Home > SHIGA 滋賀県 > Taga 多賀町 > Taga Taisha Setsubun Festival 多賀大社 節分祭

ts020-20090203_2416.jpg
Taga Taisha Shrine's Setsubun bean throwing on Feb. 3 (at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm) is perhaps Shiga's most prominent with three impressive demons (called oni) on stage acting as the evil oni to be chased away with soybeans.Feb. 3 is the Setsubun Festival at many temples and shrines in Japan. It marks the beginning of spring according to the lunar calendar. So they throw beans at ogre to eliminate the evil of the previous year and bring in good fortune.
ts021-20090203_2417.jpg
The oni first appeared amid smoke on the Kaguraden stage and danced menacingly. They were from a dance troupe called Inbara Kaguradan in Shimane Prefecture. 鬼の舞は、島根県石見地方の因原(いんばら)神楽団が奉納。Taga Taisha had impressive ogre (called oni in Japanese) dancers from Shimane Prefecture to act as the demons to chase away during the festival.
ts022-20090203_2427.jpg
Then the oni ran on the elevated hanamichi making threats to an amused crowd. MAP
ts023-20090203_2429.jpg
The good guys, in the form of shrine priests, then appeared and started throwing roasted soybeans at the oni demons.
ts023b-tagasetsubun.youtube
Video of Taga Taisha Shrine celebrating Setsubun on Feb. 3.
ts024-20090203_2430.jpg
ts025-20090203_2434.jpg
The oni went back on stage.
ts026-20090203_2436.jpg
The oni costumes were gorgeous and impressive.
ts027-20090203_2437.jpg
On stage, the oni was rained upon with paper streamers.
ts028-20090203_2443.jpg
Also see my YouTube video here.
ts029-20090203_2444.jpg
The paper streamers seemed like demon repellant.
ts030-20090203_2454.jpg
The shrine priests continued their bean attack on the oni.
ts031-20090203_2468.jpg
ts032-20090203_2470.jpg
Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! (鬼は外! 福は内!)
ts032d-20210202_5943.jpg
Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! (鬼は外! 福は内!)
ts032e-20210202_5953a.jpg
Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! (鬼は外! 福は内!)
ts032f-20210202_5962.jpg
ts033-20090203_2467.jpg
Next, were 124 bean throwers who were born in the year of the bull. They wore a red cap.
ts034-20090203_2474.jpg
Everyone got into position as they held a wooden box full of mochi and beans.
ts034d-20210202_5963.jpg
Setsubun always attracts a good crowd.
ts034e-20210202_5964.jpg
ts034f-20210202_5966.jpg
ts034g-20210202_5973.jpg
ts034h-20210202_5967.jpg
First the shrine priest had to shoot an arrow into the crowd, then the bean throwing began.
ts035-20090203_2479.jpg
First the shrine priest had to shoot an arrow into the crowd, then the bean throwing began.
ts036-20090203_2514p.jpg
A large crowd was on hand to catch the beans and mochi. The bean-throwing is called mame-maki. They held two mame-maki sessions that day, at 11 am and 2 pm. This was at 2 pm.
ts037-20090203_2488.jpg
All the while, the PA system screamed, Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! (鬼は外! 福は内!)
ts038-20090203_2486.jpg
There were no celebrity bean-throwers like at famous shrines/temples.
ts039-20090203_2494.jpg
Throwing mochi. The mochi was bare and dry, hard as a rock.
ts039d-20210202_5978.jpg
ts040-20090203_2501.jpg
The bean-throwing was fun, but potentially dangerous with people pushing you around. Taking pictures is pretty risky as well. One mochi hit my camera lens. Fortunately, no damage.
ts041-20090203_2549.jpg
I also got hit on the shoulder while taking pictures. You should always look up and see where the mochi and beans are flying.
ts042-20090203_2527.jpg
The soybeans were thrown in little paper bags, so we could still pick them up and eat them even if they fell to the ground.
ts043-20090203_2577.jpg
This person caught quite a few mochi and beans. Also see my YouTube video here.
ts043d-20210202_5993.jpg
Setsubun beans I caught. Lots of good luck in 2021! The beans are in small paper bags. Less messy.
ts043e-20210202_5999.jpg
The bean-throwers for 2021 pose for a group shot in front of Taga Taisha Shrine.
ts043f-20210202_5994.jpg
ts044-20090203_2581.jpg
The bean-throwers for 2009 pose for a group shot in front of Taga Taisha Shrine.
ts045-20090203_2580.jpg
The bean-throwers for 2009 pose for a group shot with the shrine priests.
 
39 files on 1 page(s)