節分 Setsubun - Japanese Spring Cleaning Exorcism

http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/2007/02/06/setsubun-devils-driven-out-in-jap...
http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/devils-make-sneak-attack-on-japan...
Setsubun is February 3rd and it's kind of like Groundhog Day, New Years, and Halloween all rolled up into one. It's a day where Japanese seek to drive Oni or Devils from their homes by throwing beans at them. Oni don't like beans - makes them go blind apparently.

Also many temples and shrines have mami-maki which is where people throw beans and other items at gathered crowds. To catch these items is to bring you good luck all year.

This Setsubun a sudden snowstorm struck in Tokyo. A rather ominious sign as the Setsubun is a Spring Ritual and exorcising the devils is like driving Winter out. I think it was a sneak attack by the Setsubun Devils myself. However the ritual must have worked because the next morning the sun was out.
Background music by Super Girl Juice:
http://www.sgchannel.com

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• setsubun
• culture
• japan
• tokyo
• winter
• devils
• exorcism
• groundhog-day
• halloween
• events
• oni
• mame-maki
• luck
• vlog
• 節分
• 日本
• 東京
• folklore
• mythology
• japanese-folklore

[bartman905]

Nice video ... where did you eventually go to celebrate Setsubun this year? Luckily, I was able to go to Zojoji Temple on my lunch break.

[RoninDave]

how was zojo-ji this year? Did you catch any video of it?

I went to Narita, Kanda Myojin Shrine, some small temple in Nakano, and way up north to a small town called Ashikaga in Tochigi. Fun stuff!

[hbpencil]

why does it have a high bitrate?

[RoninDave]

???

[djbcloud]

great video man~

the last part was pretty hilarious.

[RoninDave]

Thanks for the comment! And yeah that "health" bar really hurt! It almost brought tears to my eyes. It was that kind of sharp pain that makes you want to hit something or someone in a reflexive response. I think it was thrown by the sumo wrestler seen at 6:02.

[Zayashuku]

Haha at the exorcist joke~ :p

[tmorente]

WOW! Your thirst for culture learning is inspiring.  Good luck to you!

[forevercomescrashing]

this video would have been so much easier to watch if you didnt include an annoying Jpop track in the back, I like some Jpop, so Im not trashing the music, I just think it made it harder to follow what you were saying

[psc330]

madness! madness! OW!  lol

[BaldBerlitzBoy]

Nope, setsubun doesn't work. I loaded your channel and threw beans at the monitor but you're still here Davey.

[bartman905]

I think you found the videos on my channel. Wow, you did get around!

[Gimmeaflakeman]

Good video, RD. I used it in class.

[BusanKevin]

Nice vid. I learned a lot. Didn't know it was considered the last day of Winter (mind you we haven't really had a winter here in Kobe). Love the end when you got beamed with the bar!