NIFS Mobile Info Service / Living Info and Archives

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Recent Entry2012-01-20

[Useful information on living and culture/Setsubun / Mamemaki]

Setsubun or “sechiwakare” means the changing of the seasons and in this case it is it is the day before “risshun” (the change from winter to spring), February 3.
On this day there is a custom of throwing beans (mamemaki).
You should say, “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (demons out, happiness in) when throwing the beans.
This is said because people do not want demons (misfortune) to enter the house, and want happiness to come in.
To keep demons away, the head of a sardine is skewered to a branch of the holly olive (hiiragi) which the demon hates and is placed at the gate of one’s house, and or, eat the same number of beans as one’s age.
In the Kansai area, there is the custom of eating the “eho-maki” sushi.
People eat a whole sushi roll (futomaki) without saying a word while facing the auspicious direction (eho) and hope for good health throughout the year.
Lots of “futomaki sushi” are sold at supermarkets on Setubun day.

[Sightseeing in Nara Prefecture /Bonbai (plum blossom bonsai) Exhibition]

Plum blossoms, harbingers of spring, were introduced from China in the 8th century.
“Bonbai” is bonsai using plum blossoms.
1. Sugawara Tenmangu (518 Sugahara-higashi-cho, Nara City)
Date: Feb 11 (Holiday) ~ March 11(Sun)
Time: 9:00~16:00
Place: 10 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Amagatsuji Station, 15 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Saidaiji Station
Admission: 500 yen
HP http://www.sugawaratenmangu.com/
2. Yamato Koriyama Bonbai Exhibition (Former Koriyama Castle, Jonai-cho, Yamato Koriyama City) (120 plum blossom bonsai exhibits on view)
Date: Feb 4 (Sat) ~ March 9 (Fri)
Time: 9:30~16:30 (Sat & Sun & Holiday until 17:00)
Place: 7 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Koriyama Station
Admission: 450 yen (under elementary school children free)