Special topic of Setsubun Festival 2018.Feb.02 〜 Feb.03

2018.02.01

Convention News & Report

On Setsubun, the day before the first day of spring according to the calendar, February 3 (Sat), 2018, Setsubun Festival will be held at shrines and temples around Fukuoka.

The historic and traditional Setsubun Festival including the bean-throwing rituals, good-luck prize winning Fukubiki lotteries and more is outlined below.

[Kushida Shrine “Grand Setsubun Festival”]

Setsubun Festival at Kushida Shrine is crowded with many worshippers every year.

The Japan’s biggest (5 meters in height) “Otafuku (smiling woman) mask” greets you at the shrine’s 3 entrances of Romon, Hokujinmon, and Nanjinmon gate.

(January 25 (Thu) – February 11 (Sun/Holiday), 2018

The bean-throwing ritual will be held lavishly at the Noh stage of the shrine by Toshi-otoko/-onna (persons who were born in a year with the same Chinese zodiac sign as the current year) and local noted personalities of Fukuoka/ Hakata.

Kankuro Nakamura, Shichinosuke Nakamura and other Kabuki actors who come on February Hanagata Kabuki stage will throw beans this year, and Kuma-mon joins as well.

The Festival Eve

February 2 (Fri), 2018

Setsubun Fuku-mukae (welcoming fortune) Ceremony: Purification ritual of the large Otafuku mask and a commencement of walking through the mouth of the mask 11:00 –

Setsubun Eve Ceremony: Dedication of Shinto music and dance 17:00 / 18:00 (twice)

Setsubun Grand Festival

February 3 (Sat), 2018

Bean-throwing Ritual: 10:00 – 16:00 (once in every 30 min.)

Throwing beans by Kuma-mon: 10:30/ 15:30

Throwing beans by Kabuki actors of February Hanagata Kabuki stage: 11:00

Prayer for Yakuyoke-kaiun (warding off evil and bringing in fortune): 10:00 – 18:00

Good-luck prize winning Fukubiki lottery: 10:00 – 18:00

★See here for more information of Kushida Shrine

[Tochoji Temple “Setsubun Festival”]

During the festival, the multi-armed Kannon statue, Japan’s one of the important intangible cultural assets and Rokkakudo Buddhist sanctum, a cultural asset in Fukuoka, are open to public and every year the temple is full of worshippers.

The bean-throwing ritual on the festival day, not only beans but also rice cakes, oranges, sweets, and more are thrown swiftly from the main hall of the temple to shouts of “oni-wa soto, fuku-wa uchi” (out with evil, in with fortune).

The Festival Eve

February 2 (Fri), 2018

Setsubun bean-throwing: held on an as-needed basis from 13:00

Fukubiki lottery: 13:00 – 18:00

Kaiun-yakuyoke (bringing in fortune and warding off evil) / Setsubun Grand Festival

February 3 (Sat), 2018 10:00 – 18:00

Setsubun bean-throwing: held on an as-needed basis from 09:30

Goma Prayer (fire ritual) for Kaiun-yakuyoke (warding off evil and bringing in fortune) 10:00 –

Star Festival/ Fire Festival 10:00 –

★See here for more information of Tochoji Temple

[Sumiyoshi Shrine “Setsubun Festival”]

February 3 (Sat), 2018 11:00 – 18:00

The bean-throwing will be held after the ritual of Oniyarai (warding off evil) by 4 golden-eyed Hoso-shi (a person who drives off evil). If you get scattered beans in which there’s a winning ticket, you can play a Fukubiki lottery.

Oniyarai Ritual 11:00/ 15:00/ 18:00

Bean-throwing event 11:00 – 18:00 (once in every hour.)

If you get scattered beans in which there’s a winning ticket, you can play a Fukubiki lottery.

Visitors who had fortune beans from the shrine will also be able to play a Fukubiki lottery.

Offering for fortune beans: 500 yen

★See here for more information of Sumiyoshi Shrine

[Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine “Setsubun Yakuyoke (warding off evil) Prayer Grand Festival]

January 26 (Fri) – February 3 (Sat), 2018

Requests of Yakuyoke Prayer will be accepted from January 26 (Fri) to February 2 (Fri), 2018 and gift items suited to Setsubun are also sold during the period.

On the day of Setsubun, “the bean-throwing ritual” for warding off evil and bringing in fortune will be held at Tenjin Hiroba.

Setsubun Yakuyoke (warding off evil) Prayer Grand Festival

February 3 (Sat), 2018

Bean-throwig ritual: around 10:30/ 14:00 (twice)

Gift items suited to Setsubun

Fortune paper fan: offering of 200 yen

Setsubun fortune beans: offering of 100 yen

* Please note in advance that the number of gift items is limited.