If you’re visiting Japan in February 2026, you must not miss out on the Setsubun Festival! Dubbed as the “bean-throwing festival”, the festival is usually a day before spring arrives, as per the old Japanese calendar. Every year, it usually occurs on February 2 or 3, and in 2026, it will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 3. A key aspect of the festival is the mame-maki tradition, and many attend the festival specifically for this tradition.
What is this tradition and what significance does it hold?
Here’s a one-stop detailed Unstumbled guide to this tradition and the festival it is a part of.
Setsubun Festival: Origins, What Is Mame-Maki, Origins, And Other Traditions
What Is Setsubun Bean Throwing Festival And What Are Its Origins
The day prior to the start of the spring season in Japan, as per the traditional old calendar, is known as Setsubun. The name literally translates to ‘seasonal division’ and is one of the most important festivals across the country.
It is celebrated on the day just before the start of the season so it doesn’t have a fixed date. However, the festival falls on February 2 or 3 each year.
The festival has its roots in an ancient Chinese tradition called ‘Tsuina’. The tradition was brought to Japan in the eighth century – leading to the inception of Setsubun. Today, Setsubun is celebrated in almost all Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, and even Geisha communities.
The origin of this festival is rooted in the notion of expelling bad luck and even has a legend about an ogre demon being vanquished by having beans thrown at his eyes.
This is why the festival is mostly known for its unique ritual where people throw beans as a symbol of warding off evil spirits. Along with the ritual bean-throwing tradition, there are many other rituals and traditions associated with the Setsubun festival.
Mame-Maki Ritual: The Famous Soybean Throwing Ceremony
An important tradition associated with the Setsubun festival is the Mame-Maki tradition. Oni Yarai Shinji (oni purification / ogre exorcism rituals), involves men in oni costumes parading through streets or the host temple or shrine.
People lined up along the temple/shrine and streets threw roasted soybeans at the men dressed as oni. This is believed to be a cleansing ritual that helps ward off evil spirits.
While throwing roasted beans is a common practice during the festival, many people also throw objects like candies, shelled peanuts, and even cash!
While throwing these objects at the men dressed as oni, it is a ritual to shout “oni wa soto fuku wa uchi!” loudly! In English, it roughly translates to “devils out, fortune in”.
By chasing away the evil spirits, the beans are said to symbolically purify the home. People also eat one roasted soybean for each year that they’ve lived and then one more for ‘luck’.
Other Traditions Associated With Setsubun
Along with the Mame-Maki tradition, there are many other rituals and traditions associated with the festival. Many of these traditions are region-specific and have been existing for generations.
One such tradition is the Kansai tradition of eating uncut Makizushi rolls in silence as you face the year’s lucky compass direction.
Another tradition is hanging miniature ornaments made of sardine heads and holly leaves on the entryway of your home. This is thought to ward off evil spirits.
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Summing Up
The Setsubun festival in Japan is a festival that is believed to bring prosperity, good fortune, and good health. Celebrated across the country and known for its “bean-throwing ritual”, Setsubun traditions have existed for thousands of years.
This makes it one of the most ancient festivals celebrated in Japan.
