Setsubun no hi
Today was the "throw peanuts at your demons day" at my smallest school in Shingo, Kawadai sho. I was asked to be one of the demons in the 5th/6th grade class, and the students then proceeded to throw lots of sweets at me. This was quite nice, although it hurt a little to be pelted with cookies and chocolate at close range. After lunch the children shared with the rest of the school what demons they wanted to get rid of and we then had to throw lots of peanuts around at the blackboard and at each other. An interesting tradition...I hope to do it next year wherever I am. It is strangely satisfying to throw peanuts at people.