Namahage

Namahage (生剥^?)^[1] in traditional Japanese folklore is a demonlike being, portrayed by men wearing oversized ogre masks and traditional straw capes (mino^(ja)) during a New Year's ritual^[2] of the Oga Peninsula^[3] area of Akita Prefecture in northern Honshū, Japan.^[4]

The frightfully dressed men, armed with deba knives (albeit fake ones that are wooden^[3] or made of papier-mâché) and toting a teoke (手桶 "hand pail" made of wood^?),^[2] marching in pairs or threes going door-to-door making rounds of peoples' homes, admonishing children who may be guilty of laziness or bad behavior,^[2] yelling phrases like "Are there any crybabies around?" (泣く子はいねがぁ nakugo wa inēgā?^?)^[5] or "Are naughty kids around?" (悪い子はいねえか waruigo wa inēka?^?). (The speech is in the pronunciation and accent of the local dialect).

The above description is the modern rendition of the namahage visit, but the practice has shifted over the years.

An obvious purpose of the festival is to encourage young children to obey their parents and to behave, important qualities in Japan's heavily structured society.

Parents know who the Namahage actors are each year and might request them to teach specific lessons to their children during their visit.^[12] The Namahage repeat the lessons to the children before leaving the house.^[13]

Some ethnologists and folklorists suggest it relates to a belief in deities (or spirits) coming from abroad to take away misfortune and bring blessings for the new year,^[14] while others believe it is an agricultural custom where the kami from the sacred mountains visit.

Read the legend.

Honshu (本州 Honshū^?, literally "Main Province") ([hoɴɕuː] ( listen)) is the largest island of Japan. 
Deba bōchō (出刃包丁, literally: pointed carving knife) are Japanese style kitchen carvers primarily used to cut fish, though also used when cutting meat.