Performed for well-being, the traditional Little New Year event of exorcising evil spirits/Hadano

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1201130019/

January 14, 2012

Children wearing lion head and hyottoko masks go from house to house.

In the city of Hadano, this type of evil spirit exorcism, revolving around a Dōsojin, has been carried out since the Edo Era. It took place on the 13th in the Shōbu region of the city.

Continuing over 200 years, the ritual is performed to pray for safety, health and peace in one's home.

12 boys from the area, aged from the first year of elementary school to the third year of middle school participated. Led by the oldest among them, they set out on the ritual after cleaning a Dōsojin stone. Covered in lion heads and hyottoko masks, they proceeded to visit 200 nearby houses. Handing out home-made cards to the residents, they loudly chant "Evil sprites be gone, evil spirits be gone!" in the front door and living room.

Serving as commanders were Fukui Hiromu (Age 15) and Sanada Katsuya (Age 14), both 3rd year middle school students. Anyone from the first year of elementary school was able to participate. "From now on, I want to continue to strengthen my ties with the traditions of this area," Sanada said.

(Note: Little New Year is an additional Japanese holiday period, taking place primarily on the 15th and the days surrounding it.)

Original text:

無病息災を祈り、小正月の伝統行事「あくまっぱらい」/秦野

2012年1月14日

獅子頭やひょっとこのお面をかぶった子供たちが家々を回った

秦野市内で江戸時代から続く小正月の道祖神行事「あくまっぱらい」が13日、同市菖蒲地区で行われた。

無病息災と家内安全を祈る行事で、約２００年続くと伝えられている。

地元の小学１年生から中学３年生までの男子12人が参加。最年長の「大将」の指示で道祖神の石を清掃した後、獅子頭やひょっとこのお面をかぶって約２００軒近くの家々を巡回した。玄関先や居間で「あくまっぱらい、あくまっぱらい」と大きな声で唱え、手作りの札を配った。

大将を務めた中学３年生の福井広夢さん（15）と真田勝弥さん（14）はいずれも小学１年生からの参加。真田さんは「地域のつながりが深まる伝統行事なので今後も続けていってほしい」と話していた。