In fifth period on February 2nd, a Bean-Throwing Assembly (Mamemaki) was held at Yumenomori.
The students first thought together about why people in Japan throw beans and what the tradition means.
Tomorrow, February 3rd, is Setsubun. This marks the end of winter and the coming of spring—a seasonal turning point between winter and spring. Long ago, people in Japan believed that bad things were more likely to happen during seasonal changes. To prevent misfortune from happening to themselves, their teachers, and their families, they began throwing beans to drive away evil spirits, or “oni.” This is how the tradition of mamemaki is said to have started.
After learning about its meaning, the students thought about the “oni” they wanted to drive away and played an Oni Introduction Game together.
“My oni is the oversleeping oni!”
“My oni is the one that makes me laze around at home!”
“Oni wa soto! (Out with the oni!)”
Each student shared their own oni and enjoyed interacting with one another.
Then… a real oni finally appeared! 👹
Although we felt a little sorry for the oni, the children enthusiastically threw beans with all their might to defeat the oni they wanted to overcome.
Community members also joined the event and smiled happily as they watched the energetic children.
Please come and join us again next year! ☺
