Setsubun Food

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 35mm, f/2, 1/105 sec, ISO500
“Ehoumaki” Cedar Park, 2023

It seems like we just celebrated Setsubun, yet here it is again. Yay! As usual, we enjoyed some massive ehoumaki sushi rolls, while facing this year’s lucky direction, South/Southeast. And of course you cannot speak until you’ve finished the whole roll!

This year, we also had soba, which is eaten traditionally at New Years. Since this marked the new year in ancient times, Mariko decided to make soba as well as the ehoumaki. It was so delicious! And now we’ll have double-luck this year.

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 35mm, f/5, 1/105 sec, ISO4000
“Soba” Cedar Park, 2023

Ehōmaki for Setsubun

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec, ISO1250
“Ehoumaki” Cedar Park, 2022

Tonight we celebrated Setsubun by eating ehōmaki while facing this year’s lucky direction, North-Northwest. The sushi was delicious and filling. It’s one (Kansai) Japanese tradition that I truly love!

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 27mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec, ISO800
“Sliced Ehoumaki” Cedar Park, 2022

Early Ehōmaki 恵方巻 for Setsubun

"Ehoumaki" Cedar Park, 2019
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/125 sec, ISO5000
“Ehoumaki” Cedar Park, 2019

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Setsubun is tomorrow but we ate our celebratory ehōmaki 恵方巻 this evening because of Super Bowl Sunday. We aren’t really doing anything special for the Super Bowl, so I’m not too sure why Mariko wanted to make ehōmaki early, but who am I to complain? (I also think she may have mentioned a reason but might have had a senior moment) Anyways, this year’s lucky direction is N/NE, so we each ate our ehōmaki roll in silence while facing the lucky direction, as dictated by tradition.

Actually eating without talking, and just thinking about the taste of the sushi, is really great. It’s a special experience, but one that we can have all the time if we choose to just be mindful. I wonder if it would be possible to institute a one-minute of silent eating to begin each dinner? Hmm….

"Sushi" Cedar Park, 2019
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.6, 1/125 sec, ISO2500
“Sushi” Cedar Park, 2019

I hope you had a nice Saturday!

またね~

Ehōmaki

"Ehōmaki" Cedar Park, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/80 sec, ISO3200
“Ehōmaki” Cedar Park, 2018

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Tonight we celebrated Setsubun by eating our traditional Ehōmaki, or “lucky direction sushi”. You are supposed to eat the whole uncut maki sushi in silence, while facing the lucky direction, which happens to be south-southeast this year.

Of course, we have extra sushi, so that gets sliced into pieces which we can enjoy after we finish our rolls. Yum!

"Sushi" Cedar Park, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/100 sec, ISO2500
“Sushi” Cedar Park, 2018

I was looking forward to eating Ehōmaki all day long, and it didn’t disappoint. 😀

I hope you had a nice Saturday!

おやすみ