Setsubun-sai

Setsubun-sai (Beginning of Spring) is the day before the beginning of spring in Japan, celebrated annually as part of the Spring Festival

Why is it important?

Setsubun (þ»ÇÕêå, "seasonal division") is a festival held one day before the start of spring according to the Japanese lunar calendar. It is not a national holiday. For many centuries, people have been performing rituals with the purpose of chasing away evil spirits at the start of spring.

Previously referring to a wider range of possible dates, Setsubun is now typically held on February 3 or February 2, with the day after – the first day of spring in the old calendar – known as Risshun (þ½ïµÿÑ). Both Setsubun and Risshun are celebrated yearly as part of the Spring Festival (Haru matsuri (µÿÑþÑ¡)) in Japan.

In its association with the Lunar New Year, Setsubun, though not the official New Year, was thought of as similar in its ritual and cultural associations of 'cleansing' the previous year as the beginning of the new season of spring. Setsubun was accompanied by a number of rituals and traditions held at various levels to drive away the previous year's bad fortunes and evil spirits for the year to come.

Traditions

Smoking Sardines

Around the 13th century, for example, it became a custom to drive away evil spirits by the strong smell of burning dried sardine heads, the smoke of burning wood and the noise of drums. While this custom is not popular anymore, a few people still decorate their house entrances with fish heads and holy tree leaves in order to deter evil spirits from entering.

A.k.a. "Beans-throwing Festival"

In modern days, the most commonly performed setsubun ritual is the throwing of roasted beans around one's house and at temples and shrines across the country. When throwing the beans, you are supposed to shout "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" ("Devils out, happiness in"). Afterwards you should pick up and eat the number of beans, which corresponds to your age.

Eho-maki

Another widespread custom is the eating of Eho-maki sushi rolls. One is supposed to eat the roll without talking, while facing the lucky direction of the year.

As all traditional festivals, setsubun is celebrated in many variations throughout the country.

source: japan-guide.com

Beans (mame, Þ▒å) & demons (mametsu, Ú¡öµ╗à)

Origins and naming of the Festival

The tradition of Setsubun dates back centuries, but the bean throwing tradition first emerged in the Muromachi period (1337 – 1573). The beans represent vitality and are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health. As Japanese people like to play with words, there is also a secret meaning to bean throwing: the pronunciation of the word beans (mame, Þ▒å) is similar to the word for demon eyes (Ú¡öþø«); throwing beans, therefore, has a similar sound to destroying demons (mametsu, Ú¡öµ╗à).

Sensoji / Asakusa (µÁàÞìëÕ»║/µÁàÞìë)

Sensoji, the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo, attracts crowds with the popular Setsubun event every year.

One of the most famous setsubun rituals of Sensoji is the seven lucky gods dance called Fukuju-no-Mai dance, followed by the bean throwing.

A time for family gatherings

The chanting

The chanting "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! (Demons out! Good fortune in!) is in line with the traditional folk song (video to the right). Typically, it is performed by a family member (usually the father) who is dressed up as an oni (demon). Bean-throwing events are also commonly held at elementary schools and kindergartens.

Other customs

Public Setsubun celebrations at temples across Tokyo and the rest of Japan, are also popular, with TV personalities, athletes, characters and other celebrities joining in as bean-throwers or in some cases even demons.