

Yesterday was Setsubun so our teachers explained about the day and the tradion. Basically, it is the change of the seasons and a chance to expel all the bad luck and misfortune represented by oni, or ogres, and welcome in the good luck and good fortune. We expel the oni by throwing beans at them. Yeah, it doesn’t seem to be the most effective weapon against club-wielding ogres, but tradition is tradition.


We practice throwing to expel the oni, but I have to admit, practicing against a poster is a lot easier than against a big red oni that invaded our school. Yeah, we panicked.


Despite the traumatizing tradition, I had a great day at school. When Mommy came to pick me up I was playing with New Blocks, which are one of my favorite school toys. I made a tow truck pulling a car that had a flat tire.

At home I started practicing with the next level of practice chopsticks that didn’t have any rings to keep my fingers in place. I have to get ready to use real chopsticks at my next school.
