Eho-maki

Eho-maki [ e ho ma kee ]

in Japan, February 3rd is a day called Setsubun ( 節分：節 - section, 分：divide ) for beginning of Spring. our custom is to throw soybeans inside a house calling " fortune/happiness in " and outside a house " demon/evil out " ... in a way to purify or cleanse the energy of the house. ( find more on the link )

besides, throwing soybeans, another custom is to eat the rolled sushi called Eho-maki, which you might known as Futo-maki @ a Japanese restaurant ... but I believe Eho-maki is bigger and inside the Eho-maki has to be something to represent the Seven Lucky Gods ... somehow using, cooked squash ( kan pyo ) cucumber, omelet, BBQ eel, pink fish floss, cooked shiitake mushroom, ... those are the traditional ingredients inside the Eho-maki, but not sure the 7th one, some use salmon, or tuna, shrimp ... must be different in regions ...

and Eho ( 恵方）is a auspicious direction which differs each year ... this year seems to be east-north-east, and you would have to eat the Eho-maki facing east-north-east, without a rest or a word, you do not cut or slice the Eho-maki because which indicate you cut the luck ... and closing your eyes and wishing & envisioning your happiness & prosperity or whatever you wish to happen in the year.

more about Eho-maki, I found a link as a reference @ justhungry.com

here is the YouTube my partner introduced me ... in the video, a Japanese guy start eating Eho-maki in the middle of NYC, the people around him really don't know what is really going on with him ... being puzzled & disgusted ... but seems to be a happy ending :)




the Japanese guy says " in japan everybody do " ... in the middle of a city ??? nooooo ! I don't think so :) I don't think I can make Eho-maki here where I live so I am going to breath in Shasta air ... not futo-maki (fat-roll) or Eho maki (lucky direction roll) but maybe vortex :) to make my wishes for this year ...


wishing you all the happiness you wish will come to spring your hearts!




my japanese link : cocohole11.blogspot.com/
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