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Sushi Workshop

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Date: 2/2/18 (Friday) Time: 6-9pm There will be two workshops; 6:00-7:15 & 7:30-8:45pm. The workshop 7:30-8:45pm is already full.  Please do not send me a deposit if you cannot arrive by 6:15pm. I said “sushi workshop”, but it is really a setsubun workshop.  Setsubun literally means “dividing season” and it is the day before the … Read more

節分 – Setsubun

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Setsubun literally means “dividing season” and it is the day before the beginning of spring according to the traditional East Asian calendar. There is a setsubun for each season, but when we talk about setsubun, we usually mean the Spring one.

In Japan people have believed for centuries that evil spirits are released when the season changes.  Often a bean-throwing ceremony or mamemaki (豆まき) is carried out at many places from individual households to local shrines.  A new tradition for the setsubun is to eat ehōmaki (seven-ingredient sushi roll) and it’s becoming more and more popular in Japan nowadays.

七福神 – Seven Lucky Gods

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In Japanese mythology the Seven Lucky Gods are worshiped as fortune bringers.  The Seven Lucky Gods are Hotei, Jurōjin, Fukurokuju, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Daikokuten, and Ebisu.  Each one has specials characteristics but all of them are related to aspects of good fortune, such as wealth, talents, thriving business, longevity, etc.

鏡開き – Kagami Biraki

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Kagami biraki means “to open the mirror” in Japanese.  The mochi that was offered to Toshigami-sama as a Shōgatsu kazari is called kagami-mochi or mirror-mochi because of its shape.  Usually on the 11th of January (the date may differ depending on the area) we eat this mochi, and the ceremony is called “kagami biraki” or “to open the mirror”.  For this ceremony we are supposed to break it with a mallet instead of cutting it with a knife.  Cutting is considered taboo because it has an association of seppuku or harakiri.

福むすめ – Fuku Musume

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The English translation of “fuku musume” would be “fortune girls”.  The Imamiya Ebisu Shrine in Osaka receives over 3000 applications per year and picks 45 girls who look like they bring us good luck.  Five of these are international students.  Those chosen will all take part in the shrine’s New Year celebration.

According to OSAKA INFO “Everyone in the merchant city of Osaka knows the Imamiya-Ebisu Jinja Shrine. This shrine, which was founded in 600 by the order of Prince Shotoku, is visited annually by a million people, who pray to Ebessan, a god of business, for commercial prosperity. During the Toka Ebisu Festival, people buy sacred bamboo branches decorated with lucky items in hopes for the success of their businesses. Many visit the shrine during the three days of Jan. 9 through 11, especially on the day of Toka Ebisu (held on the 10th).”

大晦日 – New Year’s Eve 2017

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New Year’s Eve is called Ōmisoka in Japanese.  Through the ages Japanese people have believed that the Shinto God, Toshigami will visit each household on New Year’s Day.  Therefore, in Japan we clean the entire house thoroughly by Ōmisoka.  Traditionally on Ōmisoka in Japan we prepare osechi for New Year’s, and we eat toshikoshi soba for dinner. Many people watch Kōhaku Uta Gassen or “Red and White Song Battles”.