Question 1

True or false: Setsubun is a national holiday in Japan, with schools and businesses closed for the day.

Accepted Answer

False. Setsubun is not a national holiday; it's a traditional event celebrated at home and temples, but it's a regular work and school day.

Question 2

True or false: During Setsubun, it's traditional to throw peanuts at a person wearing a demon mask.

Accepted Answer

False. People throw roasted soybeans (fukumame), not peanuts, while shouting 'Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi' to drive away evil spirits.

Question 3

True or false: Setsubun is only celebrated in Japan and has no equivalents in other cultures.

Accepted Answer

False. Similar spring-beginning or evil-expelling festivals exist in China (Lichun), Korea (Ipchun), and even ancient Roman (Februa) traditions.

Question 4

True or false: Eating a sushi roll in silence while facing a specific direction is a key Setsubun ritual.

Accepted Answer

True. The ehomaki (uncut sushi roll) is eaten whole while facing the year's lucky direction, without speaking, to bring good fortune.

Question 5

True or false: The beans thrown at Setsubun are always raw soybeans, never cooked or roasted.

Accepted Answer

False. The beans are always roasted (irimame) to prevent them from sprouting, symbolizing that evil won't take root. Raw beans would sprout if thrown outside.

Question 6

True or false: Setsubun originally marked the beginning of spring, not winter, in the old lunar calendar.

Accepted Answer

True. Setsubun literally means 'seasonal division' and originally referred to the day before each season, but now mainly marks the start of spring (Risshun).

Question 7

True or false: In some modern Setsubun celebrations, people throw chocolate coins instead of soybeans.

Accepted Answer

True. In recent years, confectionery companies have promoted chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil as a trendy, sweet alternative to roasted soybeans.

Question 8

True or false: Some people eat exactly as many soybeans as their age plus one for extra good luck.

Accepted Answer

True. After the bean-throwing, it's customary to eat one roasted soybean for each year of your age, plus one more for luck in the coming year.

Setsubun Trivia Questions