Narita Setsubun Matsuri
(Narita, Chiba Prefecture, February 3)

Setsubun marks the day before the start of a new season—nowadays almost always spring. In older times, it was believed that demons and evil spirits were particularly dangerous when the seasons were changing. This belief gave rise to a custom that to this day is still performed all over the country, where beans are thrown to drive demons away. The celebrations at the Naritasan Shinshōji temple are particularly famous. People throw beans and chant the traditional setsubun rhyme, “oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (devils out, good fortune in!). People pray for peace, prosperity, and a good harvest.

Official homepage: Municipal Government of Narita City