Jeepney Press SETSUBUN

By: Alma Fatagani-Sato

Setsubun (also known as the Bean-throwing Festival) is the night before the first day of spring, usually around 3rd or 4th of February based on the Lunar Calendar, or in a more simpler meaning, it’s the last day of winter.

The Kanji characters 節(setsu) means season and 分(bun) means division, and therefore, the literal meaning of setsubun would be the season division. Originally, the first days of the four (4) seasons – spring, summer, winter and autumn. However, only first day of spring has remained to be an annual event, mainly due to its popularity with children, maybe. Most Japanese would probably still have the memory of their childhood with their father wearing a demon mask and the children pelting beans at the ‘demon’. Some kindergartens and primary schools still make demon masks in their handicraft lessons during this period, even though these masks are commercially available in almost all department stores.

Long time ago, it was believed that the spirits roam around at the time of the New Year and that by throwing beans, rice and other grains at them, ward of the evil spirits (symbolized by a demon). Therefore, Setsubun is a necessary ritual. Although Setsubun is not a national holiday in Japan, a special ritual which signifies the driving out of bad luck and calling in the good luck is performed every year, at the start of Spring.

The main ritual, a custom that was first practiced during the Muromachi period, is called mamemaki 豆撒き, which is throwing fukumame 福豆(parched or roasted soybeans) at the demon (a role usually played by the male head of the household) while shouting “Out the devil, In with fortune! (Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! 鬼は外! 福は内 !)”. After that, you should pick up the beans and eat as many as the number that corresponds to your age to make you strong and healthy. Aside from the main ritual, there are other practices performed in different areas of Japan. In Kyoto, entrance doors are decorated with a holly sprig with a baked sardine head (hiiragi iwashi). This is a tradition from the Heian period practiced until now. The sharp (holly sprigs) and smelly things (fish heads) are believed to ward o demons from entering the house. In Kansai area, while facing the lucky direction (which is different for each Chinese zodiac sign) and silently eat the ehomaki 恵方巻 (literally means lucky direction rolls, which is an uncut makizushi) is believed to bring good fortune. Since there are seven lucky Gods of Fortune, the ehomaki usually contains seven ingredients (conger-eel, omelet, shitake- mushrooms, powdered fish, cucumber or other green vegetables, kanpyo (dried gourd) and the last ingredient is decided by each family). This custom originated in Osaka but has already spread all over Japan.

In Tohoku area, the head of the household (usually the father), take the roasted beans in his hand and pray at the family shrine, then throw them outside. Sometimes they also use peanuts instead of beans.

I think the preparation is quite troublesome and the clean up after the ritual is too much work. So some people enjoy the Setsubun Festival performed in the big shrines and temples. Geishas, while dancing a Japanese traditional dance, Sumo wrestlers, and celebrities can be seen throwing the beans at many spectators, especially the ones being broadcast on television. But this year, better stay home and take precautions not to get infected with Covid19.

Alma Fatagani-Sato / Jeepney Press