[From Tokyo,Japan] "Setsubun""Ehoumaki (Sushi that has been rolled)"

This year's "2/3" was a day that was called "Setsubun" in Japan.

"Setsubun" is a meaning of the turning point of the season.
It was originally four times a year, and each "Setsubun" of the winter ，in autumn ，in summer ，in spring existed.
However, Setsubun came to indicate Setsubun of spring recently.
"Mame-Maki"is done to "Setsubun" of spring.This event is a ceremony to drive away　 bad demons, and to invite happiness.
I hear that this is manners transmitted from China in old times.

Moreover, there are manners that eat "Rolled sushi" at Setsubun, too.
It is suitable for a certain direction (Ehou), and people wholly eat "Ehoumaki(Rolled sushi)" at night.
Manners that eat "Rolled sushi" at Setsubun are the one chiefly done in the Kansai area. However, it has spread to Japanese various places by the strategy such as a part of the Osaka seaweed wholesale store cooperative society, the mass communication, food manufacturers.
The direction that is called "Ehou" is different every year.

By the way, "Ehou" in 2006 seems to be a direction of east a little inclined to it in the south.

In my home, it ate this "Ehoumaki"yesterday.

From Tokyo Japan
Report of manners of Japan