Fun of Good Old Japanese - 江戸・明治に学ぶ　楽しむ生き方

 Akita is located in northern Japan, and its prefectural museum is huge. It shows a lot of exhibits about “Human History” which is the history of ordinary people in Akita. The staff said that they prioritize on ordinary livelihood ; it is what I focus on. I took photo under the approval of the museum office.  とても大きな博物館です。私のお目当ての「人々の暮らし」（人文展示室）の展示が充実しています。「人文」を「 Human History 」と訳しているし、解説員さんの言葉からも、 暮らしの展示に重点 を置いていることが良く分かりました。特別利用申請をして撮影しました。 The large entrance suits to prefectural museum. It is in Akita Prefectural Koizumigata Park. 県立らしい構えです。秋田県立小泉潟公園の中にあります。 Human History Exhibition Hall 、人文展示室  “ Shouki-sama ”  is set in front of the hall. It is a powerful being  which protects a village from an invasion of disease and disaster . People stand it at the border of their village and pray .  On the 14 th of September, people take out two Shouki-sama (male and female) from the small shrine and change their outfits which are made of Japanese cedar (...

 In Oga peninsula which is at the northern part of Japan, “Namahage” visit families only once a year; it is New Year’s Eve. They seek for lazy people especially children and punish them. At the same time, they pray for the family’s happiness, a rich harvest and a good catch. I think it is a treasure of Oga.  This museum shows us all about Namahage.  なまはげは、年に一度だけ、大晦日の夜に家にやってきます。怠け者を探し出して懲らしめ、そして家族の無病息災と豊作豊漁を約束して山に帰ります。秋田の宝だと思います。  ここ博物館では、男鹿半島となまはげの全てを紹介しています。 It’s a large museum.  県立博物館のような規模です。 First of all, the lives in Oga are exhibited including old ones. 男鹿半島の海の暮らしの展示から。 Oga in the Edo period (1603 ～ 1868): People in Oga have received a blessings from the sea. Mountains in Oga are landmarks of fishermen, and those are places where gods reside too. 江戸時代の男鹿半島。右はなまはげが持っている刃です。男鹿の人々は海の恵みを受け、男鹿の山々は船乗りの目印であり、地元の人々にとっては神が宿る場所でした。 Going to the next building which has a theater. シアターがある次の建物へ。 You can take photo with Namahage here. なまはげに変身して写真撮影できます。 There...

 Namahage, which is one of the most famous rites, is performed in this museum . The proverb “Seeing is believing” is true. It is an interesting rite.  秋田といえば “なまはげ”。伝承館では、その実演が行われています 。これは「百聞は一見にしかず」です。楽しく、かつ、心温まる行事でした。  It is held on the New Year’s Eve when Shinzan village in Oga peninsula (Akita prefecture) is usually covered with snow. Three hundred of Namahage appear at the peninsula. They make a team which consists of two Namahage and one attendant, then they visit houses.   Namahage (photo above) seek for lazy people especially children and punish them . At the same time, they pray for the family’s happiness, a rich harvest and a good catch.   Btw, every Namahage team visits around ten families, which is the maximum number they can visit. Because, they are treated with sake (alcohol) in each house.  なまはげは、雪が積もっている大晦日の行事です。  男鹿には 300 匹のなまはげがいます。なまはげは、神なのですが、伝承館の方は “何 匹と数える ” といっていました。  伝承館がある真山（しんざん）は戸数 60 の村です。なまはげは三人一組で、一...