TOKYO (AP) — Loads of other people accrued Sunday at a Buddhist temple in downtown Tokyo, eagerly stretching their fingers to catch the dried soybeans thrown at them within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune.Japan’s annual ritual of “mame-maki,” or bean-throwing, at Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and houses sees other people marking “setsubun,” the remaining day of the iciness within the Eastern lunar calendar. Like rice, soybeans are thought to be an emblem of energy and purity.
Other folks attempt to catch fortunate beans scattered by way of celebrities right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)
Other folks attempt to catch fortunate beans scattered by way of celebrities right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)Learn Extra
Riri Tsunoda, 2, prepares to catch fortunate beans scattered by way of celebrities right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” a rite marked within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)
Riri Tsunoda, 2, prepares to catch fortunate beans scattered by way of celebrities right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” a rite marked within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)Learn Extra
Other folks succeed in out to catch fortunate beans scattered by way of celebrities right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” a rite marked within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)
Other folks succeed in out to catch fortunate beans scattered by way of celebrities right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” a rite marked within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)Learn Extra
A player catches fortunate beans scattered by way of celebrities right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” a rite marked within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)
A player catches fortunate beans scattered by way of celebrities right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” a rite marked within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)Learn Extra
Throughout the Zojoji temple in Tokyo, various other people together with sumo wrestlers, actors and different celebrities, wearing formal kimonos, stood on an increased podium, excitedly throwing the dried soybeans because the crowds accrued to thankfully select the small packs of “fukumame.”“Oniwa soto, Fukuwa uchi!” or “Demons out, fortune in!” everybody chanted in sync, loudly sufficient to be heard out of doors the temple, the place loads queued up for the following consultation.
Performers appearing as demons dance right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” a rite marked within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)
Performers appearing as demons dance right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” a rite marked within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)Learn Extra
Whilst the ritual is typically held out of doors, the rain on Sunday pressured everybody to take quilt within the Zojoji temple.Some fortunate individuals like Utako Iibuchi and her husband Masaaki gathered about 20 programs of soybean, snacks and “mochi” rice desserts. The couple is a normal on the temple’s annual match. “That is the primary time we’ve gathered such a lot,” a beaming Utako Iibuchi mentioned.
Other folks wait within the rain to wait the once a year “Mame-maki,” a bean throwing rite, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple because of the rain in Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, to mark the start of spring within the lunar calendar. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)
Other folks wait within the rain to wait the once a year “Mame-maki,” a bean throwing rite, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple because of the rain in Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, to mark the start of spring within the lunar calendar. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)Learn Extra
Other folks arrive within the rain to wait the once a year “Mame-maki,” within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)
Other folks arrive within the rain to wait the once a year “Mame-maki,” within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)Learn Extra
Eastern other people additionally cling bean-throwing rituals at house, the place typically the elder circle of relatives member wears a red-faced demon masks and throws the beans on the others. In a while, they consume the similar collection of beans as their age plus one, for excellent good fortune and well being.
Bean occasions at house are in large part for households with kids, however the Client Affairs Company has suggested oldsters to not feed the dried soybeans to these below 5 to keep away from dangers of choking.
A high-ranked monk and celebrities throw the fortunate beans right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” a rite marked within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)
A high-ranked monk and celebrities throw the fortunate beans right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” a rite marked within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)Learn Extra
Other folks attempt to catch fortunate beans scattered by way of celebrities right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” a rite marked within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)
Other folks attempt to catch fortunate beans scattered by way of celebrities right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” a rite marked within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)Learn Extra
Other folks leap to catch fortunate beans scattered by way of celebrities right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)
Other folks leap to catch fortunate beans scattered by way of celebrities right through the once a year “Mame-maki,” within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)Learn Extra
Individuals get ready for the once a year “Mame-maki,” a rite marked within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)
Individuals get ready for the once a year “Mame-maki,” a rite marked within the hope of keeping off evil spirits and alluring excellent good fortune, on the primary corridor of Zojoji Buddhist temple Tokyo Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photograph/Eugene Hoshiko)Learn Extra
