Comments on: Setsubun Customs: Hiiragi Iwashi (Holly and Sardine Head)

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:20:51 +0000

Japanese people are weird, but I like their food and anime

By: Robert Thivierge

Robert Thivierge — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:18:59 +0000

I was in Nara with my dauther on March 14 and 15 and we were intrigued by the holly and fish head we could see at nearly every house near the ryokan where we were staying. Thanks to your article, I now know about “hiiragi iwashi” and the stench of sardines scaring the Oni’s away. We also met a woman with her daughter who told us about how excited she became when time was up to throw soybeans at the damn Oni’s….

By: My Original Iwashi Hiiragi Design (Whole Sardine and Holly Leaves) | Kyoto Foodie: Where and what to eat in Kyoto

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:50:25 +0000

[...] Last year on February 3rd, the day before spring, I put a grilled sardine head on a holly stick and put it next to my front door. That was to prevent the ‘Oni’ demon from entering my house and getting my new year off to a bad start. [...]

By: Setsubun Foodie Customs: Kyoto Hisagozushi ‘Onimaki’ Ehomaki | Kyoto Foodie: Where and what to eat in Kyoto

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:02:30 +0000

[...] Aren’t Japanese demons easy to deal with? No magically passing through walls and so on! (see this KyotoFoodie Hiiragi Iwashi article for more) Origin of Ehomaki There are two competing theories regarding the origin of ehomaki. One [...]

By: Peko-P

Peko-P — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:20:00 +0000

Hello Everybody, ‘Sorry for late’ as they say in Japan!

Hello seamaiden, Yes, this is a Kansai thing, we learned. We also learned that you have to leave it up all year, so I am making a prettier one now. We are going to try to launch the tradition here in Kyoto.

Hello FFichiban, Thank you very much! And we hope that you have a happy, healthy and prosperous year too! Yes, the hiiragi iwashi is pretty weird. I just love how so much superstition, oh, excuse me, culture, in Japan has to do with food. I imagine that this is a really old tradition. I mean, who in their right mind would stick a fish head on their front door these days? Well, I am enjoying it!

hi kat, They were just decorating the sardine section for setsubun with the holly. They usually have some cedar boughs, ferns, etc.

Hello Marc, Well, coming from a foodie of your stature, I will take that as QUITE a compliment. Thank you! (Gotta print that one out and nail it to the post here in the machiya.)

By: Marc @ NoRecipes

Marc @ NoRecipes — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:33:35 +0000

I learn something new every time I visit your blog:-)

By: kat

kat — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 04:23:42 +0000

I was wondering why they had the holly in the fish department, thanks for sharing!!

By: FFichiban

FFichiban — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:24:27 +0000

OOhh woow that is interesting! It must have been funny but weird seeing sardine heads with holly branch bodies on nearly every door and not knowing what it meant hee hee.
Hope you guys do have a happy, healthy and prosperous year ^^!

By: seamaiden

seamaiden — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:18:44 +0000

Really interesting and enjoyable article! Thanks! I lived in Chiba-shi for two years and never saw them- must be a Kansai/Kanto thing. Very interesting custom. I asked my friend who lived in Nara and he said he saw them once or twice and couldn’t figure out what they were. i think I would be afraid to come to a door festooned with Hiiragi-iwashi too… maybe I’m a demon?

-Sea