Eating Ehomaki on the day of Setsubun
Feb 5, 2010
Dear Friends,
Just a few days ago, February 3, was the day of Setsubun
. I actually wrote briefly about it in my last blog, so please check for more detail.
. I actually wrote briefly about it in my last blog, so please check for more detail. Talking of Setsubun, we have a tradition of eating Ehomaki (a thick sushi roll) while facing the New Year’s lucky direction. It is said Eho is the direction of the god of fortune and happiness and it changes every year. This year’s direction is said to be West-South-West. The Ehomaki, with 7 lucky ingredients, is eaten without pause or chatting while facing the auspicious direction of the year. This could be very tough when you are not hungry… 
Lily said she ordered tuna roll. I wonder if good fortune will come to her with only one ingredient......
Lily said she ordered tuna roll. I wonder if good fortune will come to her with only one ingredient......
Why do we eat Ehomaki on the day of Setsubun?
There are two theories regarding the origin of Ehomaki, but no one really knows the truth. One says that merchants in the late Edo era and early Meiji era, in Senba, Osaka, ate makizushi (thick sushi roll) on the day of Setsubun hoping for a new year of prosperity. Therefore, this custom is more common in the Kansai region, rather than the Kanto region (Tokyo is in the Kanto region). Another theory states that a samurai under Toyotomi Hideyoshi coincidentally ate makizushi on Setsubun the day before a battle and claimed victory. It then quickly became a custom.
But just recently, I heard another theory.
That is…it originated from the marketing strategy of sushi chefs in Kansai. But again, who knows the truth…Japanese people are always good at making booms and love to celebrate, which will eventually make a big contribution to our economy.
This is Tak, eating Ehomaki at lunch time on the day of Setsubun. 
Don't even wonder why he is wearing his googles.
He said he needs to eat at home again with his family. But I wonder if eating 2 Ehomaki will bring him more fortune.
Don't even wonder why he is wearing his googles.
He said he needs to eat at home again with his family. But I wonder if eating 2 Ehomaki will bring him more fortune.
Ciao,
Coco xoxo
Posted by.Coco | Individual | Comment (0)
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