On the first Sunday of Advent this year, the Danish Namahage Association had a performance and lecture at the supplementary Japanese school in Aarhus. It is a school that has classes on the weekend for the children of Japanese expats living in Denmark.
At the school, they teach normal classes in Japanese, so that the children will not lose touch with their Japanese roots. Apart from scholastics, they also make sure to expose children to Japanese culture, which is where the Namahage Association came into the picture!
We started the day with a Namahage performance in the gymnasium, where the Namahage first interrogated the kids using the Namahage Register. They were very brave and managed to answer all the Namahage’s questions. Even their teacher got interrogated, and he agreed to do his best and not be boring or give too much homework.
After the performance, the Chief Namahage, Andreas, gave a presentation about Namahage to the children (in Japanese). The children had a chance to touch and inspect the different parts of the costume, and they asked many interesting questions.
Later in the day, we received six letters from the children and their teachers, which we have translated below. Some kids really loved having a visit from the Namahage, and others found it really scary.
We are especially happy with the drawings the kids did, and we will treasure them for many years to come.
Letter 1
To Mister Namahage
(I got a lot of hairs!)
This was my first Namahage experience. You had a very distinct face, which was kind of scary, but it was also cute. Next year, please come with all kinds of different colored Namahage, and not just red and blue (make it colorful).
From now on, I will do my best to remember to turn off the lights (I can probably manage).
Comments: At first, I thought the hair was yours and it was dyed. Also, you need to smile more.
Picture: Dear Demon, nice hair and clothes and deep voice. Next time, be more pretty!
Letter 2
Questions for the Namahage:
Why did you want to be Namahage? (It’s scary and I don’t like it)
Text on picture: “Don’t come any closer” “It’s scary, so don’t come again” “Bye bye” “Go away”
Letter 3
To Mister Namahage,
The Namahage looked really cool. I got a lot black hairs from the masks.
Please come again!
Hebana! (Akita dialect for “See you later”)
Letter 4
Thank you, Mister Namahage!
It was a very good experience to be able to have such a powerful visit from the Namahage. The children looked both like they enjoyed it very much and like they were a little bit scared. I believe this will be a memory they will remember for a long time.
Thank you very much!
Letter 5
To Mister Namahage,
Please be just a tiny bit more kind.
There are many different masks, but which color is your favorite? Thank you very much.
Please come again.
Letter 6
To Mister Namahage,
Thank you for teaching us about Namahage. If I go to Akita Prefecture, I want to go to the Namahage museum.
Roughly how many Namahage are there?Does the Namahage ritual only exist in Akita?Please come again.
Hebana!
PS: the drum was also great!