Setsubun Festival
I Just got back from Hokkaido! But before I blog about that, I have to blog about the Setsubun Festival (節分) that happened on February 3rd. At households I think the oldest guy puts on this demon mask and the rest of the family throw beans at him or they throw beans out of the house while saying 鬼は外, 福は内! (demons out, luck in!)
I thought it was quite a strange festival and I really wanted to see it in action. Since I’m not living with a host family, I decided to go to a shrine to join in on the festivities there! Lots of shrines celebrate this festival but I decided to go to the Tomioka Hachimangu just because I’ve never been there and it wasn’t too far away!
The biggest mikoshi in Kanto!
I didn’t really know what was going on at the festival actually @_@ These celebrities came up onto the stages that were set up and hung up lanterns that had their names on them. Then we had to wait a while before they came out onto the stage again. I was under the impression that we would be throwing beans but the celebrities were throwing the beans at us! It was quite interesting! Almost all of the Japanese people had brought bags and stuff with them and put them over their heads to catch the beans. Me and a few others were just trying not to get hurt xD Being pelted at with beans hurt! xD But still it was very interesting and I managed to catch some in my hood :D And I also kept finding them in my bag days after the festival!
Celebrities? People were shouting and stuff when they came out so I’m guessing they are!
Lanterns with names on them
More celebrities… they’re holding boxes of beans before the mamemaki (bean throwing) started!
Ready with their bags!
This guy caught so many beans with his hair xD
Some of the beans I caught :D I only found out afterwards that you’re only supposed to eat as many beans your own age… I think I probably ate more than that! I hope I that’s not unlucky!!
All the beans on the floor! There was actually an announcement asking people to give up if the beans are already on the floor but I saw quite a few people picking them up anyway xD
After the interesting festival I walked around the area for a bit before heading home!
Elephant with an oni (demon) mask!
