Before Setsubun on February 3rd, children at a nursery school in Wakayama City enthusiastically threw beans.
Approximately 180 children aged 0 to 6 participated in the bean-throwing event held on January 31st at Koma Nursery School in Wakayama City.
Each child wore a demon mask, and the nursery school teacher first explained that it was an event to ward off bad things such as illness and pray for a healthy year.
After this, Setsubun beans were handed out to the class of 3- to 5-year-old children, and when a teacher dressed as a demon came over, they cheerfully threw the beans while saying, ``Oni is outside, fortune is inside.''
In addition, in classes for 0- to 2-year-old children, newspapers rolled up into 2-centimeter pieces were thrown to resemble beans to prevent children from choking on beans.
Some of the kindergarteners were so surprised by the demon that they started crying and clinging to the teacher, but they were full of energy and exterminated the demon.
One boy who participated said, ``I'm always scared and cry, but this year I've become stronger.''