in Setsubun (節分) marks the transition from winter to spring in Japan, a time traditionally associated with driving away evil spirits and inviting good fortune. While it is now most commonly observed on February 3rd, the date is tie)d to an ancient system of timekeeping that reflects both the Chinese lunar calendar and Japan’s adaptation of it.
The head of the family is usually the one dressing up as the oni, while children and other family members will throw beans at them.
The Lunar Calendar and the Meaning of Setsubun
Setsubun is one of Japan’s seasonal festivals, originally referring to the day before the beginning of each of the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The term itself means “dividing the seasons”. However, since the Edo period, it has primarily been associated with the day before the start of spring. In the modern Japanese calendar, this typically falls around February 4.
However, over time, it became most closely associated with the transition from winter to spring, based on the old calendar system influenced by China. Japan historically used a lunisolar calendar, which divided the year into 24 seasonal markers (節気, sekki). The beginning of spring, known as Risshun (立春), was considered the start of the new agricultural cycle, making the day before it particularly significant for ensuring good luck in the coming year.
In the old lunisolar calendar, the new moon closest to the beginning of spring was designated as New Year’s Day (January 29 in 2025) . This meant that both the Lunar New Year, based on the moon’s phases, and Risshun, determined by the solar longitude, were regarded as the start of the new year. Because of this, the final day of the old calendar year, Omisoka, and Setsubun, the day before spring began, were both seen as forms of New Year’s Eve. Even today, some regions still refer to Setsubun as Toshikoshi, a term also used for New Year’s Eve.
The Date
Setsubun falls on the day before the beginning of spring, when the solar longitude reaches 315 degrees. Since it is indirectly determined by the movement of celestial bodies, the exact date varies each year and can only be predicted through orbital calculations. Technically, the date may also shift slightly depending on the standard time used, but because Setsubun is a tradition unique to Japan, differences in dates between countries are not a topic of discussion in the way they are for the Lunar New Year.
During Japan’s modernization in the Meiji era, the Gregorian calendar replaced the lunar-based system, and Risshun was fixed around early February. Despite this shift, Setsubun remained an important occasion tied to both folklore and seasonal customs.
Roasted soy beans to be used for Setsubun can be found in any supermarket.
Folklore and the Origins of Mamemaki
One of the best-known traditions of Setsubun is mamemaki (豆撒き), or bean-throwing. References to bean-throwing on Setsubun appear in historical documents and, during the Heian period, a similar practice called sanmai, which involved throwing rice, was widely observed.
The earliest written records of Setsubun bean-throwing date back to January 8, 1425 (January 27 in the Gregorian calendar) during the Muromachi period. An imperial court record, mentions that the tradition had been popular in recent years but had not been practiced by court officials at that time. Meanwhile, a record from the Muromachi shogunate describes an enthusiastic participation in the Setsubun ritual, with people wholeheartedly throwing soybeans. These records suggest that by the 15th century, bean-throwing had already become an established custom among the nobility and samurai of the capital.
Beans are used in Setsubun rituals due to the belief that grains possess a life force and magical properties capable of warding off evil. Another interpretation comes from wordplay, as mame can be linked to “demon’s eye”, symbolizing the act of striking a demon’s eye to subdue it. Throwing beans at demons is meant to drive away malevolent spirits while praying for good health and protection from illness in the coming year.
As temple bean-throwing ceremonies grew in popularity, they began attracting large crowds. However, by February 1941, just before World War II, worsening food conditions made it difficult to acquire large quantities of beans. As a result, major temples in Tokyo canceled their Setsubun events.
Edward Greey is believed to be the first person to introduce Setsubun in English. Lafcadio Hearn also wrote about the festival in The Unknown Face of Japan, describing it as a ritual primarily known for exorcising demons.
Mamemaki is now commonly performed at home, with family members tossing roasted soybeans while shouting “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” (“Demons out! Fortune in!”). Some temples and shrines still hold large public ceremonies where prominent figures or local celebrities throw beans to crowds seeking good luck.
It is customary to eat ehomaki wihout cutting it and facing the lucky direction that changes each year.
Foods and Traditions of Setsubun
Like many Japanese festivals, Setsubun has its own special foods associated with its rituals.
Roasted Soybeans (福豆, fukumame)
Lucky beans, used in Setsubun, are made by roasting soybeans. There is a saying, “flowers of roasted beans bloom”, which implies something impossible happening. Because the beans are meant to drive away evil spirits, they are thoroughly roasted to prevent them from sprouting and are eaten after the bean-throwing ritual is complete.
It is customary to eat a number of beans equal to one’s age or one’s age plus one, and in some regions, it is believed that good fortune will come if a person can grab that many beans in one handful. There are also various legends surrounding roasted beans, including the belief that if they are saved and eaten at the first thunderclap of the season, they will bring good health, serve as a protective charm, and guard against misfortunes caused by lightning.
Ehomaki (恵方巻)
A thick, uncut sushi roll eaten while facing a specific direction believed to bring good fortune.
This custom originated in the Kansai region, where it is believed that eating a thick sushi roll, also known as maru kaburi or maru kaburi sushi, while silently facing the year’s designated lucky direction will make one’s wishes come true. During the 1980s and 1990s, chain stores promoted this tradition nationwide, leading to its spread beyond the Kansai region.
Each year, the lucky direction (恵方, ehō) is determined by an ancient astrological system.
Sardines and Holly Branches (鰯と柊, iwashi to hiiragi)
In fact, it is believed that demons fear the smoke and strong smell of grilled sardines, which is why in western Japan there is a tradition of eating grilled sardines on Setsubun, known as Setsubun Iwashi. The heads of grilled sardines are also used as decorations, where they are placed on holly branches and hung at the entrance of the house to ward off evil spirits.
A well-known proverb related to this custom says, “Even the head of a sardine comes from faith”, meaning that even something seemingly insignificant can be valued if it becomes an object of belief. This saying is also featured on one of the traditional karuta cards.
Sardines and holly are also popular during Setsubun, as their smell and spiky leaves are said to keep the evil away.
Visit a Shrine
Many major shrines, such as Sensoji in Tokyo and Yoshida Shrine in Kyoto, host Setsubun festivals where visitors can participate in bean-throwing events and receive blessings.
Senso-ji was the first location in Japan to host a major Setsubun event, and now each year, around 10,000 people gather to watch celebrities throw handfuls of soybeans from morning to afternoon. While beans are typically thrown to drive away evil spirits, since demons are not believed to enter temple grounds, participants at Senso-ji instead chant to invite good fortune. The festivities also include a performance known as Fukuju-no-mai, or the Dance of the Seven Lucky Gods, which takes place in the afternoon. Additionally, entertainers from Asakusa join in the celebrations, throwing beans to welcome visitors.
Other places include Zojoji, where celebrities flock to throw beans on visitor, Kanda Myojin and Hie Shrine.
Though Setsubun has changed over the centuries, it remains a significant event in Japanese culture, blending ancient customs, folklore, and seasonal traditions into a festival that welcomes a fresh start each year.
