Details about the Festival

• 

  "Chinkamasai" and "Yunomai"

  6 p.m. At the entrance of the venue

  Yunomai is a sacred Shinto blessing that uses music and dance specific to the Oga region. Chinkamasai (Yudate) is a purification ceremony made by stirring up boiling water from a cauldron with a whisk. It is thought the Chinkamasai (Yudate) ceremony is performed to keep away the ugly weather of sea.

• 

  The Namahage spirit call

  6:20 p.m. At the gate of the shrine

  Young men who are disguised as Namahage get purified by a Shinto priest at the gate of the shrine's stone stairs. They receive the masks of the Namahage which contain the spirit of the Gods, then they become Namahage and return to the mountain.

• 

  Reproduce of the Namahages' visit (Performance)

  6:35 p.m. At Kaguraden stage

  We can see a traditional New Year's Eve in the Oga area. Every year the Namahage visit and go from house to house and we can watch this performance at Kaguraden stage.

• 

  The Namahage Dance

  6:55 p.m. In front of the Sedo bonfire

  You can see a soul-stirring dance from the Namahage. It was created in 1961 by Baku Ishii (a modern dancer) from Akita, and his son, Kan Ishii (the composer).

• 

  Namahage Daiko Drumming

  7:05 p.m. At Kaguraden stage

  Namahage Daiko Drumming is a folk tradition which is a collaboration between Namahage and Japanese drummers. They play big drums wishing for peace to the household and a good harvest.

• 

  Namahage Descending from the mountain, Offering of Goma-mochi to the Namahage

  7:25 p.m. At the open space & the approach to the shrine

  Namahage with torches show up from the dark side of the mountain and descend on the shrine. Everybody will be fascinated with the Namahage's mystical and fearless atmosphere. They walk around and interact with the audience. Goma-mochi (rice-cake) is offered for the Gods. This rice-cake is given to the Namahage who are an incarnation of the Gods. The Shinto priests dedicate this rice-cake, roasted on the Sedo bonfire, to the Namahage; the Namahage can't touch this divine rice-cake easily and struggle to get it. When the Namahage have finally taken the rice-cake, then the Namahage return to the mountain where the Gods reside.

• 

  Sato-no Namahage

  8 p.m. At Kaguraden stage & the open space

  Namahage events are different in each area of Oga, with varying costumes, masks and rules. Different Namahage areas come to this venue.

Relevant Events

During the Namahage Sedo Festival, there is a special offer on the admission fee for the "Namahage museum" and "Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum"

Winter discount price 1,100 yen → 880 yen (18 or under 880yen → 550yen)
Namahage Museum is free and open to the public from 4 p.m.
Free lectures start at Oga shinzan Folklore museum from 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
*Numbered tickets will be distributed at 3:30 p.m. (for starting at 4 p.m.) and 4 p.m. (for starting after 4:30 p.m.).

Namahage Museum Opening Hours/ 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum Sessions/ 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

Guide map

Depending on the event, acting places will change between Kakuraden and Sando, etc. Except for the no entry zones, everything is open to visitors.

• Umbrellas, camera tripods, monopods, stepladders, stepping-stools, etc., may disturb other visitors and are prohibited from the safety and crowd control perspective.
• No pets or other animals are allowed in the venue.
• Please note that the photos taken at the festival will be used for the publicity of the SedoFestival.