Today was setsubun (節分), literally means to divide the season. In Japan we have distinct four seasons (四季:shiki), therefore there are four setsubun. However we usually mention only the day before the beginning of spring, risshun (立春).
On setsubun we had a custom to scatter parched beans to drive out bad luck saying "Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi (鬼は外、福は内)" meaning " Devils out, fortunes in." This is called mame maki(豆まき), mame means beans and maki means to scatter. And after that we collect up and eat the amount of beans that corresponds to our age, wishing for the good health. This is held at home, kindergartens, temples, and so on. When it is held at the temples, usually toshi otoko(年男) or toshi onna(年女) (who were born in the year of Tiger in this year's case) scatter the beans. Toshi means year, otoko means man and onna means woman. This year is year of Tiger (寅年:tora doshi).
At the observatory (150 m) of the Tokyo Tower (東京タワー) which is 333 meters high there was the 50th events. About 200 kindergartners and families enjoyed.
There is another custom called eho maki (恵方巻き), eho means good luck direction, and maki means roll. This is to eat big rolls with many ingredients facing at the good luck direction of the year without saying anything.
This year's good luck direction is west-southwest (西南西:sei nan sei), which falls on the way to Mt. Fuji from the Tokyo Tower. Unfortunately it was cloudy and snow again today, therefore they could not see the Mt. Fuji.
I ate ehomaki at lunch time, and did mame maki at home.
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