Casual — to friend
Cultural · Seasonal
鬼は外！福は内！ — Demons out! Luck in! (Traditional Setsubun bean-throwing chant) (Cultural · Seasonal, Casual — to friend, JLPT N5)
You
鬼は外！福は内！
おにはそと！ふくはうち！
Demons out! Luck in! (Traditional Setsubun bean-throwing chant)
Romaji: Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! / Reply Romaji: Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!
Reply
鬼は外！福は内！
おにはそと！ふくはうち！
Demons out! Luck in!
Gesture & etiquette
Hold a small bag of roasted soybeans (福豆, fuku-mame) firmly. Throw them first outward — toward the door or window — to expel evil, then throw inward to welcome good fortune. Shout the chant energetically each time. This is a lively, joyful family activity.
節分 (Setsubun, February 3rd) marks the eve of spring in Japan's traditional calendar. Throwing roasted soybeans (豆まき, mamemaki) while chanting this phrase drives away evil spirits (鬼) and invites good fortune. After the ritual, eat the number of beans matching your age for a healthy year.