Japanese folk ritual "Namahage"

OGA, Japan, Dec. 31 Kyodo - Men dressed as a deity called Namahage visit a residential house in Oga in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Akita on Dec. 31, 2024, during an annual event to bring good fortune. The Japanese folk ritual was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2018. (Kyodo)

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

A junior high school student poses with men dressed in long straw coats with demon-like masks to impersonate a deity called Namahage after running in the Tokyo Olympic torch relay at a shrine in the Akita Prefecture city of Oga, northeastern Japan, on June 9, 2021.

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

A junior high school student poses with men dressed in long straw coats with demon-like masks to impersonate a deity called Namahage after running in the Tokyo Olympic torch relay at a shrine in the Akita Prefecture city of Oga, northeastern Japan, on June 9, 2021.

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

Tokyo Olympic torch relay

A junior high school student poses with men dressed in long straw coats with demon-like masks to impersonate a deity called Namahage after running in the Tokyo Olympic torch relay at a shrine in the Akita Prefecture city of Oga, northeastern Japan, on June 9, 2021.

Year-end "namahage" rituals in Akita

Year-end "namahage" rituals in Akita

A man serves up a feast for "Namahage" who visited his house in Oga, Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 31, 2017. With demon-like masks and straw clothing, Namahage are considered divine messengers bringing blessings to people by visiting houses in the area every New Year's Eve, yelling and telling children they have to behave themselves. The tradition is designated as one of Japan's important intangible cultural assets. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo