Tokyo’s bean-throwing ritual draws crowds at Zojoji temple
The annual ‘mame-maki’ festival is a tradition to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.
Why was the annual bean-throwing event held indoors this year?
Why was the annual bean-throwing event held indoors this year?
Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
Earlier this month, hundreds of people gathered at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo for the annual bean-throwing event called “mame-maki.”
This ritual takes place on “setsubun,” marking the end of winter. It is meant to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck.
At Zojoji temple, celebrities and sumo wrestlers, dressed in formal kimonos, threw dried soybeans into the crowd.
Participants chanted “Oniwa soto, Fukuwa uchi!” meaning “Demons out, fortune in!”
Despite the rain forcing the event indoors, people enjoyed collecting packs of soybeans, snacks and rice cakes.
Couples like Utako and Masaaki Iibuchi, regular attendees, were happy to collect about 20 packages, the most they had ever gathered.
At home, families also celebrate by throwing beans. Elders wear red-faced demon masks. Afterwards, they eat as many beans as their age plus one for luck and health.
Answer: because it was raining