2nd February – 如月

恵方巻　（Ehoumaki）－　Fortune Sushi Roll

Thick sushi roll with generally 7 different ingredients inside. Eat in the night of 節分(Setsubun) on February 3rd. Celebrating the new coming season and wishing for business prosperity.

Every year in the early February, it falls in the separation period of season from winter to spring. This separation period is called 節分 (Setsubun) and this year it falls on 3rd of February. (Will explain more about Setsubun on tomorrow blog)

When it is the separation period of the season, it is believed that evil will come around. Therefore, on the separation day, Japanese do talisman ritual – On February, throwing roasted soy beans will expel evils.

On this day, Japanese eat one huge sushi roll per person without talking while eating this roll. This conduct is believed to bring luck and happiness to them.

This sushi rolls are called ‘恵方巻’ (Ehoumaki), and has some rules in order to make the wish comes true.

1. Eat in the night of Setsubun night
2. Eat the whole roll by oneself, without talking to anybody but wishing in one’s heart
3. Do not cut the roll
4. Looking at the certain direction (恵方 Ehou) – lucky direction for the year

This lucky direction is the direction where 歳神様 (Toshigami sama) from the new year stays at and it is said that everything that people do toward this direction will be successful and bring luck.

Ehou for each year is already fixed:

When the last number of the year is

-4, 9 = East Northeast

-0, 5 = West Southwest

-1, 3, 6, 8 = South Southeast

-2, 7 =North Northwest

Therefore, this year is 2020, 0 is West Southwest. looking at this direction to eat Ehoumaki might bring your dream comes true.

This tradition was introduced in order to promote sushi industry and increase seaweed sales. Conbini (Convenience store) gradually started selling it and bring a good sales so they keep selling it in this season. On the other hand, the left over after 3rd February is tremendous so it is urgent to take an action toward this food wastes.