Namahage Gallery
Videos
Below, you’ll find a selection of videos showing the Namahage ritual as it is performed every year on December 31 on the Oga Peninsula in northern Japan. The videos are in Japanese, but they still offer a clear impression of how the ritual unfolds. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us – the Danish Namahage Association is always happy to share more about this unique culture.
A short representation of the ritual as performed on New Year’s Eve in a home on Oga Peninsula
(90 seconds)
A documentary showing how the ritual is performed in different areas of the Oga Peninsula – a detailed guide to the Namahage ritual
(50 minutes)
A clip highlighting the Namahage performance taking place at the Namahage Museum in Oga, Akita. This performance reenacts the actual ritual and is available all year round at the museum – a must-see for all Akita visitors
(2 minutes)
Pictures
We’ve put together a small selection of Namahage photos from both our own events and performances in Japan. For more images and to support us, be sure to follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
Namahage in Japan
The Namahage Museum
Our Namahage Performances in Denmark
Learn more about Namahage
The Ritual
The Namahage ritual varies from village to village. Just as each place has its …
Theories
The oldest written source about the Namahage appears in the travelogue “Oga’s Cold Winds”, published by …
The Folktale
On New Year’s Eve on the Oga Peninsula, young men head to the shrines and into the mountains, where they …
The Costume
Each area of the Oga Peninsula has its own version of the Namahage. Whether it’s a neighborhood in the …
The Festival
In the old days, before the Gregorian calendar was adopted in Japan, the Namahage ritual was …
Namahage Taiko
In connection with the tourism industry, a unique form of performance has developed on Oga …
Tourism
In Akita, from the moment you step off the train at the main station or exit the plane at the airport, you are greeted by …
Gallery
Below, you’ll find a selection of videos showing the Namahage ritual as it is performed every year on …