Yoko Watanabe, our Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) Coordinator, visited Laredo Middle School in Aurora, CO recently. She shared and discussed modern Japanese culture with the students. Yoko introduced some famous, modern-day Japanese icons who worked hard to make their dreams come true. She then presented the students with ema (pictured above), on which to write their own dreams and share them. May their dreams come true!

Ema (絵馬) are typically small wooden wishing plaques which people purchase at temples and shrines to write their wishes on and dedicate to the gods. They are then tied or hung in a dedicated area within the temple/ shrine grounds.

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.