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.

2020.02.02

It was fine.

I went to my parents' graveyard. To my surprise the gravestone next to my parents was disappeared. I have thought the graveyard is something forever so it was a big surprise.

After that I went to Kainan jinja. Today is Reiwa 2nd year February 2nd so it is 02 02 02 and I felt like getting a red stamp called goshuin (御朱印).

On my way back the road was so crowded.

I went to grocery shopping.

2020.2 1

A new month has started. February is nigatsu (２月) , the second month, or kisaragi(如月).

As a first day ritual I went to the nearby shrine.

I went to Yokosukachuo first and walked to the station and went to Roppongi next.  I visited Izumo taisha Tokyo branch and Tenso shrine.

Then I went to Waseda to visit Anahachiman shrine with a friend. They offer the seasonal charms called ichiyouraifukumamori (一陽来復守). 

We walked to Ushitenjin(牛天神) to see the red plum festival.

We had tea at Korakuen.

Finally I went to Ueno to visit the exhibition of Izumo and Yamato at the Tokyo National Museum.

We had dinner at Kagoshima dishes dining place.

I came home by the last train and a taxi.

It was a nice day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.