Setsubun Party at “Sakurada” Japanese Restaurant on February 7, 2016 (video)

On February 7, 2016 at 18:00-21:00 p. m. at “Sakurada” Japanese restaurant took place the celebration of Setsubun holiday, which is very popular in Japan. Setsubun (節分 the day of the division of seasons) is a Japanese holiday, which takes place the day before the new season begins, but it is mainly the holiday for the coming of spring. Actually, it is the Japanese New Year according to the lunar calendar. The holiday is connected with the ceremony of driving away evil spirits. For this purpose, they use soybeans, which they spread in the houses, as well as in Buddhist and Shinto shrines and across the country.

At the beginning of the event, they brought the special dish of the holiday – Ehomaki and Mamemaki setton. Then Mr. Arihiko Hasegawa, who has been living in Armenia for already six years, due to the translation of his wife Lilit Khansulyan, presented the guests that holiday.

After that, as a rule, while eating Ehomaki they look in the direction, which they consider favorable in that year. The owner of “Sakurada” restaurant Yuji Sakurada told the guests the right direction.

Then there took place the Mamemaki ceremony (豆撒きwhich is translated as spreading beans), during which they utter the magic words “Oni-wa-soto. Fuku-wa-uchi” — «鬼は外! 福は内!” – “Devils away. Happiness in”.

Author՝ H. Muradyan

 translated from Armenian into English by M.Vardanyan