In  the beginning of February, little horned critters, some green and some red, start appearing on ads, posters, magazine covers and in homes, and schools all over Japan. No, it is not a yearly demonic invasion from Hell, but rather it marks the advent of spring and culminates on February 3rd with the festival that marks the last attack and joyful routing of the two “Oni of Winter,” a time called “the parting of the seasons” – Setsubun.      But what’s an oni?

Triumphant Oni of Winter.

Oni of Winter attacks the shrine.

The oni is a (hopefully) mythical creature who resembles the Western Devil greatly in that he has horns, a tail and a lecherous leer. Yet, oni are not necessarily bad, just mischievous. Oni can also be recognized by their tiger-skin loin cloths, clubs and  loping gaits. They live in the woods and can hurt or harm, depending on their mood. The two “Oni of Winter” personify the hardships and nasty weather of that season. They are Aka-oni (red oni) and Ao-oni (blue oni). They may have some connection with the Nio-sama, the “thunder god and wind god” that can always be seen on either side of gates guarding temples across Japan, no one is sure. One curious thing is that Ao-oni is always green, not blue as named. Several kind souls have tried to explain why blue sometimes means green in Japan (or is it the other way around?) but the issue is still somewhat murky.

In any event, oni aren’t just pictures or denizens of dreams. Not only can they be seen on posters and manga covers, but they can be observed on February 3rd, fleeing for their lives from bean-throwing children in almost every house and apartment in the country, from Hokaido to Kyushu. These oni that are seen running and being pelted with roasted soybeans are often the fathers of the bean assailants, and though the entire drama is quite hilarious, there is a deeper magic behind it. When dad puts the aka-oni mask on, he represents all the problems and evils of the winter and the sooner he is chased out of the house, the better. This is done by family members doing a ritual called mame make  which consists of tossing soybeans at the father-oni (and into all the rooms of the house) while yelling, “Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi!” Roughly translated, this means “Go out bad oni, come in good luck.”  The next day is considered the first day of Spring in Japan, so it is magically important to thoroughly cast out the winter demons beforehand.

Kami of the shrine casting the Oni out.

     After this bean-throwing ritual is finished, each person eats a number of beans corresponding to his or her age. As each person does this, he or she also receives part of the good energy that just came into the house and so is guaranteed a healthy and happy year, or so the legend tells us. After this done, the house is then thoroughly cleaned of dirt and beans and made ready for a new spring.
 

Kami of the shrine casting the Oni out.   Priest blessing beans at a shrine.

Setsubun is a great time to visit your local shrine and watch a more spectacular version of the private household mame-make ritual.  Gojo Tenjinsha Shrine, in Ueno park, (among many other shrines and temples) is the site of a wonderfully theatrical version of the rite. The red and blue oni, looking really wild, suddenly attack the shrine. After scattering the crowd with great roars and the shaking of rattles, they begin to climb the stairs to the shrine. Suddenly, the masked figure of the god of the shrine appears out of the shadows. A great battle ensues and, finally, the oni are driven off by the victorious god and by a shower of beans thrown by a collection of prominent people who have the honor of being in the shrine for the festival. The god then sits on a throne while the priest enters and blesses everyone with a deeply intoned prayer. Following that, the important local people come forth and throw bags of beans and toys to the crowd.      The mame-make ritual also takes place in schools. The oni is sometimes the teacher, sometimes a popular (or very unpopular) student. Later, the students are treated to a special serving of dried beans with lunch!

Oni of Winter bowing before the Kami of the shrine. Business leaders throwing beans.

      On Setsubun many families hang a hiiragi over their doorway. This is a charm made of a piece of holly and a small dried fish tied together. The idea behind it is this; oni love dried fish, so when they see it, they grab at it, but the sharp leaves of the holly wound them and send them running off in pain!

     On February 3rd, why not celebrate Setsubun and toss some beans at a few oni you know or convince some unsuspecting loved one to put on an oni mask and then chase him or her out of the house with wild shouts and flying beans! 

     When it’s all over, do what many other Japanese do, hang the oni mask up in a place of honor to scare away evil and await it’s next moment of glory, the next Setsubun!