Haiku about New Year (6)

真山の祭りに降りる神の使者

 

shinzan no   matsuri ni oriru   kami no sisha

 

 

From Mount Shinzan

descend messengers of god

into a festival

 

Notes:
The Namahage Sedo Festival is held on the grounds of the Shinzan Shrine at the foot of Mount Shinzan on the second Friday, Saturday and Sunday of February every year, when the “Devil Festival” on December 31 is re-enacted for the public there.
Namahage join the festival as messengers of god in the following way.
First of all, there is a ceremony in which young men are exorcized and changed into messengers of god with devil masks handed by Shinto priest（神官）, entering Mount Shinzan as Namahage.
Next, those Namahage　come down to the grounds of the Shinzan Shrine to take part in the festival.

By Hidenori Hiruta

蛭田秀法

Haiku about New Year (5)

なまはげに供ふ御膳や海の幸

 

namahage ni  sonau ozen ya   umi no sachi

 

 

A thanksgiving dish

to Namahage --

fruits of the sea

 

 

Notes:

The real purpose of the arrival of the devils is to punish the lazy fellow who does not do his work or help the parents with the house chores.                                      

The head of the family will serve the devils in a formal manner with sake and fish while the children and the housewife watch from a respectful distance. Suddenly the devil will shout to the wife “Is the cooking knife sharp?”  “Are the New Year’s beans boiled?”
The festival consists of drama between human beings and the guardian deities. It is carried out as tradition and custom in the richness and fantasy afforded people of this part of the world. The figures suddenly rush out of the house to pound on the next door in their frantic scratch for a lazy fellow.

 

By Hidenori Hiruta

蛭田　秀法

Haiku about New Year (4)

 

 

 

神の使者童育む大晦日

 

kami no shisha   warabe hagukumu   oomisoka

 

 

Messengers of god

bring up Oga children

New Year's Eve

Notes:

 When the door is open, the first devil describes himself as the spirit, while the second devil beats upon a wooden bucket with a large cutting knife.

The elders of the house receive them and bring the devils into the house and the living room. As the devils walk slowly down the hall way the devil of Namahage will shout in a loud voice. “Where are the crybabies in this house?”  Suddenly the devil slides open a door and there will be the children. Namahage will shout. “Are you good children?” “Are you working hard at school?” Of course, the children all nod their heads that they are doing their best.

By Hidenori Hiruta

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　蛭田　秀法

Haiku about New Year (3)

男鹿半島福招きけり神の使者

 

oga hantou   fuku manekikeri   kami no shisha

 

 

Oga Peninsula

messengers of god invite

good luck

Notes:

In the Oga Peninsula, Akita Prefecture in the northern Honshu, Japan, there is a deep feeling of mystery as the New Year begins. There is the “Devil Festival” held there on December 31, a ceremony that children find exciting and full of thrills. Two or five young men dressed in straw rain capes, large straw boots and wearing frightful masks run as fast as possible through the village in the snow and shout in a monster-like voice as they knock upon each door.

By Hidenori Hiruta

      蛭田 秀法