
Côte d’Ivoire: Cultural Exchange Through Art
Thank you to the Embassy of Japan in Côte d’Ivoire for this amazing opportunity. I met many wonderful people and shared art and culture through Sumi-e and live painting.
On my first day in Abidjan, I
SETSUBUN
The Setsubun ( means the division of seasons) is a celebration that is performed in all regions of Japan on the 3rd of February; however there are some variations about how they perform the ritual.
At home we do the Mamemaki: we throw roasted soy beans from inside home to outside home saying “Oniwa soto = Evil outside” to drive away all evil, bad luck and disease and negative things.
Then throw the beans from outside to inside home saying “Fukuwa uchi = Happiness inside home”
In some temple in Kyoto, Maiko san perform a dance, and then they throw small bags of roasted soy beans to the audience.
I have this pictures that I took a couple of years ago in Yasaka Jinja Kyoto
We also eat the same number of roasted soy beans as your age praying to be healthy whole year. It is also common to eat Maki Suhi (Roll Suhi) that day.
In Japan the people are quite superstitious. My mum still doing this mamemaki at home. We have many beliefs and celebrations in my country. The people keep going to shrine or temple to remove the bad luck and performing these rituals.
How about you? Do you have any superstition?
Thanks for reading my blog

Thank you to the Embassy of Japan in Côte d’Ivoire for this amazing opportunity. I met many wonderful people and shared art and culture through Sumi-e and live painting.
On my first day in Abidjan, I

My Calligraphy in the Film Ravens I am very happy

Live Painting of Sumi-e & Japanese Calligraphy at UAB’s University