Japan has many interesting seasonal events, and one of the dishes eaten during the ‘Setsubun’ event is called ‘Ehomaki.’
It looks like a sushi roll, but it’s not cut. There’s a special way to eat it: you face the lucky direction of the year (called ‘Eho’), make a wish, and eat the entire roll without cutting it and without speaking. It is said that if you finish eating an Ehomaki, your wish will come true.
Being able to eat a whole large sushi roll is a very luxurious experience, and I also really enjoy the fact that shops sell special Ehomaki during that season.
This time, I’d like to talk about this interesting event and Ehomaki.
What is the event Setsubun?
Setsubun is an event that takes place in early February every year, specifically on the day before Risshun（立春）, which is the first day of spring in the traditional Japanese calendar. It’s an event held on the day before Risshun, the beginning of spring, to drive away bad luck and bring in good fortune. Bad luck is represented by ogres, and people throw beans at them to drive them away while saying, ‘Ogres out! Fortune in!’
I remember when I was in kindergarten, the teacher played the role of an ogre, and the children had fun throwing beans at the teacher.
About Ehomaki
Ehomaki looks similar to sushi rolls, but they are traditionally made with seven ingredients. The number seven is derived from the Seven Lucky Gods (seven deities) who have been known as gods of ‘fortune’ and ‘virtue’ in Japan since ancient times. The ingredients are flexible, so some stores sell them with meat or eel, while others offer vegetarian or vegan options.
Me and Ehomaki
While Ehomaki is now enjoyed throughout Japan, I didn’t even know they existed until about 10 years ago. This is because the tradition of eating Ehomaki on Setsubun originated in the Kansai region, and it only started to be enjoyed in other parts of Japan about 20 years ago.
Since my family and I are not from Kansai, we’ve only recently started enjoying Ehomaki on Setsubun.
Find your favorite ehomaki and enjoy!
During the Setsubun season, you’ll find a wide variety of ehomaki for sale at supermarkets, convenience stores, and shops. However, in recent years, there’s been a growing concern about the large number of unsold ehomaki due to mass production. To address this issue, some stores have started taking pre-orders to reduce waste. By ordering in advance, you can find your favorite type of ehomaki without worrying about them selling out.
In addition, some cake shops are offering roll cakes designed to resemble ehomaki. If you’re a fan of roll cake, it might be fun to try one of these instead of a traditional ehomaki.
Even though Setsubun has passed, why not still have fun by finding your own special ehomaki?
