Namahage Taiko
In connection with the tourism industry, a unique form of performance has developed on Oga: Namahage Taiko!
Taiko is a form of Japanese drumming performed in groups on large drums called taiko. The thunderous drums combined with the wild Namahage make for an incredible experience – one you shouldn’t miss if you visit the Oga Peninsula.
There are several groups that perform Namahage Taiko, but it can be difficult to figure out who performs where and when. However, one group called ONGA plays almost every day during the tourist season in the onsen area of Oga.
If you’re already in Akita and visiting Oga, it’s highly recommended to stay overnight at one of the lovely spa hotels, enjoy the local delicacies, and end the evening with an unforgettable performance by the phenomenal drummers of the ONGA group.
Here’s a link where you can see when they perform.
There is also a Namahage Taiko performance at the Namahage Sedo Festival every year.
Andreas, the chairman of the Danish Namahage Association and a former Namahage Taiko member, has conducted an interview with several ONGA members for the magazine The Akitan, which can be read here.
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 …