Where did the Namahage come from? And what sort of emotions will you take home with you once your trip is done?

First, we invite you to listen closely to the Oga locals as they recount their“Memories of the Namahage.”What shape will the Namahage take in your mind as you listen to their stories? The image may vary depending on the speaker’s age, gender, and their relationship to the Namahage.

Whether you’re driving through the Peninsula, resting at your lodgings, or on your train ride home, let this audio experience feed your imagination.

ON THE TRIP Editing Team
Planning: Akihito Shiga
Writing: Mia Nohara
Photography: Hiroshi Honma

*This guide was created based on documents and interviews and includes some interpretation done by us at ON THE TRIP. Theories differ between experts, so try to find out what really happened on your travels!

References:
Websites:
Oga Navi: https://oganavi.com
Oga Peninsula・Ogata Geopark. http://www.oga-ogata-geo.jp/
Geological Info Portal Site: https://www.web-gis.jp/

Published Works:
Yuji Ine, “Namahage wo shiru Jiten”（Shufusha）
Iwanami Shoten, ”Oga Hanto 1955” Reprinted Wide Edition
Tamihide Sasaki, ”Akita-ken no Yama”（Yamato-Keikokusha）
Hideki Sugiyama, “Akita no jisakana・Shun no sakana” （Akita chiiki shigen netowaku (Akita Regional Resource Network) ）
Nihonkai Chiiki Bunka Kenkyusho (Sea of Japan Regional Culture Institute), “Namahage ―sono men to shuzoku―” Revised Edition