NAMAHAGE Museum

Experience the folkloreof the Namahage

ExhibitsNamahage Seizoroi
The Namahage Exhibit

This is a line up of a wide variety ofdifferent Namahages from various
part of Oga.
There is a line up of more than 110 types ofNamahage with 150 different types of Namahagemasks on display here. The Namahages and themasks featured are actually in use in various partof Oga City. These masterpieces are bound to makean impact on you.

Namahage Densho Hall
The Namahage Legend TheaterShinpi Hall

The Authentic Story of the Namahage
During your visit to the Namahage Museum please make sure toview the short documentary film about the Namahage. The film
explains the Namahage legend and it offers a peek inside the local
houses during a visit from the Namahage, providing further insight
into the people who love and preserve the Namahage tradition.
"An evening with the Namahage" (15 minutes in length) will beshown every 30 minutes from 8:30 a.m. Views from the Oga
Peninsula’s many scenic spots are also displayed throughout theday in this room.

Oga Room

Experience Oga
Acquaint yourself with the nature and culture of Oga thebirthplace of the Namahage legend. A traditional boat carved outof a whole tree, as well as local tools and other items are displayedin this unique room complete with a mini forest containing screensand imbedded graphic panels. A computerized information retrieval
system is also provided.

Namahage Costume Booth

Information
Opening times

Here’s your chance to change into a Namahage!
Please ask our staff members for assistance and they
will help you try on the costumes. Feel free to take photos.

Holidays / none (open 365 days a year) Opening / 8:30a.m. to 5:00p.m.

Price
Price of Admission to Nahamage Museum
SingleAdultsElementary, JuniorHigh and HighSchool Students

Combined Price (Shinzan Folklore Museum and Namahage Museum)Groups(Apr. through Nov.)(15 or more)

540yen 486yen
270yen 216yen

Groups(Dec. through Mar)*Single(15 or more)(30 or more)GroupsSingle864yen810yen756yen1,080yen

540yen432yen324yen756yen*Limitation at 9:30-15:30 of Sat&Sun

Namahage
The Legend of Oga’s Namahage
999 Stone Stairs and the Namahage
Legend has it that the Han emperor brought five demonic ogres with him to Japan a little more than
two millennia ago. These oni, as they are most commonly called in Jpanese, stole crops and young
women from Oga's villages. The villagers decided to trick these ogres, promising to give up all their
young women if the demons could build a stone staircase of one thousand stairs in asingle night. If, on the other hand, the oni failed to reach the local temple to which thestaires were to be built, they would have to leave Oga never to return again.
The ogres accepted, and had reached 999 stairs when a quick-witted villager imitated acock crowing for the arrival of dawn. The surprised and dismayed oni fled, never to be seen again.

The Namahage Festival
Designated a National Important Folk Cultural Property
Though this New Year's Eve ritual is observed throughout Oga, all that is known of its origins isthat it is an old and important folk-cultural event.Namahage, played by young men in domenic
masks and traditional straw garments, make the rounds of houses in their villages. They burst
into these houses searching for new community members such as young wives and children.
In an inimitable throaty scream, the Namahage encourage and order these newcomers towork and study hard, and obey their parents or in-laws. Other household members "protect"their relatives, assuring the Namahage that they are good people. The Namahage are then offeredwith a little sake and some food.There are several theories about the precise meaning of this rite, but one common
theory is that it welcomes powerful deities who in turn bring good luck in the new year.

A Summary of Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum’s
Namahage PerformanceEnjoy the Namahage ritual year-round. The show is captivating, the banter between theNamahage and the household head is humorous, and they are both accentuated by theatmosphere of this converted traditional home. On New Year’s Eve, sakidachi (a man whohelps the Namahage as they visit villager’s homes) calls on each house to make sure thatthe family isn’t mourning the passing of a relative or coping with a serious illness of afamily member. He also asks if the family has experienced the birth of a child in thepassing year. If any of the above things have happened in the past year, the sakidachi
and the Namahage move on to another house. If nothing has occurred to prevent thevisit, he asks if the Namahage may enter. With the permission of the head of thehousehold, several Namahage enter the house. The Namahage stomp around the houseand eventually settle down near the fireplace, where they are served meals and sake (ricewine). The Namahage begin to talk with the head of the household and ask about theharvest and the health of the older members of the family. The Namahage then inquire
about whether or not the older members are being adequately cared for by the youngermembers, and ask if everyone in the family worked hard (or studied hard) in the passingyear. The Namahage warn the head of the household that they would be angry if someone in this family was lazy, disobedient, or not working hard. The head of thehousehold tells the Namahage that everyone in the family worked very hard over the last year, and that no one was lazy. The head of the household reports about thepassing year’s harvest and asks the Namahage’s favor for a good harvest in the coming year. The Namahage then promise to wish for another good harvest, as well as
good health for the family. Then, one of the Namahage points out that in fact some members of the family are indeed lazy because they did not even make the effort tocome to the living room to greet their Namahage guests. The head of the household tries to convince the Namahage that none of his family members are lazy. Toconfirm this, one of the Namahage takes a book out of his pocket and begins to examine it. Since the Namahage see all that happens in the village from the top of themountain and because they record all of this information in their secret book, Namahage you see, know everything about the villagers. According to the book, thechildren did not study hard, nor did they adequately help their parents. The book also says that additionally his wife did not do anything to discipline the children either.
The Namahage raise their voices, and decide that they will take the lazy children and their mother to the mountain. The head of the household apologizes, and tries tocalm the Namahage by giving them more food and sake because he does not want his children and wife to be taken to the mountain. Despite his efforts, the Namahage
stand up and start to look for the children and the mother. The head of the household increases their efforts to pacify the Namahage. He gives mochi rice cakes to them,and promises to do his utmost to improve the attitudes of both his children and their mother. He begs the Namahage not to take his wife and children to the mountainthis year. Finally, the Namahage tell the head of the household that they believe he is sincere about working to improve the attitudes of his family. Then, they instruct
him on how he can call the Namahage back at anytime (by clapping his hands three times while facing the mountain) just in case the children and his wife do not listen
to him. The Namahage then leave the house, but warn that they will be back the following year. In Oga, Namahage are believed to chase away bad luck and evil spirits
with their loud voices and noisy actions. Their visits also cause the villagers to reflect on the passing year. As it always has been in Oga, after the Namahage have left, it
is time to welcome the new year.

Namahage Sedo Festival
This famous winter rite is the union of the folk Namahage tradition
and a Shinto festival. The festival begins with Chinkamayu no Mai, asacred kagura dance particular to the area. This is followed by thedynamic Namahage dance and drums. Finally, fifteen Namahage
march down from the mountain bearing torches, bringing the night toits climax. Don't miss the sticky rice cakes passed out by the demons
themselves: they are said to ward off disaster.