Today (February 3rd-for some reason the date above is still on Wednesday, which is USA time) it is time to say sayonara to winter with the annual Setsubun festival. Setsubun was originally celebrated four times per year, but gradually became a spring-only event. Shrines across the country mark the beginning of February with the custom of mamemaki (bean throwing). The tossing of the soy beans is thought to drive out demons and bring in good luck for the coming year.
Today I went with some friends to Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, to see priests throwing beans into the huge crowd, a tradition first recorded in “Edo meisho zu-e,” an ancient pictorial record of the city. A big crowd gathered under a perfectly blue sky to hear the cry of “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” Demons out! Good luck in!
As they shouted this the priests and dignitaries in traditional yukata robes tossed handfuls of beans towards us and everybody jumped to catch the beans in order to have as much luck as possible. I managed a handful, mainly in my scarf that I held out as a net. Hopefully enough beans to bring good luck for the coming year. I am glad I was wearing glasses and did not get a soy bean in my eye!
As you can see in the video clip (apologies for my finger blocking the view), the crowd was jostling for the beans, but still polite and cheerful. I have not yet had an experience in a crowded situation (and there are many of those in this heaving city of nearly 13 million people), where I was at all concerned by the huge numbers of people all squished into a small area. I have always felt very safe and secure and happy to be around a group of people obviously having so much fun!
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