I was in Kitakami for a wedding and decided to check out the Kitakami Oni Museum* once again. Amazingly, the day I was in town is the only day that the Museum is open at night! I moped around all afternoon and then head over to the museum when it opened its doors for the evening. Much to my surprise, the first thing I saw was a group of dedicated dancers performing the Tango in front of the giant red 釜神様 (Kamagamisama**) head.
*be sure to check out my previous visits to this museum by using the label oni museum.
**Kamagamisama is a traditional Japanese Hearth Deity primarily venerated in the former Sendai domain, which covers Miyagi and southern Iwate. Kamagamisama serves as a fire prevention and protection talisman (hibuse no omamori). Because traditional kitchens relied entirely on wood-burning stoves, households placed these deities prominently above or near the kitchen hearth (kamado) or on the home's main pillar (daikobashira) to prevent devastating fires and ward off evil spirits. (Scammed from Google.)
Here is a YouTube short I uploaded showing the above dancers.
Other musical performance included a piano/trumpet duet. They did a lovely version of a song from Ghibli's Laputa.
Okay, enough about the dance, let's get to the Oni part of the Museum.
I had to wait a while to be admitted, I was given a quiz sheet and then was admitted to view the artifacts on display. I've seen them all before but this was the first time to be able to see them with all lighting blacked out and merely a torch flashlight with which to view the displays. Creepy and exhilarating.
Not sure what this is, but it's cool.
My Kappa buddy looks even cooler lit up by flashlight light.
This gal looks sweet.
Hana-Matsuri-men Mokichi Oni
牛鬼 (Ushi-Oni=Cow-God)
It hasn't been a visit to the Oni Museum until I've seen Krampus!
Other masks from around the world.
悪路王首増 (Akuro-o Kubizou), a famous artifact traditionally associated with the Emishi leader, often linked in folklore with Aterui. (Click for wiki link.)
And that's it for the Night tour.
As usual, lots to see outside the displays, such as a kids centre for drawing or puzzles.
Some Gegege stuff.
Other stuff...
Home-made masks.
And atop the entrance to the displays, a Kappa.
As a result of the quiz which I aced (Thank you Google Translate AND they gave me the kid's quiz), I won a capsule which contained a little badge, which I think is a mask from the Philippines.
All in all, a fun evening but I left before the closing ceremonies, I had a long drive home.
I'll just add a snack...Eyeballs, anyone?
and a link to another Blogger, AEIOU.
Now, I'm going to catch up on some spooky movies.
