Masked demons are pelted with roasted soybeans as they are chased away! What better way to ward off the ills of winter and welcome the freshness of spring than with one of the most anticipated festivals in Japan—Setsubun!
It may not feel like spring to you in early February, but on February 3rd (occasionally 2nd or 4th), the Japanese celebrate the day before the beginning of spring during an annual festival called Setsubun (節分).
Similar to New Year’s Eve, this Japanese festival is about leaving worries behind and making a fresh start. However, during Setsubun, the metaphor takes on a more visually satisfying form: both children and adults happily drive away demons by pummeling them with beans. The “demon” might be a family member, a school principal, a colleague, or just about anyone daring enough to wear the oni (demon) mask.
Table of Contents
- What is Setsubun?
- Mamemaki : Bean-Throwing Tradition
- Setsubun Festival Foods
What is Setsubun?
The word “Setsubun (節分)” means the cycle or division of the seasons. Historically, it referred to the day before each of the 24 solar terms, known as “Nijushisekki,” based on traditional Chinese lunisolar calendars.
Each solar term lasts about 15 days and is determined by the position of the sun in the sky. When the earth completes one revolution around the sun, it is counted as a cycle. Risshun (the first day of spring) marks the beginning of the year in the 24 solar terms. Over time, only the day before Risshun came to be called Setsubun.
The Origin
Before 1873, the Japanese New Year followed the lunar calendar. However, with the adoption of the Gregorian calendar during the Meiji period, the new year shifted to January 1. Despite this change, Setsubun remained a widely celebrated day to mark the transition of the seasons.
The origin of Setsubun is closely tied to Chinese customs and beliefs surrounding the Lunar New Year, a time when the spirit world is said to intersect with our world, allowing spirits to cross our paths or even enter our homes. It is believed that some of these spirits bring illnesses and bad luck to families and must be purged from the home before the new year begins.
To ward off evil spirits on Setsubun, the lively ritual of Mamemaki, which dates back to the Muromachi period (1337–1573), takes center stage. This is where the beloved bean-throwing tradition comes into play!
Mamemaki: Bean-Throwing Tradition
On Setsubun, when evil spirits roam the streets and knock on your door, this is not the time to hand out Halloween candy. Fill a Japanese wooden cup called amasuwith fortune beans (roasted soybeans). With the cup in your strong arm, bend your knees into a ready position. Ask the bravest family member to open the door on your count. 1, 2, 3, go!
The moment that door rushes open, pushed by the force of a winter gale, with an evil spirit riding on that invisible wave—that’s when you give it a mouthful of beans. Toss that cup of roasted soybeans out through the door while shouting, “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” (“Demons Out! Good Fortunes In! 鬼は外! 福は内!). As you lunge forward into that demon-tainted wind, the beans clearing your path to safety, catch the side of the door and slam it shut! Fall to the floor with your back securing the door, and whisper under an exhausted but exhilarated breath, “Oni wa soto. Fuku wa uchi.”
Many Japanese people on Setsubun prefer a more tangible target forMamemakito make certain they hit their mark and ward off bad luck for the coming season. This is when a parent courageously dons the Oni (demon) mask and takes one for the team. Armed with fortune beans and an eagerness to break cabin fever, both spouse and children let the beans fly at the fleeing demon, chanting, “Demons Out! Good Fortunes In!”
Roasted soybeans actually serve two purposes on Setsubun. They are, of course, excellent for thwarting demons, but just as good for snacking after all that demon-thwarting activity. Aftermamemakiis successfully completed, the Japanese household gathers and eats the same number of fortune beans as their age. It’s for good luck, and all the traditional foods are eaten on this special night.
Setsubun Festival Foods
The two main foods enjoyed during Setsubun are roasted soybeans andEhomaki. However, depending on the region, a few other symbolic dishes are also on the menu.
Roasted Soybeans (福豆)
Roasted soybeans are a staple on Setsubun, and you can find them sold everywhere—from supermarkets to convenience stores to street stalls. They have a sweet, nutty flavor with a satisfying crunch, making them perfect for throwing at demons or popping into your mouth.
Ehomaki (Setsubun Sushi Rolls)
The primary food on Setsubun is a sushi roll called Ehomaki (恵方巻).This special sushi roll is made with seven fillings, representing the Seven Deities of Good Fortune, known asShichifukujin. The type of ingredients is not as important as the number. You can choose your favorite seven sushi roll ingredients and roll them up tightly to lock in the elements of good health, happiness, and prosperity. It is also very important not to cut theehomakisushi roll for this same reason. Cutting the sushi roll, as would normally be done on any other day, will slice into your good fortune.
There is one more essential practice to get this right.Eho (恵方) means “lucky direction”. So this special sushi roll is literally a Lucky Direction Sushi Roll. That means if you don’t eat it facing the lucky direction, don’t count on dreams coming true this spring.
- Recipe: Ehomaki (Setsubun Sushi Rolls).
Kenchinjiru (Japanese Vegetable Soup)
In some areas of the Kanto region,kenchinjiruis eaten on Setsubun. Originally created as Buddhist temple cuisine, this clear soup is made with root vegetables, tofu, shiitake mushrooms, and kombu stock.
As it nourishes and warms the body, it is said to be the perfect dish to eat on Setsubun, which marks the turning point of the seasons.
- Recipe: Kenchinjiru (Japanese Vegetable Soup
Soba Noodle Soup
Soba is synonymous with good luck, and it is a tradition for the Japanese to eat Toshikoshi Soba on New Year’s Eve. However, back in the late Edo period, it was common to eat soba on Setsubun, the day before the first day of spring and the new year on the lunar calendar.
Even after the calendar change, the custom has been passed down, and eating soba noodles remains another dish that some people enjoy on Setsubun.
- Recipe: Soba Noodle Soup
Grilled Salted Sardines
It is said that demons dislike the smell of sardines and the smoke produced when the fish are grilled. Fair enough. They are also used as decorations for Setsubun to scare away evil, or bad luck.
Fukucha (福茶)
Some people also drinkfukucha, or lucky tea, during the Setsubun celebration. Made withfukumame(roasted soybeans), plum, and kombu, it is a tea that carries a wish for good health.
Experience Setsubun in Japan
Setsubun isn’t just a family affair. If you’re lucky enough to be in Japan on this day, you can find Setsubun events throughout the country. While the Setsubun festival is not a public holiday in Japan, it is often celebrated at many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, where dozens, and sometimes even thousands, of “bean-throwers” gather to drive the demons away and welcome good luck in the spring. One of the largest Setsubun festivals in Japan is held at Zojoji Temple in Tokyo. This is where you’ll find famous entertainers, politicians, and sumo wrestlers taking part in the festivities.
Welcoming Spring with Setsubun
If you’re not in Japan, you can still enjoy the elements of Setsubun with your family and friends. Buy some roasted soybeans to snack on and practice your throwing skills (you can even buy oni masks online or make your own!). Make a big sushi roll and eat up that good luck. It’s a fun Japanese festival to experience. You can even turn that sushi party you were planning to host into an ehomakiparty and incorporate Setsubun activities into the night.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on February 1, 2018, and republished on February 2, 2021. It was updated on January 27, 2023.
