Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!

Curtis and I went into Kagoshima City for the weekend, but instead of driving the entire distance we opted on driving to Sendi City, a little over an hour from Nagashima, and then catching the 13 minute Shinkansen train the rest of the way. With the weekend ahead of us we were really feeling good until we came back to find that we had parked in wrong parking lot. Thus, instead of paying around five dollars to park we paid more like fifty dollars. It wasn’t very funny at all and it’s still not all that funny today, but I’m sure that tomorrow I will be able to laugh about it.

Though our time in the city was short it was exactly what I needed. Friday night about 20 JET teachers met in Big Bens, a quaint little English pub for Trivia Night. The game consisted of four trivia rounds: popular culture, identify the picture, history and culture, and music. While our team was strong we were not strong enough to take home the cash prize, however, I did not go home a looser as I was the first to discover that the massage chair in the corner of the bar actually worked and that it was free too. Naturally, I spent the rest of the evening in the chair.

On Saturday, the following morning, we woke up to a holiday in Japan. According to the Lunar Calendar, February 3rd is the last day before the first day of the Spring Season. In Japan the last day before the first day of any new season is called Setsubun (節分) or seasonal division. Traditionally, this day marked the last day before the Lunar New Year and therefore it was previously thought of as New Year’s Eve in Japan. Accordingly, this day is accompanied with eating lucky foods and practicing traditional rituals.

Vendors set up along the streets were busily selling makizushi, the lucky food that everyone is supposed to eat on February 3rd. Eager to join in on the fun I too bought and ate myself some makizushi - a long uncut sushi roll. That afternoon while Curtis and were shopping we noticed one store on the third floor of a building which appeared to be an old antique shop. Curiously we made our way to the third floor and as we opened the door to look in we saw two faces looking back at us – Amidst the clutter of antique furniture, vintage clothing, and a couple of large canvas paintings stood a barber giving a younger man a haircut. We quickly apologized and explained that we had a made a mistake, but before we had time to close the door he invited us in, cleared the stacks of old 1970’s magazines from the couch, and asked us to sit down as he made tea.

A bit caught off guard by the whole experience, we agreed to sit down for a bit and we began talking to the man as he continued to cut the other guys hair. It turns out the man used to live on Nagashima Island and 50 years ago he went to school at one of the schools at which I am currently teaching. He also showed us pictures, we swapped emails, told stories, and before leaving we ate makizushi together. However, before eating he made sure we were facing the northwest. He then explained that when eating makizushi we must simultaneously be facing the yearly lucky compass direction, a direction which is determined by the zodiac symbol of the current year. I’m sure he would have wanted us stay all night, but we had friends to meet and coffee to drink. His name was Hide and I’m sure we’ll see him again.

That evening after making it back to Nagashima Curtis and I stopped by our neighbor’s house for one final cultural experience. Besides eating lucky sushi the Japanese also take part in one particular traditional ritual called mamemaki or bean scattering. It works like this: Families throw beans at evil spirits that may be contemplating following them into the New Year (remember the Lunar New Year). When throwing the beans one can either throw them out the house door or at a family member wearing a devil mask.

While throwing the beans you are supposed to also chant Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! This literally means evil spirits out and lucks in, but because we couldn’t stop laughing we didn’t say it. I think you’ll understand when you see the video.
( sorry that it's crooked.)