IBUSUKI, Kagoshima -- The unique "Mendon" festival, featuring a parade of participants wearing bizarre masks who smear black soot on the faces of onlookers, was recently held in this southwestern Japan city.

In the festival, mask-wearing participants called "mendon" use daikon radishes cut to a rough tip to brush soot onto the faces of children and adults alike. During the event on Jan. 19, children frightened by the mendon were seen crying out, "Oh no," "Mommy," and "I'm scared," as the laughter of the others filled the air.

The tradition is held on the third Sunday of January every year in the Toshinaga community of the Yamagawa district in Ibusuki, Kagoshima Prefecture. The event is believed to have started during the Edo period (1603-1867), when smallpox and dysentery were prevalent. At the time, many villagers died, so people visited Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture. They returned to their villages after receiving talismans. It is said that mendon are incarnations of the gods of Ise Jingu. It is believed that once soot is applied to the face, the person will be in good health and spirits.

On Jan. 19, after a ritual at a local shrine, several flag bearers, drummers and gong bearers led a procession through the neighborhood, followed by a portable shrine called "ododo" and several mendon. Passing under the portable shrine and taking a bite of rice called "ododomeshi" is said to bring additional blessings to the people.

Rikka Nishio, a 1-year-old girl from the city, held back for a while, but after her face was covered with black soot she cried loudly. Her mother Natsumi, 41, said, "She appeared fine last year. I hope she grows up healthy."

Koichi Nishimura, head of the Toshinaga community, said, "We want to continue Mendon forever so that everyone can live without illness."

(Japanese original by Takashi Umeyama, Kagoshima Bureau)