On this day, mame-maki (bean-throwing) is performed, which is the special ritual to clean away all the evil of the former year, and roasted soybeans are thrown either out the door or at members of the family who wear demon or ogre masks. Mask making is an essential part of Setsubun festival.
On Setsubun of 2006, I got this mask, designed by the Japanese cartoonist Fujio Akatsuka. It's called the "bow wow mask" (2006 was the year of the dog).
Good bye, demon.
And hello, fuku-no-kami (god of happiness).
