Setsubun(節分)- Driving away evil spirits and wishing for happiness in the new year-Japanese home cooking class in Tokyo
Setsubun in 2025 will be held on Sunday, February 2nd. This day holds significant importance as a traditional Japanese event, marking the beginning of a new season while also serving as a day to drive away evil spirits and invite good fortune.
The Meaning and Origin of Setsubun
Setsubun means "to divide the seasons" and originally referred to the four seasonal transitions (beginning of spring, summer, autumn, and winter). However, today, the spring Setsubun is considered the most important. In 2025, the beginning of spring falls on February 3rd, making February 2nd Setsubun.
Traditional Setsubun Customs
Bean Throwing
People throw beans while chanting "Fortune in, demons out" to ward off evil spirits. The beans used must be roasted, as "roasting beans" is associated with "shooting the eyes of evil".
Bean throwing for Setsubun can be enjoyed alone, but here are some recommended methods for families:
Preparation and Role Distribution
Divide the bean-throwing roles among family members. Traditionally, the head of the household, the person born in the corresponding zodiac year, or those in unlucky years perform the bean throwing, but children can also take on this role if they wish. Family roles can be divided into bean thrower, window closer, and oni (demon) for added excitement.
Bean Throwing Procedure
Prepare roasted soybeans (fukumame) the day before and place them in a measuring box on the household altar or a high place.
Conduct bean throwing on Setsubun night (around 8-10 PM).
Open all windows and throw beans outside while shouting "Oni wa soto!" (Demons out!).
Start from the innermost room and end at the entrance.
Close the windows and throw beans inside while saying "Fuku wa uchi!" (Good fortune in!).
Enjoying Eating the Beans
After bean throwing, there's a custom of eating one bean for each year of your age plus one, called "toshitori-mame". You can also make a game of picking up the beans.
Points to Note
If living in an apartment or condominium, be considerate of neighbors.
It's important to be flexible to ensure children enjoy the event.
By cooperating as a family and enjoying bean throwing together, you can create wonderful Setsubun memories. While knowing the traditional methods, adapting to your family's situation can make the event more meaningful.
Throwing beans to drive away- Japanese home cooking class in Tokyo
Ehomaki（恵方巻）
People eat sushi rolls facing the year's lucky direction in silence. Ehomaki is considered auspicious for "rolling in good fortune", and eating it without cutting symbolizes "not cutting ties".
2025's Lucky Direction and How to Eat EhomakiThe lucky direction for 2025 is west-southwest (255 degrees clockwise).
Rules for eating Ehomaki:
Prepare one roll per person
Eat the whole roll without cutting
Face the lucky direction and eat in silence
Make a wish while eating
Characteristics and Origin of Ehomaki
Ehomaki often contains 7 ingredients, symbolizing the Seven Lucky Gods, with each ingredient having special meaning:
Kanpyo (dried gourd): represents longevity
Datemaki (sweet rolled omelette): represents wealth
Ehomaki is believed to have originated from merchant culture in the Osaka area. It started as a custom in the Kansai region, with one origin traced to post-war Osaka's entertainment districts.
Home made Ehomaki by Tomokita-Japanese home cooking class in Tokyo
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Regional Variations in Setsubun CustomsSetsubun customs vary by region:
In Hokkaido, Tohoku, and southern Kyushu, peanuts are sometimes used instead of soybeans.
At Ohara Shrine in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto Prefecture, people chant "Demons in, fortune out", the opposite of the usual chant.
In the Onishi area of Fujioka City, Gunma Prefecture, people chant "Demons in, fortune in", performing a demon-friendly bean throwing.
Interesting Setsubun Episodes
・In some regions, people with surnames like "Watanabe" or "Sakata" are considered stronger than demons and don't need to throw beans.
・In the Edo period, men were specially allowed into the Ooku (women's quarters) to throw beans on Setsubun, after which the women would toss the male officials in the air.
The custom of hanging sardine heads and holly at the entrance, called "Hiiragi Iwashi", is meant to poke demons' eyes with holly thorns and repel them with the sardine smell.
These diverse customs and traditions show Setsubun's important place in Japanese culture, evolving uniquely across regions and time. The 2025 Setsubun will likely be celebrated by many, reflecting this rich cultural background.
Are There Similar Customs to Setsubun in Other Countries?
While no country has exactly the same Setsubun customs as Japan, some countries have similar practices for warding off evil or celebrating seasonal changes.
China
There used to be events called "Tsuina" or "Oni-yarai" to ward off evil spirits at seasonal changes. Although no longer practiced, people eat "spring pancakes" on the first day of spring and paste papers with "Great Fortune at the Beginning of Spring" written on them on doors and pillars.
Spain
In unlucky years (ages 14 and 34 for women, 24 and 44 for men), there's a custom of eating as many pieces of horse meat as one's age. This is similar to Setsubun in "eating a specific food in the amount of one's age to ward off misfortune".
England
In unlucky years (ages with 7 for women, 4 for men), there's a custom of collecting nuts equal to one's age, exposing them to the open air, and then burning them to ward off bad luck.
Interesting Point
From a foreign perspective, Japan's bean-throwing is seen as a "fun event". The Setsubun custom of "throwing beans to drive away" is considered unique to Japanese culture.
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