Check out these articles
-
Video article 2:54
Setsubun Matsuri” at Yoshida Shrine, Kyoto, Japan, Enjoy the video of the Tsuina Ceremony ‘Oniyarai’! Highlights of the festival!
Festivals & EventsTraditional CultureTravel- 325 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 4:00
Hino Hinamatsuri Kiko - Experience Hino, Shiga, Decorated With Adorable Hina Dolls! Introducing the Hinamatsuri Event Held in a Town That Will Transport You Back to Japan’s Showa Period!
Traditional CultureFestivals & Events- 140 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 4:45
A 1,200-Year-Old Event to Welcome Spring at Todaiji Temple! See Sparks Flying at This Traditional Event at the Most Famous Temple in Nara, Japan!
Festivals & EventsTraditional CultureTravel- 160 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:21
The video shows the power of the Shirane Kite Festival held in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture! The rules and how to enjoy the 300-year-old historical and heroic battle are also explained!
Festivals & EventsTraditional CultureTravel- 107 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:58
Huge Lions, Sea Breams, and Armor Parade Through the Streets of Karatsu Kunchi in Saga Prefecture! You've Never Seen a Festival Like This! Learn About Japanese Culture Through Traditional Festivals!
Festivals & Events- 76 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 1:01
The "Mifune Festival" at Hotaka Shrine in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, with its powerful clash of floats! Don't miss the Myojin Pond at the Okumiya Shrine!
Festivals & EventsTraditional Culture- 87 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:34
What kind of festival is Hakata Gion Yamakasa in Fukuoka Prefecture? The powerful Oishi Yamakasa is shown on video! What are the features, history, and highlights? Experience the excitement of early summer in Hakata!
Festivals & EventsTravel- 97 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 1:11
Fuku Otoko 2023 – Who Will Be This Year's Lucky Man?! The Annual, High-Profile Gate Opening Ritual of Hyogo's Nishinomiya Shrine Is Back After a 3-Year Hiatus!
NewsTraditional CultureFestivals & Events- 131 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 1:18
The Nagashi Hina (floating Girls' Festival), a Shinto ritual at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, is also a highlight of the elegant Heian costume! Learn about the history of Nagashi Hina, as well as other Nagashi Hina festivals around Japan!
Festivals & EventsTraditional CultureLife & Business- 136 plays
- YouTube
Video featuring the charm of the Setsubun Festival at Taga Taisha Shrine in Inukami-gun, Shiga Prefecture! Let's purify the bad luck of the year with bean-throwing before the first day of spring! The Oniyarai ritual is very powerful!
Video introduction of Setsubun Festival at Taga Taisha Shrine, Inukami-gun, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.
This video, titled "Good Sign 12th Broadcast: The Taga Taisha Shrine Setsubun Festival" (Good Sign 第12回放送 多賀大社節分祭), was uploaded by "Good Sign." The Setsubun Festival is held every February at Taga Taisha Shrine in Taga, Shiga, in Japan's Kansai region. This article will introduce "Oni no Mai" (鬼の舞, Dance of Demons) and the throwing of lucky beans and rice cakes.
Setsubun is an essential event in Japanese culture. Through the Setsubun Festival at Taga Taisha Shrine, visitors can learn the meaning of Setsubun's bean-throwing custom. Check out this 4-minute video showing the charms of Taga Taisha Shrine's Setsubun Festival.
What Is Setsubun? The Traditional Japanese Event and When It's Celebrated
Setsubun means "division of the seasons," and refers to the day before the first day of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Since the Edo period (1603-1868 A.D.), the day before "Risshun" (立春, the first day of spring) has been called Setsubun. In the old calendar, Setsubun fell on New Year's Eve, which was meant to drive away evil spirits and welcome in a good year before the New Year.
Mamemaki (豆まき) is a ritual in which an oni (Japanese ogre demon) appears and people throw beans at it while shouting "Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi!" (鬼は外福は内, Demons out, luck in!). It's a popular event at kindergartens and nursery schools in Japan.
It's also customary for Japanese families to eat "ehomaki," a thick sushi roll commonly made with 7 types of ingredients inside, representing the 7 Lucky Gods. It's believed that it's best to sit facing the lucky direction for the year (the direction of the god Toshitoku, who is in charge of the year's blessings), and sit quietly while eating. It's also customary to eat as many beans as one's age plus 1.
Setsubun is often thought to be held on February 3, but in some years is held on the 2nd or 4th because Risshun (the first day of spring) sometimes changes.
The God of Taga Taisha Shrine
Taga Taisha Shrine is the largest shrine in Shiga Prefecture, and is known as Otaga-san. There are two sayings, "Oise Mairaba, Otaga e Maire" (If you visit Ise, visit Otaga), and "Oise, Otaga no Ko Degozaru" (I am Ise, child of Taga). The second saying is derived from the fact that Taga Taisha Shrine is dedicated to Izanagi and Izanami, the parents of Amaterasu, the deity of Ise Jingu, giving the shrines a parent-child relationship. Taga Taisha Shrine is also believed to be the god of longevity and marriage, and a protector against evil.
