Ehoumaki(ehōmaki)

Ehōmaki is a special type of makizushi, traditionally eaten during the Setsubun festival 節分, the day that marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The unique aspect of ehōmaki is that it is eaten uncut and in one piece while facing the auspicious direction (恵方, ehō). This is believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.

The custom of eating ehōmaki originates from the Kansai region and has since spread throughout Japan. It is believed that eating the roll in silence prevents luck from escaping. The auspicious direction changes each year according to a five-year cycle, based on ancient Chinese compass points.

To prepare Ehōmaki, rice is spread on a nori sheet, the ingredients are placed on top, and everything is rolled tightly. The roll is not cut into pieces but eaten as a whole to avoid the symbolic “cutting” of luck. A traditional ehōmaki contains seven different ingredients, representing the seven gods of fortune (七福神, shichifukujin). Common ingredients include egg (卵, tamago), cucumber (きゅうり, kyūri), eel (鰻, unagi), shiitake mushrooms (しいたけ, shiitake), dried gourd (干瓢, kanpyō), sweet fish flakes (桜でんぶ, sakura denbu), and cooked spinach (ほうれん草, hōrensō).

In addition to eating Ehōmaki, throwing roasted soybeans (豆まき, mamemaki) is another important tradition during Setsubun. While doing so, people chant “oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (鬼は外、福は内, “Demons out, good fortune in”) to expel evil spirits and invite good luck.