This Year's Setsubun Bean Throwing
3日の節分で戸倉上山田温泉の上の善光寺別院で祈祷と豆まきがありました。日曜日だった為、会社や学校が休みで、いつもより大勢で集まった。うちも、子供三人を連れて行きました。そして、今年は本堂の中でやった。立派なお寺さんの中で、尚且つ多くの参加者で、かなり盛り上がりました。
来年は二男のＫｅｎ君が年男で、まく役を楽しみにしている。しかし、来年の2月3日は月曜日。豆をまくために学校を休むわけに行かないよね。
善光寺別院は今、小石の湯旅館の西澤さんが面倒を見ている。旅館の仲間と今回のイベントを開催してくれた。皆さん、ご苦労様でした。（来年は私も手伝わせてくれるかな？）
February 3rd was "Setsubun" Day in Japan, marking the midpoint of the winter season. Back in the States, everyone's attention was on Punxsutawney Phil (apparently the groundhog didn't see his shadow this year), while here in Japan all eyes were on the lookout for 'Oni' devils. If you see any peanuts on the ground, they are likely left over from people throwing them at the Oni to ward off evil. It's an annual tradition here in Japan.
For our onsen town Togura-Kamiyamada, the Zenkoji Branch Temple on the hill behind us holds a religious ceremony and bean throwing event every year. This year being a Sunday and most companies and schools closed, a relatively huge crowd gathered for the event. Our three children were also able to go. And this year, the bean throwing was held inside the main temple building. With the majestic setting and the larger than normal number of people, it was a lively event.
