Setsubun Bean-throwing Fukumasu Cup Production Reaches Peak

The Yomiuri Shimbun

12:53 JST, January 13, 2023

The production of fukumasu cups, which are to be used for the setsubun bean-throwing event on Feb. 3, is reaching its peak at Daichiin temple in Chita, Aichi Prefecture. A chief priest writes the kanji characters fuku (luck) and kotobuki (congratulations or longevity) in black ink on each wooden square cup. “I’m hoping for coronavirus infections to be brought under control,” he said. On average, about 3,000 cups are prepared every year, but as a result of the pandemic, the number has been reduced to about 2,000 this year.