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

My Journey with Sumie: Comic-Con Romania Workshops and Live Painting Demonstrations
It’s been a week since the exciting Comic-Con in Romania, (1-2-3 september 2023) and the excitement still lingers! We want to thank everyone who made this unforgettable experience possible.
At this event, not only did we have the opportunity to immerse ourselves in rich Japanese culture, but I also actively participated as an instructor in Sumie

Live Sumi-e Dragon Painting at Japanese Festival in the Netherlands – Cultural Exchange Art
This image is from Japan Festival in the Netherlands

Boosting Adventure Tourism: Collaboration in London with JNTO and the Embassy of Japan
Interested in experiencing adventure sports in Japan? Recently, I had the honor of conducting a live sumi-e painting demonstration at the Visit Japan Night event. This event was organized by JNTO UK and the Embassy of Japan in the United Kingdom at Japan House in London.
We southerners, on New Year’s day eat special foods to help give us luck and money.
Then we have something in common! I´m not very superstitious but I feel safe if I do it hahaha, I hope it worked
I had roasted soybeans, threw some, stood on my steps and shouted: Out with bad fortune, in with good fortune….I’m sure my neighbors thought I was crazy but they have seen me do odd things in the past! I hope you have a good year ahead!
Hahaha you are so funny! I can imagine you neighbors face
Hola me encanta que nos cuentes las distintas celebraciones que hacen en tu país natal, gracias a ti estoy aprendiendo mucho sobre las tradiciones y festividades.
Las fotos de las maiko son preciosas. En cuanto a lo de la supersitición, aquí en España tambien hay muchas pero yo concretamente no le tengo superstición a nada, pienso que eso está en la forma de ser de cada persona y claro está en el país en que nace, como es tu caso, que si lo vives y sigues la tradición que te han dado a conocer tu familia desde tu mas tierna infancia.
Un saludo muy afectuoso
Gracias, me alegro que pueda enseñaros algunas tradiciones de mi país, además como me van mandando fotos mi famila y yo tengo muchas también pues me gusta compartir con vosotros, aunque principalmente voy sacando mis dibujos y caligrafía. Pero hay fechas importantes en Japón que me gusta esplicaros desde mi punto de vista espero que os gusten estos post con fotos también. Es mejor no tener supersticiones! pero tal cual dices es cosa de cultura, en caso de Japón va unido a religión también este tipo de ritos. Pero no te creas que somos tan religiosos, es mas que nada una costumbre.