2024.2.3

It was fine.  

I stayed at home all day long.

Today is setsubun (節分), the day to divide the seasons.  There are four seasons, and there are four setsubun. It is a day before risshun (立春), first day of spring.

On this day we scatter roast beans to drive away demons.

We eat a rolled sushi called Ehomaki (恵方巻き) facing the good luck direction of the year.

I published the 113th ebook about sunlight pictures taken in January 2024.

2023.2.3

It was cloudy and cold.

Today is setsubun(節分)which is one day before the first day of spring which is called risshun(春分).

On this day we scatter the roast beans to drive away devils saying "Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi(鬼は外、福は内)." It means "Devils out, fortunes in."

We eat the roast beans as many as our age in counting years which is one year older than actual age.

We have a custom to eat 'Ehomaki(恵方巻)" which is a big sushi roll. We eat it directing the good luck direction of the year without speaking.

I went to buy it and was so surprised to see the variation, size and price. Some cost about yen2000 per roll.

2022.2.3

It was fine.

Today was setsubun (節分), a day before spring.

We have a custom to scatter roasted soy beans to drive away vibes.

We eat the roasted soy beans as much as our age to wish the good health.

W eat ehomaki (恵方巻き), good luck direction sushi toll without saying anything facing at the good luck direction of the year which is north-north-west this yesr.

I went shopping fluorescent lights, but could not fix the light. I do not know why.

2021.2.2

It was heavily raining in the morning, but rather warm.

Today is setsubun(節分), the day before spring.Setsubun literally means to divide seasons. There are four seasons in Japan, therefore there are four setsubun in a year. However when we say setsubun, we mean the day before spring.

Usually it falls on February 3, but this year it is February 2 which happens after 124 years.

There are special foods and custom on this day. We scatter the roasted beans saying "Oni wa soto fuku wa uchi (鬼は外福は内)" meaning evils out fortunes in.

And we eat roasted beans as much as our age.

We eat rolled sushi with seven ingredients called ehomaki (恵方巻き) facing the good direction of the year without saying anything.

I did all.

2020.2.3

It was fine.

Today is setsubun (節分). Literally means season divide. There are four seasons in Japan. Tomorrow is risshun (立春), literally means stand spring. It is the first day of spring.

Among four seasons this setsubun is the best known. We have a custom to drive evils by scattering roasted soy beans. We say "Oni ha soto, fuku ha uchi (鬼は外、福は内)" which means "Evils out, fortunes in." After the ceremony we eat the roasted soy beans as much as our age.

Eating ehomaki (恵方巻き), sushi roll, facing to eho (恵方), good luck direction of the year without saying anything is getting popular.

These years I added one more ritual. At the midnight I post the special charm called ichiyouraifuku omamori (一陽来復御守) facing to ehou.

2019.2.3

It was fine and rather warm at this time of the year.

I stayed at home to wait for two deliveries and a repair serviceman for solar panel control panel.

I cleared some kimonos.

Today is setsubun (節分) literary means dividing season. We usualy scatter roast beans to drive away devils by saying, "oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi (鬼は外、福は内) devils out fortunes in.  "

2017.2.3

It was fine but very cold.

February 3 is known as setsubun (節分), which literally means to divide seasons. In Japan there are four seasons. Therefore we have four setsubun in a year.
However if we say setsubun, it means the day before the first spring day called Risshun (立春).
On this day we eat a rolled sushi called ehomaki (恵方巻), good luck direction roll. This year's good luck direction is North northwest. The rule of eating ehomaki is to face the good luck direction and eat ehomaki at a time without saying anything. I ate it at lunch and dinner.

Another custom is to scatter the roast beans to devils saying "Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi (鬼は外、福は内)" which means the devils out, good luck in. Then we eat the beans. If you eat the same numbers of beans as your age, it is said you would not get sick.

2016.2.3

It was another cold cloudy and fine day.

I took a day off and did three things I wanted to do.

Today is setsubun (節分), literally means to divide seasons. Tomorrow is risshun (立春), the first day of spring.
There are four seasons, therefore there are four setsubun in a year, but we usually mean the day before the first spring day.
On this day there is a custom called mamemaki (豆まき), which is to scatter roasted soybeans to drive demons away.  We say "oniwa soto fukuwa uchi (鬼は外 福は内)," meaning go away demons come in fortunes.
At the famous shrines or temples, many famous celebrity, especially those who were born in the same zodiac year as the current year, that is year of monkey for this year, join this event. They are called yoshiotoko (年男) for men and toshionnna (年女) for women.   
And we eat the same number of soybeans as age wishing good health.
Recently there is a popular food for this day called ehomaki (恵方巻), good luck direction roll. We eat this big sushi roll without saying anything facing the good luck direction of the year. It is south-southeast this year.

I need good luck!

I wish you too.

2015.2.3

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.