What is Setsubun (節分) ?

Setsubun (節分) literally means "division of seasons." It is used to mark the end of winter and summer, and is derived from the old calendar. However, "setsubun" has now come to mean the day before the first day of spring only. It usually occurs around February 3rd.

On this day, in a custom called mame-maki (豆まき), people throw and scatter roasted soy beans inside and outside their houses while saying, "Get goblins out of the house! Invite happiness into the home!”. In Japanese, we say “Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi! (鬼は外、福は内！). After throwing the beans, people customarily eat one roasted soy bean, mame, for each year of their age, and pray for happiness throughout the year. There is a reason why people roast and eat these beans; It is said that the bean contains the evil of the previous year, and so it is roasted to prevent evil from sprouting. People in some regions scatter peanuts and eat them, because peanuts are easier to clean and pick up.

Moreover, there are mame-maki events in some temples. In most cases, Sumo wrestlers, Kabuki actors, and other famous people come to the temples and throw the beans.

Another custom for Setsubun is eating “Eho-maki”.
Ehomaki (恵方巻き) is a long sushi roll which you eat all in one go on the night of Setsubun, while facing silently toward the year's "lucky" direction, wishing for perfect health and praying for prosperity of business. 2018’s lucky direction (Eho: 恵方) is South-southeast.

We make Ehomaki with seven ingredients; cucumber, shiitake mushrooms, lotus root, seasoned omelet, teriyaki eel, sweet fish flakes and kanpyo are rolled in seaweed representing the seven gods of happiness. By doing so, people hope to bring happiness into their lives.

Let’s look South-southeast and eat Eho-maki silently to get some happiness!!

Like “Setsubun”, Japan has a lot of traditionals event and ceremonies.

It would be very interesting if you know or learn about Japanese culture more deeply!

Current Stationery pack is “Spirit of Japan”. We include many stationery which is “”Japan” theme, so you can definitely feel some Japanese culture and the spirits of people in Japan;)

Click here to check the details of current “Spirit of Japan” stationery pack: https://zenpop.jp/japanese-stationery-pack

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