The Visiting Deities

(draft — to be rewritten from the ledger) The Namahage of Oga, the Amamehagi of Noto, the Paantu of Miyako Island — masked and costumed deities visit the houses, admonish the idle and leave blessings behind. In 2018, ten of these rites were inscribed together on the UNESCO list as Raiho-shin, ritual visits of deities in masks and costumes. A rare festival form in which fear itself is the community's teacher.