Today is setsubun (節分), which literally means divide the season. Therefore there are four setsubun in a year. But when we say setsubun, it means the one divides winter and spring.
On this day we scatter the roasted beans by saying "Oni ha soto, fuku ha uchi (鬼は外、福は内)" meaning evils out fortunes in.
This year is a year of sheep, and those who were born in the year of sheep are called toshi otoko (年男) for men and toshi onna (年女) for women. Some of them are invited by shrines or temples and scatter beans to drive evils.
We eat the same number of beans as our real age wishing the good health of the year.
The custom of eating a big sushi roll calked ehomaki (恵方巻), literally fortunate direction roll is getting popular these days.
I ate them for lunch today.
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