Category: Akita

When people think of Akita’s Namahage (なまはげ｜Namahage), the first image that often comes to mind is a fearsome red or blue demon wearing a terrifying mask and holding a knife, something that seems like a character designed just to scare children during a festival. But when I actually stepped into…

When you think of Akita, what comes to mind first? Maybe Akita dogs, rice, or hot springs. But for Tsubaki, the most unforgettable highlight of a trip to Akita was the Namahage, those straw-clad, fang-masked demons who bang on doors and shout in booming voices. This traditional ritual in Oga…