Oku-noto no Aenokoto
okunoto aenokoto 奥能登のあえのこと ritual passed generation generation farmer noto peninsula ishikawa prefecture japan ae old japanese word banquet therefore aenokoto essentially mean banquet ritual ceremony unique among harvesting ritual asia master house invite god paddy field come inside house people behave invisible spirit present house guest kami believed ancestor family december farmer prepares meal summons spirit paddy field sound pounding rice cake mochi ceremonial dress welcome guest lantern farmer let spirit rest room prepares bath offer meal rice bean fish mind poor eyesight therefore host must describe meal well serving similar ritual take place february sowing several variation ceremony unesco inscribed ritual representative list intangible cultural heritage humanity