Bandit

Bandit in Akita
On New Year's Eve, in the town of Oga, Akita, residents are haunted by giant, ogre-like creatures with wide, toothy jaws and bodies covered in straw - the Namahage (生剥げ). They question the children about their behaviour over the past year. To keep the namahage peaceful, the families invite them for a glass of sake.
The spirits, said to be the incarnations of mountain gods, perambulate through the neighbourhoods, shouting and banging on the doors of houses to drive bad luck out of the place. Children, in particular, are remonstrated, and the Namahage pray for the well-being of the family, good health and a rich harvest in the coming year

The Namahage museum tries to save a dying tradition, with festivals, events and more.

The Black Bandit, travelling once again through Japan's northern region, is the perfect companion for our trip to the museum