http://www.onrf.jp/

Namahage Sedo Festival

I mentioned earlier that Namahage is a New Year's Eve event.
This is a combination of the Namahage and Sedo Festivals held in early February.
It's a tourist event. It's worth seeing. I'm going to go this year!
http://www.oganavi.com/sedo/

Namahage Missionary

Through lectures, you can learn about Oga's unique customs, such as the etiquette and customs of Namahage.
Certification. Exam fee is 6,400 yen! Same as the Information Processing Engineer Examination (lol)
I wonder if Neiger received it too?
 
So, this time I have touched on the overview of Namahage.
The next feature will touch on the "effects of Namahage."
Look forward to it ♪