A maiko or apprentice geisha and a participant wearing traditional kimono throw beans during the annual Setsubun bean-scattering ceremony to celebrate the upcoming arrival of spring and ward off evil spirits at Takahata Fudoson Kongoji temple in Hino, #Tokyo, #Japan. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
柊 [Hiiragi]
Osmanthus heterophyllus
Today, February third, is the final day of winter, 節分 [Setsubun]. It has long been believed that 鬼 [Oni] (Ogre)s would come on this night. So people scatter beans (mainly parched soybeans) and decorate the house entrance with a 柊鰯 [Hiiragi-iwashi] (made by a head of iwashi, or pilchard, on a branch of hiiragi) because it is believed that Oni dislikes them.
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The main ritual associated with the observance of Setsubun is mamemaki (豆撒き, 'bean scattering'); this ritual sees roasted soybeans (known as fukumame (福豆, 'fortune beans')) either thrown out of the front door, or at a member of the family wearing an oni (demon or ogre) mask while shouting 'Devils out! Fortune in!' (鬼は外! 福は内!, Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!), before slamming the door.
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The beans are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them. Then, as part of bringing luck in, it is customary to eat roasted soybeans, one for each year of one's life (kazoedoshi), plus one more for bringing good luck for the year.
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