At a shrine in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, the "Otafuku pass through" is held to pray for happiness in the coming year by passing through the mouth of a large "Otafuku".
At Takao Shrine in Kure City, a 2.8-meter-tall face of Otafuku made of wooden boards is placed in front of the main shrine.
The face of Otafuku has a wide open mouth, and it is said that if you can pass through the mouth, you will be blessed.
People who visited the shrine would pass through the mouth of "Otafuku" and take pictures.
In addition, since it is said to "pass through", students who are preparing to take entrance exams and families with students who are preparing to take entrance exams also visit here to pray for passing exams.
A woman who visited from the city said, "I asked for my family's health. I look forward to it every year, and I feel refreshed when I pass through the mouth of Otafuku."
Tomomi Kajiyama, chief priest of Takao Shrine, said, "The number of people visiting in search of good luck has increased due to the corona crisis. I want everyone to go through Otafuku and bring good luck home."
The Setsubun festival will be held on the 3rd, but as a countermeasure against the new corona infection, there will be no bean-scattering, and only the Shinto ritual and the distribution of "fukumame" will be performed.
"Otafuku Passage" will be held until the 5th.