Setsubun

Spring started today according to the old calendar; so yesterday was Setsubun which means the end of winter. At major temples around the country, bean-scattering ceremony took place. Men and women of year scatter beans to drive away evil spirits, saying, “Fortune in and demons out.”

I visited Kenchoji Temple in Kamakura. Before bean-scattering ceremony, dance performance was dedicated there. The lion dance and “Kappore” dance were performed by more that sixty men and women. They act to preserve this Edo dance performance. It was interesting to perform Edo dance in Kamakura.

For more information about Setsubun, please access to my Web site:

http://www.realjapan.org/life/event/februaryevent.html

(Kappore Dance)

(Kappore Dance)

(Bean Scattering Ceremony)

(Bean Scattering Ceremony)

(Lion Dance)