A Japanese tradition of cleansing the soul and praying for a new year. Namahage is known throughout Japan. This festival is held every year in February in Oga, Akita.
This video is of the Namahage playing taiko - a traditional Japanese drum.
The first of my semi final bouts. It looks like I lost this bout, but after the fight was over the judges conferred and decided that somehow David hit the ground first! Sweet!