son of soy

catching up: setsubun

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by

Rick Elizaga
in

(From last month, Feb 3, the beginning of spring…)
Above: Setsubun maki-zushi container with oni face.
You must eat uncut maki-zushi on Setsubun, while facing a certain direction, in silence — a clever custom started by convenience stores.

setsubun-1-2
Handful of toasted soybeans, to throw out of the house while chanting "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" (Demons out! Good luck in!)
Bonfire at Yoshida-jinja, in which the last year's temple charms are burned.
Bonfire at Yoshida-jinja, in which the last year's temple charms are burned.
Among the Setsubun ashes, a slightly burned daruma doll.
Among the Setsubun ashes, a slightly burned daruma doll.