Supernatural Visitors in Wintry Northern Japan

The namahage bring good fortune to every household they visit.

Namahage dressed in straw capes dance in a house they have come to bless.

The Namahage Sedo Festival held every year in February.

Namahage bearing flaming torches in the Sedo Festival.

Visitors can meet real namahage at the Oga museum.

The suneka wear distinctive black masks with a hooked nose. (Photo courtesy of the Ōfunato Board of Education)

Men dressed in straw capes throw buckets of water. (Photo courtesy of Tome City Commerce Sightseeing Section)

An amahage wearing a fierce mask exhorts a child to be good or else. (Courtesy Yuza Board of Education)