祭概要

新年とともに現れる来訪神アマハゲ！家々を訪れ子どもを戒め災厄を払う

女鹿・滝ノ浦・鳥崎の3つの集落に伝わるアマハゲは、子どもの怠け心を戒めるとともに、訪れた家の厄を払い無病息災を願う神の使者。アマハゲ役の若者は夕方に各集落の神社で祈祷を済ませ、藁でできた「ケンダン」と呼ばれる蓑をまとい面を付け家々をめぐります。女鹿・鳥崎は鬼の面で奇声をあげて子どもを追いかけますが、滝ノ浦は翁の面をつけ無言など、集落ごとに違いも。アマハゲに「いい子にします！」と涙声で誓う子どもの姿が微笑ましい年頭行事です。
当日は鳥追い唄を唄いながら集落を歩く「鳥追い」や、門松などの正月飾りやケンダンを焼く「ホンデ焼き」も一部集落で行われます。

滝ノ浦地区/1月1日（祝・土）大鳥神社（JR女鹿駅より徒歩約9分）
女鹿地区/1月3日（月）八幡神社（JR女鹿駅より徒歩約10分）
鳥崎地区/1月6日（木）三上神社（JR女鹿駅より徒歩約21分）

Amahage demons arrive with the new year as they visit people's homes!
They give warnings to the children of the homes they visit and ward off disasters.

The Amahage demons, who are local to the 3 villages of Mega, Takinoura, and Torizaki, are messengers of the gods and admonish children not to be lazy while warding off evil and praying for good health at the homes they visit. The youths who play the Amahage demons first offer their prayers at the shrines of their respective villages before putting on their straw raincoats and masks to visit people’s homes. The demons at Mega and Torizaki yell and scream as they chase children around, but those at Takinoura remain silent with masks of old men on. It is a heartwarming New Year ritual where children with tearful voices promise demons that they will be good.
There are some areas where bird-chasing events are held to bird-chasing music and the burning of New Year’s decorations such as pine gate decorations and straw raincoats are burned.
The Amahage demons that appear in various locations.
Takinoura District / January 1 (national holiday / Sat) Ootori Shrine (about 9 min. on foot from JR Mega Station)
Mega District / January 3 (Mon) Hachiman Shrine (about 10 min. on foot from JR Mega Station)
Torizaki District / January 6 (Thu) Mikami Shrine (about 21 min. on foot from JR Mega Station)

祭基本情報