February
24
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Full of Beans! – Setsubun in Kanazawa
“Demons out! Luck in!” That’s what people across Japan were chanting on February 3 as they hurled roasted soybeans all over the place to celebrate Setsubun (節分). Setsubun is the first day of spring according to the old lunar calendar in Japan and on it’s the day to make a fresh start and banish any bad luck that might be lingering around the home. These photos are from a setsubun event at Utasu Jinja (宇多須神社) in Kanazawa where geisha from the surrounding district dance and then toss beans to the crowds gathered below. There’s stiff competition to catch those beans because hidden in the packets are lucky numbers that are later exchanged for prizes ranging from lucky charms to bottles of sake and ever useful bags of rice.
A maiko wades through the crowds before her performance.
The Kanazawa mascot.
Getting excite about the new bullet train coming to Kanazawa.
A crab, a local, seasonal delicacy.
Utasu Jinja.
A stylish spectator.
The priest blesses the crowd.
Bean tossing time!
Got to tidy up those beans before the geisha can dance.
Offical bean tossing to the crowds.
Local elementary school kids get their own special bean toss.
Competition is fierce to catch those bean packets.
The mayhem of the bean toss.
Lucky lady who caught a packet with a lucky number in it.
The lucky number prizes.
The smallest winner.
inaka biking 