Setsubun – Throwing Beans

Setsubun means “day between two seasons”. It is a celebration that takes place in Japan one day before the first day of spring in the current calendar, usually around February 3 or 4.

On the night of this day, people throw roasted soybeans in and out of their houses shouting, 鬼は外!福は内! Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! , which means “Fortune in, demons out” And it is that this ritual comes from a legend about a family that did not want the demons to come to their house. Some temples and shrines also organize these rituals.

Bean is said “mame” in Japanese and represents “good health” It is common for people to eat the number of beans equivalent to their age expecting to be in good health. In some places, they eat one more for luck in the coming year. ^^

During the night of Setsubun, it is tradition to also eat Futomaki (太巻, “thick sushi rolls”) A typical futomaki is between five and six centimeters in diameter. They are typically made with two, three, or more fillings that are chosen for their complementary flavors and colors and are so balanced that they represent a full meal serving. It is eaten uncut and is also called ehō-maki (恵方巻)

When eating ehō-maki you should look in the direction of luck as you eat and focus on what you want to achieve after this spring. While eating, they close their eyes and do not speak until the ehō-maki has been eaten.

Right after the “craze” of the New Year (正月), supermarkets put up the decorations for Setsubun.

They sell the products to celebrate it and they range from the same beans that are thrown, to sweets and treats, senbei or “snacks”, but these are not thrown, they are eaten ^^

This maki has as filling from left. From left to right: Ooba, three different cuts of tuna, shrimp, crab, cucumber, another cut of tuna, two types of fish roe, egg, squid and salmon. yum yum ^^

There is also the sweet version of this type of maki