Message from the Editor

On the menu of Ibaraki prefecture's events this month: beans and plums!!! If you thought we were talking about food, you are wrong.

Beans: you will get many opportunities (of course some of them are not listed in our events list) to take part in the traditional Setsubun festivals (節分祭) held in most Ibaraki shrines. These celebrate the arrival of Spring according to the old lunar calendar (from Chinese origins) and always happen on February 3rd. One interesting custom in Setsubun is what people call Mame-Maki (豆撒き), or the throwing of soybeans, while shouting the following: Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! (鬼は外! 福は内!). Literally, this means: "Evil outside! Happiness inside!" It is about chasing away evil forces symbolized by the oni (demons) that attempt to sneak into people's houses at the beginning of every year. In other words this custom is aimed at attracting good fortune in one's home.

Plums, or should I say plum trees blossoming. Do not forget before admiring the cherry trees' blossoms in April–May, that plum trees are also worth a look. Go to Kairakuen Park in Mito for example. If the weather is not as bad as last year, you could get to see plum trees in gorgeous white full-bloom before March begins! With more than 3,000 trees to look at, you will probably have to prepare your camera. . . .

Enjoy February!

New articles for February 2007

Updated articles