Around the classrooms

Setsubun – Japan’s beloved bean-throwing festival.

The Year 7 Japanese classes were able to experience a small taste of the Setsubun celebrations in early February. The students explored the reasons behind this cultural event and learnt why it’s a favourite among Japanese children. To celebrate and ensure good luck for the upcoming year, the Year 7s ate some roasted soybeans (one soybean for each year of their life plus one extra bean for more good luck!).  

When the masked demons surprised the Year 7s at the classroom window (Year 8 Japanese students, donned with an ‘oni’ masks), the Year 7s knew exactly what they needed to do to ward off the oni -  pelt beans at them while yelling ‘oni wa soto!’ (demons get out!) 

Ms Petra Witt