Setsubun 2022 節分豆まきと恵方巻でお祝い

AJA 2019 Setsubun Album

節分豆まきと恵方巻で健康と安全祈願

Until the end of Edo era and before the new government introduced a western system and started using the Western Calendar in Japan, the Chinese New Year which is called Kyu-Shogatsu and which literally means old calendar new year. was celebrated indirectly by having a Setsubun celebration.  

節分 Setsubun.

Setsubun is one of the Japanese traditional festival days of the year.  This year setsubun is to be held on the 3rd of February 2023. Although it is not a public holiday, the day is still very popular for Japanese people and an oppurtunity to perform special rituals before Spring begins in the Japanese lunar calendar.

豆まき　Mamemaki and Setsubun

Mamemaki is also known as the Bean-Throwing Festival it is the most famous ritual associated with Setsubun.  Mamemaki  literally means "bean scattering" in Japanese. In the mamemaki ritual, roasted soybeans, known as fukumame ("fortune beans") are either thrown out of the front door, or at a member of the family wearing a demon or oni mask while shouting "Devils out! Fortune in!", before slamming the door shut. The beans are thought to purify the home by driving out the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them.
旧暦によると２月３日が日本では春のはじまりの前日とされており、その日には病や不運を家庭から取り除くために福豆（炒り豆）を家の内外に投げます

Eho-maki and Setsubun

Eho-maki are thick sushi rolls which is believed to bring good fortune if eaten while facing the year’s “ 恵方 Eho” literally meaning in Japanese good luck direction. In 2022 the Eho (good luck direction) is north‐northwest. Eho is determined by the year’s zodiac sign. The goddess of lucky directions, Toshitoku-jin, is believed to remain at the Eho during the year.

恵方巻きは、節分にその年の「恵方」（吉方位）を向いて食べると縁起が良いとされる太巻きです.  恵方とは、その年の干支によって定められた最も良いとされる方角で、歳徳神（としとくじん）がいるとされています 

 

Eho-maki is usually made with seven ingredients such as cucumber, sweet omelet, shiitake mushroom and eel after the Seven Deities of Good Luck.
恵方巻きには七福神にちなんで、「きゅうり」「伊達巻」「しいたけ」「うなぎ」など7種類の具材が入っています

 

On average, an Eho-maki are about 8-10cm long.
恵方巻きは、平均して８〜１０cmの長さです

How to eat Eho-maki?恵方巻きの食べ方

Eho-maki are also called “Maru-kaburi-sushi” (swallowing sushi) because of the traditional way to eat it is to : make a wish, close your eyes and eat the roll uncut, all while facing the Eho.

恵方巻きは、目を閉じて願い事を思い浮かべながら、恵方に向かって一本丸ごとの海苔巻きを丸かぶりすることから、「丸かぶり寿司」とも呼ばれています.

While you eat Eho-maki, you must be silent.恵方巻きを食べる時は、黙って食べなくてはいけません

The eating of Eho-maki without cutting reflects the idea of forming good relationships.
恵方巻きを切らずに丸ごと一本食べるのは、「縁を切らない」という意味が込められているからです

There is no particular time of the day to eat Eho-maki.

恵方巻を食べる時間に特に決まりはありません

History of Eho-maki

恵方巻きの歴史
Some people believe that the origin of Eho-maki is a custom followed at the end of the Edo Period (1860s) in Osaka, of wishing good fortune for fisherman.
起源は江戸時代末期、大阪の船場で商売繁盛の祈願をする風習として始まったものという説があります
It is also believed figuratively that Eho-maki resemble a demon’s metal rod, and that demons can be stopped by eating the whole thing.
太巻きを、逃げた鬼が忘れていった金棒（鬼の金棒）に見立てて、鬼退治と捉える説もあります

The custom of Eho-maki today

現在の恵方巻きの風習
The custom of Eho-maki has spread rapidly in Japan since 2003, when supermarkets and convenience stores began heavily advertising the event.
２００３年くらいから全国のスーパーやコンビニエンスストアで販売され大きく宣伝されたことから、節分に恵方巻きを食べるという風習が急速に全国に広まりました

For those who do not enjoy eating Eho-maki, the stores sell other options like roll cakes.
近年では太巻きが苦手な人でも節分を楽しめるように、ロールケーキなどをお勧めするお店もあります

Roll cakes are likely to be considered as Eho-Maki products as they following the traditional look of an Eho-maki .
ロールケーキはどちらかと言うと、恵方巻の形に似ていることから、イベントに便乗した商品とも言えます。

Although Setsubun is in February, soon after the new year the advertising and sale of Eho-maki begins in Japan.
お正月が過ぎると、スーパーやコンビニエンスストアなどでも、チラシや実際の恵方巻きが売られているのを目にすることがあります

According to a survey in 2002, only 53% of Japanese people were aware of what Eho-maki are, despite the long-standing custom.
大阪では古くから親しまれていましたが、２００２年には５３％の日本人しか恵方巻きが何かを知らないというアンケート結果もありました

Eating Eho-maki remains a popular Japanese custom today. Around the time of Setsubun, all over Japan there are events where people can make and eat Eho-maki.

節分の季節になると、各地で恵方巻きを食べたり作ったりするイベントが行われるようになり、認知度は上がってきています

Eho-maki are popular not only because of tradition but also because they make mothers’ meal preparation easier.

恵方巻きは伝統行事としてだけではなく、お母さんたちの夕食準備が楽になるという理由で人気が出ています

Extracted from Reference  https://english.cheerup.jp/article/2618