Short answers, pulled from the story.
The namahage ritual is an annual winter practice where men wearing ogre masks and straw capes visit homes to discipline lazy children and welcome the new year. Participants in this Northeastern tradition masquerade as kami or spirits to instill fear and reinforce community values regarding hard work.
The presence of kamidana altars declined from 62 percent of households in 1984 to 43.9 percent by 2006, with metropolitan areas dropping to 26.4 percent. These domestic shrines serve as active focal points for prayer and protection despite the growing number of households that have abandoned the practice.
The three monkeys symbol originates from the Kōshin cult, which once involved a silent vigil that has since faded into history. This ancient religious observance links to the visual image of monkeys that see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil, bridging esoteric Buddhist practices with popular culture.
The kitsune and the tanuki stand as the most prominent shapeshifters in Japanese folktales, capable of transforming into humans, objects, or other creatures. The tanuki is famously depicted in the tale of Bunbuku Chagama where it transforms into a teapot to serve tea during the Edo period.
The northeasterly direction is known as the ogre's gate and is considered unlucky and dangerous due to beliefs rooted in Onmyōdō geomancy. This direction is associated with ill-intended spirits, leading to taboos such as sleeping with one's head facing north to ward off malevolent forces.
Yanagi Sōetsu spearheaded the Mingei movement in the early 20th century to elevate the aesthetic value of folk crafts like netsuke and Shigaraki ware. The movement recognized the beauty in functional items used by common people and preserved them through collections such as the one amassed by Keizo Shibusawa.