Loading

Search

:

Setsubun at Ikegami Honmonji

  • Category:Shrine and Temple
ws9wysstyh9dgczu5jo7_320_320-223ed310.jpg

JAPAN TRAVEL



Celebrate spring in classic style

As I walk up the hill to Ikegami Honmonji, I pull my hat down a little further against the February wind. Located deep in the heart of Ota-ku, one of Tokyo’s 23 wards, the temple is the largest and most famous of this area. Established near the end of the thirteenth century by Nichiren Shu, a Buddhist priest who insisted that chanting the Lotus Sutra was the only means to enlightenment, Ikegami Honmonji is also famous for its Setsubun no Hi Festival.

Held on February 2, 3, or 4, Setsubun no Hi or Bean-throwing Day Festival, marks the official beginning of spring according to the Japanese lunar calendar. To start the new season off right, dried daizu (soy beans) are tossed and eaten all in the name of scaring evil away for a year and inviting good luck to come and stay.

scmxcdtj46auhjkhn2z6_320_320-01fffc6c.jpg
 
Started some time during the Muromachi Period (1336-1573), families gather in doorways just after dark with beans in hand. One member of the household wears a demon mask and gives a menacing roar as the rest of the family throws the dried daizu at them to scare them away while chanting: “Oniwa soto! Fukuwa uchi! (Evil out! Good luck in!)”

“You have to hit them in the eye,” a friend explains as we make our way up the steep stairway to Ikegami Honmonji’s main gate. The two guardian spirits standing on either side loom over us as we pass into the central grounds. A long stage decorated in red and white cloth runs out from the main building. A few people sit on party sheets, a.k.a. small tarps, reading newspapers or eating snacks. The space on both sides of the long stage has been cordoned off into sections.

fhmstzeasg95fc9jzybo_320_320-8dbfba4e.jpg
 
As we wander about the grounds taking in the five-story pagoda, the oldest of its kind in Tokyo, nearly 150 blue-uniformed policemen appear and begin positioning themselves about the stage and near the buildings. They well outnumber the number of visitors at that moment, but before I can comment the sound of drums draws us over to the stairs.

es73uri9fc93mtw2x4oz_320_320-fb28b839.jpg
 
Far below, chanting priests lead a double-row of celebrities that includes wrestlers, actors, singers, and television personalities as well as local dignitaries. They will throw the beans this afternoon, and as they pass, cameras snap and the crowd murmurs in excitement. The long train files into the main temple building, and the rest of us take up our positions along the stage.

The crowd steadily grows, and by the time the throwers file out to take up their positions, the central courtyard is packed. A policeman announces the rules: take only the beans you catch; don’t take beans from someone else; don’t hit. A bell rings and bags of beans begin to fly.

zhgucn8amgf7zzrostzd_320_320-5e84b827.jpg
 
The children next to me scramble with Olympian speed to gather bags that fall on the ground, and adults leap and lunge as though their lives depended on it. I get hit on the head, the eye, and shoulders by bags of beans as I join in. The policeman continues his safety announcement until finally all the bags are gone. The crowd claps, and I check the time. Only eight minutes passed since the first bag was tossed.

zirpwm7xzwxhz49uyrrb_320_320-96ee8250.jpg
 
My friend and I walk over to the food vendors to wait out the rush for the trains.

“Wait. Does this,” I ask holding up one of the three bags I caught, “mean we are oni?”

“No,” she laughs as she wraps her hands around a steaming cup of amazake (a drink made from sake lees). “If you eat one bean for each year of your life plus one more, you’ll have good luck all year.”

So much good fortune tied to a simple bean, I think, as I start crunching and counting.
 
 
by Joan Lambert Bailey
 

 

Comment(s) Write comment

How does the FDA address concerns about the safety of generic versus brand-name medicines https://www.iplocation.net/forum/topic/detail/7442 vidalista 20mg. Natural Medications for Holistic Wellness and Vitality
Enhancing Quality of Life - How Drugs Are Transforming Health Care https://community.plus.net/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/134622 clomid for sale. Breaking Barriers - Access to Affordable Medications for All
Are there OTC options for gout prevention https://experienceleaguecommunities.adobe.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/17972247 avanafil and sildenafil. Revolutionary Medicine Takes Center Stage in Healthcare
    avanafil tablet 50 mg price Web Site
  • 23/1 13:00
Are there OTC options for lupus nephritis relief https://experienceleaguecommunities.adobe.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/17881224 erectiepil cenforce 100 mg. Exploring Ethical Considerations in Medication Development
What's the protocol for obtaining a refill on a specialty medication https://experienceleaguecommunities.adobe.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/17954102 generic for lotemax eye drops. The Power of Preventive Medications in Promoting Longevity
    loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension uses Web Site
  • 5/1 19:53
Can patients request a copy of the prescribing information for their medicines https://experienceleaguecommunities.adobe.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/17941862 betaxolol for glaucoma. What is metabolic syndrome, and how is it managed
Can a patient request a brand-name drug if a generic is not readily available https://ummalife.com/post/520445 iverheal. Vaccines and Herd Immunity - Protecting Public Health
Medications and Psoriasis Management - Relieving Skin Inflammation https://pando.life/article/128075 clomid 50mg tablets. Innovative Medications Addressing Global Health Crises
    fertimed f tablet uses Web Site
  • 30/12 07:23
Are there pharmaceutical companies that offer financial assistance for blood pressure medications https://interreg-euro-med.eu/forums/users/malegra/ malegra 100 gold. What is the connection between the gut microbiome and obesity management
Can generic medicines be compounded by pharmacists https://tourism.ju.edu.jo/Lists/AlumniInformation/DispForm.aspx?ID=115 super kamagra. Childhood Vaccination Programs - A Global Perspective
    buy kamagra online india Web Site
  • 18/12 23:09
How can I access information about pharmaceutical assistance programs for specific medical conditions https://pando.life/article/128055 clomiphene citrate 50 mg. Environmental Toxins and Health - A Silent Threat
    clomiphene Citrate men over 50 Web Site
  • 5/12 20:21
How does India regulate the production of medications for dental health https://experienceleaguecommunities.adobe.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/17935866 betapace 80 mg. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine - A Game Changer
    sotalar 80 mg uses Web Site
  • 5/12 11:40
Are there nonprofit foundations that provide assistance for osteoporosis medications https://community.jumpcloud.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/1445 hydroxychloroquine for lupus. Medications and Vision Health - Clear Sight for a Brighter Future
Where can I find OTC options for asthma symptom relief https://www.fundable.com/vidalista-5 vidalista-20. Medications and Digestive Health in Children - Ensuring Wellness from Within
    vidalista 20 mg erfahrung Web Site
  • 21/11 21:46
Are there pills that should be taken with antacids https://experienceleaguecommunities.adobe.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/17876335 loniten 10mg. Medications - Bridging the Gap between Illness and Wellness
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next

Trackback (You need to login.)