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This February 2nd, we celebrate Setsubun (節分 – せつぶん) in Japan. Fun fact for 2021: this year, Candlemas and Setsubun coincide! An opportunity to mix traditions? 

Setsubun, or the « bean throwing festival«Setsubun (節分) is a national holiday (not a public holiday) that marks the arrival of spring according to the old lunar calendar. Literally, Setsubun means "« the division of seasons »Originally, the festival heralded the transition from one season to another. Today, it refers to the transition from winter to spring, a period marking a new "cycle.". 

Why throw beans? 

The most widespread tradition of Setsubun (節分) is bean throwing, called mame-maki (豆撒き), which consists of

 Throwing roasted bean seeds outside the house is believed to scare away demons, or oni (鬼) in Japanese, and attract good fortune. While doing so, the phrase "« Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi» (鬼は外 福は内), which means "Out with the demons! In with happiness!". 

The tradition of mame-maki (豆撒き) It is based on a story and a play on words. Indeed, a story from the mid-15th century^e A century-old story tells of a demon that appeared on Mount Kurama in Kyoto and was driven away by throwing soybeans. It is said that this story popularized the ritual. Thus, if a "bean" (mame) reached the "eye of a demon" (my-me), then the "demon is destroyed" (my-me). 

Custom also dictates that one eats as many beans on that day as one's age, and even one more bean to attract health and long life. And you, how many beans will you eat?

Let's not forget the ehômaki 恵方巻き

Another tradition, originating in Osaka, was popularized in the 90s by the konbini chain 7-Eleven: it consists of eating a long maki, or ehômaki (恵方巻き), on the evening of Setsubun. The seaweed sheet that wraps the rice represents the hope of being surrounded by happiness and the uncut roll represents the will to preserve ties. 

Warning: you must eat the ehômaki (恵方巻き) all at once, without speaking and in the direction ehô 恵方 (えほう), determined according to the zodiac sign of the year (in 2021, year of the ox, it is south-southeast). 

^{Photo: https://www.japancentre.com/fr/recipes/1350-sushi-ehomaki}

Where to celebrate Setsubun 節分 in Tokyo? 

You can attend the Setsubun celebration at the Buddhist temple Sensō-ji, in Asakusa. It is the oldest temple in Tokyo and one of the most visited. There you can see the Shichi Fukujin (七福神) dance, featuring the Seven Lucky Gods. You can also visit the Buddhist temple of Zōjō-ji, a stone's throw from Tokyo Tower, at the Shino shrine Kanda-myōjin (Chiyoda) or even at the shrine Tomioka Hachimangu, in Monzen-Nakacho. 

Due to the current health situation, please remember to check that events are still taking place before going there and respect hygiene and social distancing rules!

Continue reading!

• Nanakusa no sekku (七草の節句): the herb festival