節分 – Setsubun

Setsubun literally means “dividing season” and it is the day before the beginning of spring according to the traditional East Asian calendar.  In Japan people have believed for centuries that evil spirits are released when the season changes.  Often a bean-throwing ceremony or mamemaki (豆まき) is carried out at many places from individual households to local shrines.  A new tradition for the setsubun is to eat ehōmaki (seven-ingredient sushi roll) and it’s becoming more and more popular in Japan nowadays.