Visitors to the shrine can enjoy seasonal scenery, such as beautiful weeping cherry blossoms in spring and the autumn leaves of Okushoin Garden, which is associated with Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Taga Taisha Shrine is also a tourist attraction with many other points of interest, such as a sacred tree called Sanbonsugi located on the site where Izanagi is said to have descended from the heavens, Jumyoseki (the Stone of Longevity), a white stone on which you can write your prayers and offer to the shrine, and Otaga-jakushi, a replica of a ladle made for Empress Gensho when she was ill.
Oni Dances & Bean and Rice Cake Throwing – Highlights of Taga Taisha Shrine's Setsubun Festival
The highlight of the Setsubun Festival is the "Oni no Mai" dance by the Shimane Prefecture Inbara Kagura Troupe. Three oni (demons) appear accompanied by the sound of taiko drums and flutes. They glare at the audience with frightening expressions as they perform the dance, creating a powerful scene!
[Video] 1:51 - Oni no Mai
The two priests gradually drive the demons to the edge of the corridor and exterminate them while scattering beans and shouting "Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi" (Demons out, luck in!). This is a ritual to drive away evil spirits that bring bad luck.
After the demons are gone, beans and rice cakes are thrown from the stage by participants who share the same zodiac sign as the current year.
[Video] 3:00 - Lucky Beans and Lucky Rice Cakes Being Thrown
Zodiac Signs + Lucky Bean and Rice Cake Throwing: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience!
The lucky bean and rice cake throwing experience is for participants who share the same zodiac sign as the current year that will also turn 60 in that year. It's a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience. An orientation session is held in advance. The application deadline is mid-December of the previous year.
The service fee to participate is as follows 32,000 yen for one person, 42,000 yen for couples. A prayer fee, group dinner, group photo, and souvenirs such as fans are also included. ※Details based on the 2021 event.
If you have family members who will celebrate their 60th birthday, maybe gift them with the chance to participate!
Summary of Taga Taisha Shrine's Setsubun Festival
Taga Taisha Shrine is a 10-minute walk from Taga Taisha-mae Station on the Ohmi Railway. Shiga Prefecture boasts a variety of tourist attractions, including Taga Taisha Shrine, Hikone Castle, and more. If you're planning a trip in February, be sure to add a Setsubun Festival to your itinerary!
AccessMap (Google Maps)
-
Video article 22:24
What is the Hachioji Festival? A complete schedule of events to be held on August 2, 3, and 4, 2024!
Festivals & Events Traditional Culture Things to Do- 268 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:12
Prepare to Get Muddy! Miyakojima, Okinawa's "Paantu" Is a Bizarre Festival That Will Have You and Your Underwear Covered in Mud as You Try to Outrun the Gods!
Festivals & Events- 955 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:59
The Yanaizu Naked Man Festival of Fukushima, Japan! Legends of Dragons and Half-Naked Men Praying for Good Health in the Middle of Winter!
Festivals & Events- 746 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:49
Awa Odori - A Traditional Japanese Dance With 400 Years of History! Check Out the Popular Summer Festival in Fukushima With Powerful Male Dancers and Elegant Female Dancers!
Festivals & Events Traditional Culture Travel Things to Do- 103 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 13:39
The Awa Odori Dance Festival - One of Japan's Most Popular and Lively Festivals! The More Than 400 Year Old Festival Boasts a Whopping 1 Million Visitors and More Than 100,000 Dancers!
Festivals & Events Traditional Culture- 391 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 15:20
The Most Dangerous Festival in Japan? Osaka's Danjiri Festival Is Full of Unexpected Events and Accidents! Toppling Over Sideways, Crashing, Falling Over... It's a Thrilling Event You Won’t Want to Miss!
Festivals & Events- 7.43K plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:30
The Kyoto Yamashina Gishi Festival Feels Like a Trip Back in Time! The Traditional Japanese Atmosphere Created by the Parade Group Dressed as the 47 Ronin, Is an Event in Kyoto's Yamanashi Ward You Don’t Want to Miss!
Festivals & Events- 92 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:45
Wakakusa Yamayaki is a winter feature of Nara!A thorough explanation of everything from viewing spots to history!
Festivals & Events Traditional Culture Travel- 220 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:07
A Winter Illumination Event at Shirahige Falls in Biei, Hokkaido! The Beautiful Waterfall Illuminated in the Silvery White Snow Is Sure to Captivate!
Festivals & Events Travel- 274 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 1:18
The Nagashi Hina (floating Girls' Festival), a Shinto ritual at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, is also a highlight of the elegant Heian costume! Learn about the history of Nagashi Hina, as well as other Nagashi Hina festivals around Japan!
Festivals & Events Traditional Culture Life & Business- 136 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:04
A video of a miniature kamakura lit up at the “Kamakura Festival” at Yunishigawa Onsen in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture!
Festivals & Events Travel- 99 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:21
The video shows the power of the Shirane Kite Festival held in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture! The rules and how to enjoy the 300-year-old historical and heroic battle are also explained!
Festivals & Events Traditional Culture Travel- 107 plays
- YouTube
3 Comments