Really, Toyama? In the middle of March? Really??
Today’s kyushoku (school lunch): Squid soup, seaweed salad, and egg loaf.
Why? Because he’s an awesome guy. He’s married to my sister. He’s the father of my niece. He’s a tremendous cyclist and all-around outdoorsman. He’s incredibly smart. And he’s fighting thyroid cancer. Even if he wasn’t my brother-in-law, I’d still want to be his best friend.
[video]
[video]
[video]
February 3rd is a minor holiday in Japan, called Setsubun. Setsubun is the day before Risshun, or the start of Spring, but just like Christmas Eve, Japanese people tend to prefer the eve of an event to the actual event itself. It’s sort of related to the Lunar New Year (or rather, the eve of the Lunar New Year), so Setsubun is a sort of festival to cleanse away the evil of the previous year and start afresh for the next year.
For some reason, this is done by throwing around roasted soybeans—like those pictured above.
Mamemaki, or “bean-throwing,” is the main event of Setsubun. Roasted soybeans—called fukumame, which means “good fortune beans”—are seen as a cleansing element of some sort (maybe because of the effect beans can have on your bowels), and so on February 3rd every year people throw them out the front door of their house to rid their family of evil (basically misfortune, disease, and really bad sushi). If there is a man in the house whose zodiac sign is the same as whatever year it is (this year it’s the Tiger), then traditionally he gets to do the mamemaki-ing, otherwise it’s generally done by the head of household.
At some temples and shrines, or even at schools and in some households, one unlucky person (who most likely lost a game of Jan-ken*) will dress up as a demon (or oni) and prance around while everyone pelts him with fukumame.
And, of course, what Japanese holiday is complete without a signature chant to go with it? Well, you can’t let Setsubun go by without shouting this passage (preferably into your neighbors’ window, as my neighbors seem to enjoy doing): ”Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” which means “Demons out! Good fortune in!” (the ‘out’ and ‘in’ being literally ‘outside’ and ‘inside’).
Finally, the last thing to do on Setsubun is to cleanse your body by eating your age in fukumame—assuming you didn’t throw them all out the door. This is especially taxing for grandmothers and grandfathers, who often lose count (or pretend to) before they even get halfway, and just end up faking it.
* Japanese kids use Rock, Paper, Scissors (or “Jan-ken” as it’s called here) to decide everything. Seriously, as a teacher, I end up playing Jan-ken at least 5 times a day with my students. I could go on and on about it, and I probably will some day soon, but for now just trust me when I say that if someone has to dress up like an oni and get beans thrown at him all day, it’s almost certain that he’s doing it because he lost at Jan-ken.
Back when I had roommates, my number one reason for wanting to live by myself was so I could get a cat. Now I wake up to this face every morning.
Best decision I ever made.
Dammit, again?!
I have seen this painting in person. It’s awesome. Because it totally is a pipe. (via kl7)