SETSUBUN is the last day of the season which is the day before “RISSHUN(the first day of spring),””RIKKA(the first day of summer),””RISSHUU(the first day of fall)” or ”RITTOU(the first day of winter).” Nowadays, we scatter roasted soybeans on February 3rd in shrine or house as a spring seasonal event to drive away evil spirits.
To be more specific, we generally scatter roasted soybeans to drive demons away.
※It is said that kanji of soybeans “豆” also represent ”魔滅” meaning drive away evil.
In each family, we scatter roasted soybeans both to inside and to outside with the word “ONI HA SOTO, FUKU HA UCHI (evils outside, luck inside).” Also we eat the same number of soybeans as our ages.
These days, we eat particular rice roll called “EHOU MAKI.”
There is a specific eating manner for EHOU MAKI : we face the lucky direction of the year with eyes closed,
think about our wishes and then eat all without a word.
In shrines, men and women who were born in a year with the same Chinese zodiac sign as the current year scatter soybeans.
The people gathered in shrine try to catch the thrown soybeans.
It is said that you can “catch luck” by catching them.
This picture is the SETSUBUN in NARITASAN in CHIBA prefecture.
SETSUBUN of NARITASAN is really famous in Japan and it is reported in TV every year.
With famous SUMO wrestlers or TV history drama casts scattering soybeans, it is as lively as summer festivals.
【Customs】【Narita】【Setubun】
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