節分 Setsubun 2009 - Sumo, Celebs, J-Pop Cuties, Samurai & Fighting Monks

Setsubun is an old Japanese tradition going back to the Heian Period (794-1192) where Japanese drive bad luck or evil out of their homes by throwing beans.

Check out these these links for more info:
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...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kebAwJStlQ&feature=channel_page

The evil is represented by devils called Oni and often fathers will don an oni costume so their kids can pelt them with beans - ouch! In America, dads dress up like Santa Claus and get milk&cookies for their troubles!

At temples and shrines, they do a mame-maki where they throw beans and other things to gathering crowds. People go crazy trying to catch these beans.

Setsubun is one of my favorite Japanese traditional events and for the last 4-5 years I have always gone somewhere to celebrate it. This year I started Setsubun a few days earlier by going to the small neighborhood of Shimokitazawa where they had the Tengu Matsuri. Tengu is a long nose goblin who protects the area.

On Setsubun I went to 4 places in and around Tokyo - Narita, Kanda Myojin Shrine, Hosen-ji Temple in Nakano, and Ashikaga in Tochigi. I saw sumo champions, Japanese celebrities, samurai, J-Pop stars, and fighting Buddhist monks.

I recorded the vlog part of the video around 3 in the morning because I had to catch a really early flight from Haneda to Hokkaido so I'm speaking low so as not to wake my neighbors. Plus I was tired!

For photos check here:
http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/2009/02/14/setsubun-2009-sumo-j-pop-cuties-s...

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• japan
• tokyo
• setsubun
• AKB48
• Asashoryu
• Hakuho
• sumo
• sohei
• warrior-monks
• oni
• devils
• holidays
• festival
• vlog
• dengeki-network
• 妻夫木聡
• roving-ronin-report
• 日本
• 東京
• 侍
• 節分
• 祭り
• mythology
• folklore
• japanese-folklore
• exorcism

[Otakku432]

holy shit! AKB48!!! im not a fan of them, but theyre popular lol too bad u didnt see berryz koubou or c-ute T3T

[RoninDave]

are those members? I heard there was over 40 of them. I had actually never heard of them till that day..

[Otakku432]

yeah theres A LOT of them lol, but im not rly a fan since some of their songs are more towards the pervy adults lol. Look up one of their infamous songs called "Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru" and one of the funniest lines "Toss aside my uniform, I want to play around more naughtily. I'll do whatever you want me to do" hahaha

[RoninDave]

OMG! You got to be kidding me! There'd be lawsuits out the ying-yang for songs like in the States. Spears was pushing the line with "Hit me one more time" in her school uniform but she was singing to someone round about her age (supposedly).

[CanderousXOrdo]

Was that Asashoryu the world champion sumo wrestler throwing beans? :D

[RoninDave]

indeed it was! Yokozuna always go to Narita for Setsubun.

[Twoface227]

Thanks Dave for taking the time to record and post all of that. Was very interesting and entertaining. Thanks again

[novanine]

Good, interesting vid as usual!

I'm really looking forward to coming to Japan next year!

[Otakku432]

lolwell japan is more liberal witht hose things right? i mean i've never been there but seeing how theres quite a few 10+yr olds or maybe younger that started singing alrdy and even sell photobooks of them in bikinis i thought those kind of disgusting pedo things are common lol. Is it over ther in japan?!?! :O

[BaldBerlitzBoy]

LOL!