節分 (Setsubun) literally means "seasonal division", referring to the day just before 立春 (Risshun), the first day of spring in the old Japanese calendar.

The main rituals during Setsubun are 豆まき (mamemaki) and eating 恵方巻 (ehoumaki). Mamemaki is the act of throwing roasted soybeans at demons in order to chase the bad spirits out of the home and usher in good luck while shouting "鬼は外!福は内” (Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!) or Devils out! Fortune in! After that, you eat the same number of soybeans as your current age- one bean for each year. Alternatively, some people use snacks other than soybeans and enjoy throwing and catching these instead.

Ehomaki is an uncut sushi roll and there are three rules for eating it:

1. Don't cut the roll into small pieces. You have to eat it whole.

2. Eat it facing the year's lucky direction.

3. Don't talk anything while eating.

If you don't follow these rules, you will lose all your good luck. Please be careful!

You can learn more about Setsubun and how to make Ehomaki by watching this video.

Although the Marshall Fire is no longer on the front page, many families and businesses that were impacted are still dealing with the losses they incurred and rebuilding their lives. We have some amazing JASC corporate members who operate in that area.

Misaki @ Superior sustained smoke damage to their restaurant and are busy working to reopen. We’ll be sure to let you know when they reopen so we can all support them by eating delicious food! (Someone’s got to do this type of delectable community support work…)

Trailhead Wealth Management is located in Louisville and luckily their staff, families and facilities were unharmed. They have a wonderful list of resources for those who are looking to donate money, time or items to those who were affected. Please check it out.

Montbell USA continues to support Marshall Fire victims through their Outdoor Gientai program and have now hosted two donations events handing out clothing and outdoor gear to those who needed it.

Check out our JASC Kaiwa Club Shinnenkai on ice this past Saturday! Thank you to all who came out for this fun day of sliding across the ice (not always on our feet) and speaking 日本語. The weather was perfect and the views were beautiful at Evergreen Lake. JASC is alternating between online Kaiwa Club (Japanese Conversation Club) sessions and in-person outdoor adventures. Bring your Japanese skills and join us online and/ or outside for our next one! JASC is a community because of our members! Thank you for being a part of it!