A traditional masked “Boze” deities has taken place on Japanese island

A traditional festival featuring the masked “Boze” deities has taken place on the southwestern Japanese island of Akusekijima, which has been hit by a series of earthquakes.  

Some residents evacuated from Akusekijima Island after earthquakes began to strike in June. But they have already returned home. The island is located in Kagoshima Prefecture’s Toshima Village. The island is known for ritual visits by the Boze deities who wear distinctive masks and costumes.

For the festival, three people dress up as Boze deities.  They fasten fan palm leaves to their bodies and wear masks with large headdresses that look like wings. The masks have wide-open eyes and mouths.

 The Boze deities poke at people with sticks and put red mud on them for good luck during the festival on Sunday, people were pleased to see the Boze deities and were happy to be chased around by them. But some frightened children cried.