Happy Setsubun!

To our Japanese families who celebrated Setsubun on Saturday 3rd of February - “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi” (“Demons Out! Good Fortunes In! 鬼は外! 福は内!). May 2024 be a lucky year for all!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What is Setsubun?

Setsubun (節分, lit. "seasonal division") is a festival held on February 2, 3 or 4, one day before the start of spring according to the Japanese lunar calendar. For many centuries, people have been performing rituals with the purpose of chasing away evil spirits at the start of spring.

The most commonly performed Setsubun ritual is mame maki which is throwing of roasted beans around one's house and at temples and shrines across the country. When throwing beans, you are supposed to shout "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! (鬼は外! 福は内!)" ("Demons out! Fortune in!"). Afterwards you should pick up and eat the number of beans, which corresponds to your age.

You also eat eho-maki sushi rolls (Lucky Direction/Good Fortune sushi rolls) during Setsubun. Apparently one is supposed to eat the roll without talking, while facing the lucky direction of the year.

Lisa Foster

Cultural Studies Specialist