Japanese Culture & Traditions

Thank you for opening this "Japanese Culture & Traditions" page but have you been going through my other homepages such as Introducing Mary Ohno, Kabuki Academy, Japanese Language, already?

In this page, I'm trying to introduce you "timely Japanese culture and/or traditional events". Almost every month we Japanese have an event to celebrate and I'm positive that you want to know what is it all about. Here, you can visit on this page, every month and find it out.

The topic of February 2007 is "SETSUBUN"

ONI WA SOTO! FUKU WA UCHI!

As you may already aware, February is the coldest season of the year. Although, it's been called "RISSHUN" or " beginning of the spring", it's only on the calendar and welcoming "spring" as of February 4th. "SETSUBUN" is the day before "RISSHUN", February 3, and is observed as the day when winter ends. The main event of this day is the throwing of roasted soybeans in homes and offices, to drive out any evil spirits (oni) lurking on the premises. We throw beans towards outside and shout as "ONI WA SOTO' (Out with a devil), and throw beans towards inside of the house and shout 'FUKU WA UCHI' (In with a luck). On this day everyone is supposed to eat as many beans as their age. Shrines or temples often hold gatherings to throw "Fuku-mame" (lucky beans) or "Fuku-mochi" (lucky rice cakes) over the assembled throngs. Catching and eating these beans and cakes from famous sumo-wrestlers or actors is thought to bring good luck. This tradition is something like Halloween in U.S.A.

We do have St. Valentine's Day, too, in Japan. However, not like in U.S.A., only girls suppose to give chocolate to boys, on this day. Not for sure who have started this kind of customs but, young couples believe that girls can say "I love you" or express their intentions clearly such as "I want to marry you" to their boy friends, only once a year on this specific day. In return, boys suppose to give present of white chocolate or some nicer presents to their girl friends on March 14, one month later, which we call "White Day"

If you have any comments or question about SETSUBUN or Japanese St. Valentine's Day, please send e-mail.

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