Why do people throw beans and shout at demons around February 3?
Around February 3, Setsubun is marked at homes and shrines by throwing beans while saying “Demons out, good fortune in.” Some eat a number of beans linked to their age. Others face the year's lucky direction and eat an entire uncut ehomaki roll.
Setsubun marks the transition from winter to spring. Seasonal boundaries were once thought to admit harmful forces, personified as oni. By throwing beans and saying “Demons out, good fortune in,” people drive away misfortune and invite good luck.
Why — five layers
Japan has a tradition of driving away misfortune at seasonal transitions so the new season can begin safely. Setsubun's bean throwing expresses this idea.
Setsubun falls on the day before Risshun, the traditional beginning of spring. Because Risshun's date changes by year, Setsubun is not always February 3; it can fall on February 2 or 4.
As Setsubun approaches, supermarkets and convenience stores display beans, oni masks, ehomaki, and related goods. Though the observance is old, many products are now marketed for the occasion.
International view
Other countries also have rituals that expel evil and wish for luck at seasonal or yearly transitions. During Chinese New Year, for example, firecrackers are traditionally used, with loud noise understood to drive harmful forces away.
But not always
Setsubun practices vary by family and region. Not everyone throws beans; some use individually wrapped beans for easier cleanup, while certain regions throw peanuts rather than soybeans.
What to do
As Setsubun approaches, supermarkets and convenience stores sell lucky beans and ehomaki, offering an easy way to experience its food culture. Temples and shrines also hold bean-throwing events, sometimes with celebrities or sumo wrestlers. Check the venue and time before attending.
Sources
- folklore studies of setsubun/mamemaki
- ehomaki commercial-history reporting
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