Bean-throwing events bring luck in JapanーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS #shorts
Many parts of Japan held “setsubun” ceremonies for good fortune on Sunday.
The events come every year on the last day of winter on the lunar calendar. Usually it comes on February 3, but this year it fell on February 2 due to a calendar shift connected to the position of the Earth and Sun.
One traditional event for the occasion is the Oni Odori or demon dance at Honjoji Temple in Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture. The event is based on a legend from the Warring States period, which says that the temple’s monks joined forces with farmers to drive away bandits.
The main hall of the temple fills with the pounding of drums and the roar of demons, who appear in five different colors. Each one represents a bad human spirit, such as anger and doubt.
At one point, the demons go on a rampage, scooping up some children from the audience who then burst into tears.
The crowd then fights off the demons by saying “Oni wa soto (Demons out),” while throwing beans at the monsters, who then flee.
Meanwhile in Kyoto, another setsubun ceremony features geiko apprentices. They’re called “maiko” and come from the Gionkobu entertainment district. They start with an elegant dance, and later help toss the crowd bags of beans, which are said to bring good luck if eaten.
More stories on Japan: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/tags/2/
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