seasonal division: setsubun 節分

In Japanese tradition, spring begins in February, according to the lunar calendar.

In 2021, the season officially started on February 3rd. On the day before, people across Japan celebrated Setsubun (節分), a festival whose name literally means "seasonal division."

According to old beliefs, this time of year is a moment when the boundary between the spirit world and our world grows thin - and demons, or oni, are said to appear. For centuries, people have performed rituals meant to chase away these evil spirits and welcome the good fortune of spring.

Today, the most common Setsubun custom is mamemaki (豆まき) - the throwing of roasted soybeans around one's home while calling out, "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" (鬼は外！福は内！) which means, "Devils out! Happiness in!"

The beans are believed to purify the home, driving away misfortune and illness. It's also traditional to eat roasted soybeans - one for each year of your age, plus one more for luck in the year ahead.

Let's welcome the season with joy and celebrate the coming of spring!