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Restaurants, places to go, events… we bring you the latest from Sasebo!
佐世保発の英語と日本語のWebメディア、佐世保Eチャンです！
通訳者と翻訳者の監修のもと、
ランチやおでかけ情報などをバイリンガルでお届けします！
In 2021, February 2nd is the day of Setsubun. Normally Setsubun is held on February 3rd, but irregularly 2nd is the day this year (It hasn’t happened in 124 years! ). Anyway, Setsubun is the day before the beginning of spring (Risshun) in Japan. Since Risshun used to be considered the day New Year starts, we celebrate the previous day with some special rituals to cleanse all the evil of the former year and welcome good lucks for the new year.
２月２日は節分！ 通常は３日ですが、今年は124年ぶりに２日になるそう。 節分は、春の開始日（立春）の前日になります。昔は立春が年の始まりとされていたことから、節分では、前の年の邪気を払って幸運を呼び込む行事が行われます。
What is Mame-maki (Bean throwing ceremony)? 豆まきとは？
One of the special rituals is called mamemaki or bean throwing ceremony. We throw roasted beans inside and outside our houses while shouting “Demons out, Fortune in! (Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi) ” and then, eat the same number of beans as your age to wish their good health over the year. Generally, a father will take a role of “Oni” and his kids throw beans at him.
この日、日本の家庭で行うのが｢豆まき｣です。「鬼は外、福は内」と叫びながら豆をまき、そのあと自分の年の数だけ豆を食べて、一年の無病息災を願います。一般的には、お父さんが鬼役をして子供が豆をまくことが多いでしょうか。
Ehoumaki, Sushu Rolls to Eat in 2021
Another ritual event is to eat a sushi roll, called ehoumaki on the night of Setsubun. The way of eating is a kind of WEIRD. We eat a non-sliced long sushi roll without pause or chatter while making a wish, facing the direction of best luck (eho) specified for each year. Okey, the picture below will make you understand better, we eat a sushi roll like this. It looks weird or absurd, but actually it’s fun to eat with your family and friends (off course you can eat by yourself) . This year’s direction is South-Southeast (If you are in the central Sasebo, face toward Huis Ten Bosh) . Let’s grab a roll, dip it in soy sauce a little bit, and eat to get some good luck.
節分のもう一つのイベントといえば、夜に恵方巻きを食べることでしょう！ 切らないままの恵方巻きに無言でかぶりつく姿は、どこから見ても変！ でも家族や友達と食べると楽しいですよね。今年の恵方は南南東 （市内中心部からだとハウステンボス方面？）です。
Where to buy | どこで買える？
You can buy ehoumaki and a roasted beans set for mamemaki at supermarkets and convenience stores on the day. To buy limited versions of Ehoumaki at supermarkets / convenience stores, pre-orders are required as well as sushi restaurants.
恵方巻きも豆まきセットも当日、スーパーやコンビニで買えるみたい。スーパーのこだわり商品や、寿司店の恵方巻きが食べたい方は、ぜひ予約しましょう。
