CELEBRATE SPRING!
CAST OUT THE ONI AND FEAST ON A LUCKY FAT SUSHI ROLL
Are you ready to rid your place of bad luck and welcome spring? Setsubun, February 3rd, gives you just that chance. Pick up a kit of roasted soybeans and an oni (“devil”) mask at any supermarket and have your own little exorcist role play at home. Have a family member wear the mask and stand outside the house while others toss beans at the devil and chant, “ōni wa sōtō , fuku wa uchi” (devil out, good luck in).

Continue your good luck streak by eating an oversized, uncut, sushi roll in the evening, in silence, with your eyes closed, facing the auspicious directions of the year: 2015 (West-South-West), 2016 (South-South-East), 2017 (North-North-West), 2018 (South-South-East), 2019 (East-North-East).

Eho Maki (E for lucky, ho for direction)maki-style sushi are available for pre-order at konbinis and supermarkets (especially here in Kyoto). The traditional fat roll, futōmaki, has 7 fillers, one for each of the seven gods. 1. sakura denbu (a decorative fluffy, pink, flaky, cod-based rice seasoning), 2. eggs, 3. cucumber, 4. kanpyō (simmered gourd strips), 5. kōya dōfu (freeze-dried tofu that is reconstitued), 6.eel (seasoned and cooked) and 7. shiitake mushrooms (sweetened in broth).

You can make your own lucky rolls with fillers of your choice. You’ll need

Sushi Rice

Nori Seaweed

Sushi Rolling Mat

Choice of 7 fillers, pictured here, are: 1. smoked salmon, 2. avocado, 3. cucumber, 4. steamed carrots, 5. red onion, 6. lettuce, and 7. sesame seeds.

For directions how to roll maki-zushi, please head over to KA MOM, Diane’s blog.

Happy Spring, and best of luck in 2015!

Sources: http://washokufood.blogspot.jp/2009/02/ehoomaki-sushi.html