Today is the first day of spring according to the lunar calendar. We Japanese celebrate Setsubun (leterally means “the day between two seasons”) on the last day of winter (February 3 this year). Bean throwig, called mamemaki, is done at home on the day of Setsubun. We scatter roasted soy beans inside and outside our houses shouting, “Devils out (おにはそと/鬼は外), Fortune in (ふくはうち/福は内).” Then we eat the same number of beans as our age and with for good health. Bean is “mame” in Japanese and means good health.
As mentioned, today is the first day of spring, but it is still cold in Fukuoka. We will feel spring little later, may be in March, I guess. However, we will have a very good season soon to enjoy watching plum and cherry blossoms.

February 4th News, from NILS Japanese language school — Yoshi Tanaka