Namahage

Namahage is a tradition that is observed throughout the Oga Peninsula peninsula that juts out into the Sea of Japan from northern Honshū, Japan. The ritual is carried out to cleanse the soul and offer prayers that the year to come will be a good one.

On New Year's Eve, villagers dress up as fierce monsters (鬼) called Namahage enter the houses of the village asking if any misbehaving children live there. The Namahage, wearing large masks, straw raincoats and waist-bands, holding wooden knives and pails, go around visiting the houses at night, dancing along as they give out strange cries. They shout out menacing cries such as: "Any children crying?" "Any children disobeying their parents?" or "Any lazy daughters-in-law neglecting their work?"
The small children are often frightened and run and hide. The parents will reassure the Namahage that no bad children live in their house, and offer the Namahage refreshments.

An obvious purpose of the festival is to encourage young children to obey their parents and to behave, important qualities in Japan's heavily structured society.