Setsubun is a traditional Japanese event held in early February, on the day before the beginning of spring in the old calendar. Although it usually falls on February 3, the exact date can shift slightly from year to year.
It marks a seasonal turning point. In Japan, the change of seasons has long been considered a sensitive and meaningful time, when the boundary between the old and the new feels especially visible.
Setsubun is a ritual to drive away misfortune and invite good fortune for the year ahead. In the past, illness and disasters were believed to be caused by invisible spirits, often represented as oni, or demons. Rather than literal monsters, oni symbolize negative forces such as sickness, bad luck, or lingering troubles.
To chase them away, people throw roasted soybeans inside and outside their homes. People shout “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi,” which means “Out with demons, in with good fortune.” The act is simple, yet symbolic. By casting out the beans, families symbolically cast out the troubles of the past year.
Another well-known custom is eating ehōmaki, a thick sushi roll filled with several ingredients. Each year has a lucky direction determined by the zodiac calendar. People face that direction and eat the roll silently while making a wish, finishing it without cutting it to avoid breaking their good fortune.
In some regions, dried sardines are displayed at the entrance of the home or eaten as part of the meal. Their strong smell was believed to keep evil spirits away, reflecting an older folk belief that scent could protect a household.
Setsubun takes place on the eve of Risshun, the first day of spring in the traditional calendar. By clearing away misfortune before the season changes, people symbolically prepare for a new beginning. It is a moment to pause, reset, and welcome spring with intention.
Setsubun: A Ritual to Welcome Spring
