Japan marks the end of winter with a launching ritual of roommate

Tokyo (AP) – Hundreds of people gathered on Sunday in a Buddhist temple in downtown Tokyo, impatiently stretching hands to catch dried soy chance.

The annual ritual of Japan of “Mame-Maki” or launching of COLUS, in Buddhist temples, Shinto sanctuaries and houses sees people scoring “Setsubun”, the last day of winter in the Japanese lunar calendar. Like rice, soybeans is considered a symbol of vitality and purity.

People try to catch lucky beans dispersed by celebrities during the — People are trying to catch lucky beans dispersed by celebrities during the annual “Mame-Maki”, in the hope of repelling the evil spirits and inviting good luck, in the main room of the Buddhist temple of Zojoji, Sunday, February 2, 2025. (AP photo / Eugene Hoshiko)

People reach out to catch lucky beans dispersed by celebrities during the annual “Mame-Maki”, a ceremony marked in the hope of repelling evil spirits and inviting good luck, in the main room of the temple of the temple of Zojoji Buddhist, Sunday, February 2. 2025. (Photo / Eugene Hoshiko)

A participant catches lucky beans dispersed by celebrities during the annual “Mame-Maki”, a ceremony marked in the hope of repelling the evil spirits and inviting good luck, in the main room of the Buddhist temple of Zojoji, Sunday, February 2, 2025. (AP photo / Eugene Hoshiko)

Inside the Zojoji temple in Tokyo, a number of people, including sumo wrestlers, actors and other celebrities, dressed in formal kimonos, stood on a high podium, enthusiastically throwing dried soy The crowd gathered to happily choose the small packages of “Fukumame. “”

“Oniwa Soto, Fukuwa Uchi!” Or “Demon to go out, fortune in it!” Everyone sang in synchronization, strong enough to be heard outside the temple, where hundreds have queue for the next session.

Artists acting as demons dance during the — The artists acting as demons dance during the annual “Mame-Maki”, a ceremony marked in the hope of repelling the evil spirits and inviting good luck, in the main room of Zojoji Buddhist Temple Tokyo Tokyo Sunday, February 2 2025. (Photo / Eugene Hoshiko)

While the ritual is generally held outside, Sunday rain forced everyone to cover themselves inside the Zojoji temple.

Some lucky participants such as Utako IIBUCU and her husband Masaaki collected around 20 soy packets, snacks and “MOCHI” rice cakes. The couple is a regular at the annual temple event. “This is the first time that we have been collecting so much,” said a radiant Utako Iibuchi.

People are waiting in the rain to attend the annual “Mame-Maki”, a bean launch ceremony, in the main hall of the Buddhist temple of Zojoji due to the rain in Tokyo on Sunday February 2, 2025, to mark the start Spring within spring in the spring in the SEM Lunar Calendar. (Photo / Eugene Hoshiko)

People arrive in the rain to attend the annual “Mame-Maki”, in the hope of repelling the evil spirits and inviting good luck, in the main room of the Buddhist temple of Zojoji Tokyo, Sunday February 2, 2025 .

The Japanese also have flence rituals at home at home, where generally the member of the older family carries a mask of demon with a red face and throws beans to others. Thereafter, they eat the same number of beans as their age, for good luck and health.

Home bean events are largely intended for families with children, but the consumer agency advised parents not to feed dried soybeans with those under the age of five to avoid the risk of suffocation.