🌿 Setsubun & Eho Finder (節分 & 恵方)

Setsubun (節分, literally "seasonal division") is the day before the beginning of spring (立春, Risshun) in the old Japanese calendar. It marks the transition from winter to spring and is celebrated on February 3rd (or occasionally the 2nd or 4th, depending on the year). The most famous tradition is mamemaki (豆まき, bean throwing): roasted soybeans are thrown while shouting "鬼は外、福は内" (Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi — "Demons out, fortune in!")

After throwing the beans, people eat one bean for each year of their life (or kazoedoshi + 1) to bring good health for the coming year. In recent decades, another Setsubun tradition has spread nationwide: ehomaki (恵方巻), the "lucky direction roll." This is a thick sushi roll eaten in silence while facing the year's lucky direction (恵方, eho).

The eho (恵方) is the auspicious direction of the year, determined by the zodiac animal (干支). There are five possible directions, assigned by the last digit of the year in a 10-year cycle:

The eho direction is connected to the year's zodiac animal. To check the zodiac for any year, use our zodiac calculator. For the traditional rokuyō (六曜) fortune calendar, see our rokuyō checker.

The Setsubun date is the day before 立春 (Risshun, the beginning of spring). Since Risshun usually falls on February 3rd or 4th, Setsubun is typically February 2nd or 3rd. In the current era (2020s), Setsubun is on February 3rd most years, but in 2021 it fell on the 2nd for the first time in 124 years — and through 2057, every year right after a leap year (2021, 2025, 2029…) falls on February 2.

The eho (恵方) follows a 10-year cycle based on the last digit of the year:

• Years ending in 4 or 9: 東北東 (East-Northeast, ~67.5°)
• Years ending in 5 or 0: 西南西 (West-Southwest, ~247.5°)
• Years ending in 6 or 1: 南南西 (South-Southwest, ~202.5°)
• Years ending in 7 or 2: 北北西 (North-Northwest, ~337.5°)
• Years ending in 8 or 3: 南南東 (South-Southeast, ~157.5°)

The eho is technically a 15-degree-wide band (恵方角, ehokaku), not a single compass point. When eating ehomaki, you face this direction and eat the entire roll in silence, without stopping, while making a wish.

The ehomaki tradition originally comes from the Kansai region (Osaka area) but has been popularized nationwide since the 2000s by convenience stores. To find an auspicious date for other events, combine this with the rokuyō calendar.

1. Type any year (e.g. 2026).
2. Click Find to see the Setsubun date for that year.
3. The result shows the year's eho (lucky direction) for ehomaki.
4. On Setsubun evening, face the eho and eat your ehomaki in silence.
5. In the daytime, do mamemaki (bean-throwing) to drive out bad fortune.

What is Setsubun (節分)?

Setsubun means 'seasonal division' and marks the day before Risshun (立春, the beginning of spring in the old calendar). It's usually February 3rd, sometimes the 2nd or 4th. The main traditions are mamemaki (bean throwing) and eating ehomaki (lucky direction sushi rolls).

How is the eho (恵方) determined?

The eho follows a 4-year cycle based on the zodiac (干支) of the year. Years ending in 4 = East-Northeast, 5 = West-Southwest, 6 = South-Southwest, 7 = North-Northwest. The cycle repeats every 4 years. The eho is technically a 15-degree band, not a single compass point.

How do I eat ehomaki correctly?

Face the year's eho direction, eat the entire uncut sushi roll in silence without stopping, and make a wish. Don't cut the roll (it would 'cut' your fortune). This tradition originated in Kansai and spread nationwide in the 2000s.

Why are beans thrown at Setsubun?

Roasted soybeans (福豆, fukumame) are thrown while shouting '鬼は外、福は内' (demons out, fortune in). The beans symbolically drive away evil spirits (oni) and invite good fortune. Afterward, eat one bean for each year of your age for health.

When is Setsubun each year?

Setsubun is the day before Risshun (beginning of spring in the old calendar). In the 2020s it's almost always February 3rd, but can fall on the 2nd (as in 2021) or 4th depending on the year. The tool calculates the exact date for any year.

Is ehomaki eaten throughout Japan?

Originally a Kansai (Osaka) tradition, ehomaki spread nationwide through convenience store marketing in the 2000s. Today it's widely practiced across Japan, though the bean-throwing tradition remains more universal.

When eating ehomaki, the rules are: face the year's eho, eat the whole roll in silence, don't stop midway, and make a wish. The roll should be uncut (丸かぶり) so you don't "cut" your fortune. Many families buy ehomaki from convenience stores or sushi shops on Setsubun evening.

For the bean-throwing (mamemaki), the traditional chant is "鬼は外、福は内" (Demons out, fortune in). Some households add the demon's name for their region. After throwing, eat one roasted bean for each year of your age (kazoedoshi in some families). To check your kazoedoshi, use our kazoedoshi calculator. The eho and Setsubun traditions are tied to the lunisolar calendar's seasonal divisions — see the traditional month names for the full calendar context.