This talk considers the Namahage, a famous festival in Akita

Prefecture, exploring how the gaze of the tourist plays a critical

role in shaping the contemporary structure of the event. By

interpreting the festival through the lens of tourism (with its paired

desires to see and to be seen), critical questions are raised with

regard to notions of authenticity, ritual and performance. As part of

this exploration, the theoretical work of folklorist Orikuchi Shinobu

can be deployed with new relevance.