Abstract
The “Oga no Namahage” folk event, which was designated as a Significant Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1973, has been a major tourism resource of Akita Prefecture. It gained worldwide recognition after the inscription of “Raiho-shin, ritual visits of deities in masks and costumes” on the UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2018. However, the traditional “Namahage” event, originally carried out by younger generations, has suffered from a shortage of successors due to the declining birthrate and aging population. To address this issue, some communities have begun to accept external participants such as tourists and foreigners. This paper reviews how a traditional event inherited through generations in every community across the Oga Peninsula has transformed into a common tourism opportunity. Comparative studies of questionnaire surveys from the Showa and Heisei eras reveal drastic changes in various elements of “Namahage” traditional event in response to changing times and social needs. In addition, the paper also discusses the authenticity as an Intangible Cultural Heritage through a case study of Tusbaki-Sugoroku community, which has accepted overseas students as “Namahage” participants.
