February Spring Events in Oita: Setsubun Bean Throwing

Hello everyone!

It feels like January has come and gone in a blink of an eye, and many of us are already looking forward to
Japan’s traditional spring events in 2021. In case the New Year’s purifying rituals didn’t do the trick for you, this year’s annual Setsubun Festival may just be the ticket to start you off fresh for the upcoming spring season. On February 2nd, households in Japan will engage in a “Mamemaki”, or “bean-scattering” ritual. Roasted
soybeans get thrown out from front doors or at family members wearing red Oni demon masks while shouting, “Demons out, Fortune in!” (Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi!) As the beans are thrown, it ‘purifies’ and rids these evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them. It’s also customary to eat beans to complete this
purification ritual to ward off any lingering spirits looking to jeopardize our graceful transition into spring. As you walk through Oita, you may catch sight of (or at least hear) this tradition in progress.

If you’re keen on witnessing Oita’s regional Setsubun variation, head to Oita Gokoku Shrine for their annual
Setsubun Festival. Every year, people gather to eat Azuki-gayu (rice porridge with azuki bean)
and plant beans and mochi rice cakes to bring good luck. Oita Gokoku Shrine also holds other spring-related
events in February, such as the Prayer Festival on the 17th praying for abundance during spring cultivation and
the Tencho-sai Festival on the 23rd celebrating the Emperor’s birthday.

For a more private Setsubun experience, you can get everything you need at any local grocery store in Japan to complete your seasonal “cleanse” at home. Whether you choose to visit Gokoku Shrine or stay home, we hope
you’ll be able to reap the benefits of Setsubun this year, wherever you are in the world!