Arab News Japan

TOKYO: At the beginning of February, Japan celebrates the Setsubun ceremony, which signifies the end of winter and the beginning of spring, according to the traditional lunar calendar.

The ceremony is notable for the practice of bean throwing.

Setsubun is a religious event with roots tracing back nearly a thousand years to the Heian and Muromachi eras. It stems from a legend in which a monk repels a demon by throwing roasted beans at its face to blind it. The Japanese character for “bean” also symbolizes “evil eye.”

At various points around Japan, celebrities, such as sumo wrestlers, and politicians participate in distributing lucky beans by throwing them into crowds of people. Those celebrating chant, “Demons outside, happiness inside.”

Often certain people are designated to wear devil masks and beans are thrown at them to scare them away.

Shrines such as Okunitama Shrine, renowned for enshrining a deity that protects against misfortune, invite pilgrims to throw coins into an offering box to be used for charitable purposes or to maintain the shrine.