Japanese Setsubun Bean-Throwing Festival

Setsubun (literally meaning “seasonal division”) is the Japanese celebration of the last day of winter in Japan. Also known as Risshun, the February 3 Setsubun can be seen as the New Year’s Eve, when associated with the Lunar New Year. This is why it is marked by a special ritual, mamemaki (means bean throwing). The Japanese believe that this ceremony cleanses the evil from the ending year and drives away spirits that bring illness for the whole of the coming year.

Setsubun Bean-Throwing Festival

Generally, the Setsubun mamemaki ritual is performed by the male in the family born on the Chinese zodiac’s corresponding animal year (like the year of dragon, ox or rat). Else, it is the male head of the household. He throws fuku mame (roasted soybeans) out of the door. The person performing the ritual chants “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!.” This translates to “Demons out! Luck in!”

While a family member represents the demon by wearing an Oni (ogre) mask, the beans thrown are the symbol of evil spirits. Then, the custom is that roasted soybeans or peanuts are eaten to bring good luck for the coming year. One eats the number of beans equal to his/her age (one for every year). People gather at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples across Japan as priests throw roasted beans, sweets and other gifts on them.

Japanese Setsubun Festival: Traditions and Customs

• People eat sushi rolls (ehomaki), facing the yearly lucky direction, as determined by that year’s zodiac symbol. These are eaten without chatter or pause.
• Families put up decorations of holly leaves and sardine heads at the entrance of houses to prevent bad spirits from entering the house.