Scattering Beans and Eating Sushi to See in Spring

Every year to celebrate the coming of Spring in Japan people scatter beans to ward off evil spirits (豆まき | mamemaki) and eat specially prepared rolled sushi (恵方まき | ehomaki) while facing in the new years lucky direction. The bean scattering is usually done by the toshiotoko (年男 | senior male or the male who was born in the same chinese calendar year) in the direction of a less fortunate member of the family wearing a demon mask.

The chant goes something like this "Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!" (鬼は外! 福は内! | Out with the Devil! In with good fortune!). Just be thankful you're not a demon in the Fukushima region where family members yell "Oni no medama buttsubuse!" (鬼の目玉ぶっつぶせっ! | Demon's eyes, crush crush!).

The tradition of eating makizushi originated in Kansai, but thanks to the marketing efforts of large department stores and supermarket chains has spread all across the country. This year the direction to face on Feburary the 3rd is a little to the right of West, So'West. (2010年の恵方は「西南西」).

It is customary to eat the whole roll in one go. I want to see your best demon impersonations if you decide to put on a mask and eat ehomaki!