Setsubun

Last week was something called setsubun (節分), which took three teachers and my entire sixth grade class to explain to me. Setsubun is basically a seasonal ceremony the day before each season begins in Japan. The name is literally “seasonal division.” It’s usually actually celebrated the day before spring on the Japanese Lunar calender, which this year was February 3. The spring setsubun is called risshin (立春), which actually used to be considered New Year’s Eve, and got its own special ritual, mamemaki (豆撒き) or “bean throwing,” to rid the house of any evil spirits that might be lurking around for the new year.

Mamemaki is pretty simple. At my elementary school during first period our special needs kids came in dressed up as traditional toshiotoko (年男), either the male born on the corresponding zodiac animal or the male head of the household, and threw peanuts at the teachers. And really, what child wouldn’t want to throw peanuts at the teachers when they’re in elementary? It was great. Traditionally, you’re supposed to throw roasted beans either out the front door or at someone dressed up as an oni, which is a Japanese devil or demon, and shout:

Oni wa soto
Fuku wa uchi!

This means “Demons get out of the house! Good luck and fortune and happiness come in!” Basically. It’s supposed to chase away any demons from the previous year that might bring diseases or misfortune.

In my sixth grade class, to teach this all to me, they drew pictures and showed me the masks, and did some random charades, which was really funny and got the point across well, I thought. Then the homeroom teacher gave us all bags of peanuts, and the she and I went to peanut war with the kids. I can officially say I’ve been in a food fight in a Japanese elementary school.

After we pelted each other until our bags were empty, we then of course cleaned them all up. Then I was informed that you have to eat one peanut for each year of your life. They handed me twenty-eight peanuts–shelled of course–and put them in a bag for me to eat later. The homeroom teacher did let us have a few before we officially started the English lesson though.

It was one of the most interesting learning experiences I’ve had about Japanese culture, probably because it was taught to me by my students rather than an adult. They were so earnest in making sure I understood everything, because they wanted me to appreciate this aspect of their culture. Even though it’s a minor part, it was still important to them. To date, I have yet to receive a better way of explaining cultural customs, or had as much fun participating in them.

So remember, if you want the little devils out of your house, throw peanuts or soybeans out the front door, or better yet a family member in a mask, shouting for the demons to leave–you can use English if you must, but it’s more fun in Japanese I think–and you should be good for the rest of the year on fortune. :)