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Thali

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Setsubun

Roasted soybeans are thrown to drive out bad luck, and a whole sushi roll is eaten in silence.

Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is eaten for Setsubun

Setsubun is the day before spring begins in the old Japanese calendar. People throw roasted soybeans out of the door or at someone in a demon mask, calling for bad luck to leave and good luck to come in. Each person then eats one bean for every year of their age. The newer custom, which began around Osaka, is ehomaki: a thick uncut sushi roll eaten whole and in silence while facing the lucky direction of the year. In eastern Japan some families have kenchin soup.

The dishes

SushiUncut sushi roll eaten in silence, facing the lucky direction.

Also part of it, and being written: Kenchin-jiru (Root vegetable soup eaten at Setsubun in eastern Japan.), Soybean (Roasted beans are thrown, then eaten, one for each year of age.).

About this page

Written by the Thali desk with AI assistance. Background: "Setsubun" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from family to family and place to place. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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