Get Fired Up with Setsubun Quizzes! A Collection of Fun Questions to Enjoy with Kids

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

Here are some Setsubun quizzes perfect for enjoying with children.

They’re full of questions that will make everyone exclaim “What?!” like “What fish do ogres (oni) hate?” and “How many kinds of fillings go in an ehomaki?” While playing, kids can learn about Japanese traditional customs such as the origins of bean-throwing and the rules of ehomaki.

With various formats like true/false and multiple choice, they’re useful in many settings, such as Setsubun events or morning meetings.

Be sure to try them together with the kids!

Liven up Setsubun with a quiz! A collection of fun questions to enjoy with kids (21–30)

Why are roasted beans used for bean-throwing during Setsubun?

So that it won’t come back to haunt us later
So that it can be eaten right after the bean-throwing (Setsubun)
So that we can drive out demons with hard beans

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So that it won’t come back to haunt us later

Roasted soybeans are used for Setsubun bean-throwing so that they won’t sprout later. People in the past thought that if you threw raw beans, they might sprout afterward and bring more misfortune. Since roasted beans don’t sprout, it was believed they would thoroughly drive away demons and evil, allowing people to spend the year in peace.

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When is Setsubun?

February 3
The day before the first day of spring
February 4

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The day before the first day of spring

Risshun is the first day of spring, and in old Japan, the change of seasons was regarded as very important. Setsubun is the event held on the previous day to drive away bad things and welcome the new season with energy. Therefore, the date may shift slightly each year, but the rule that it falls on the day before Risshun does not change.

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Around when did Setsubun start being observed in Japan?

Asuka period
Heian period
Edo period

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Asuka period

Setsubun began to be observed in Japan around the Asuka period. The custom of driving away evil at seasonal turnings came from China and was adopted in Japan. Initially performed as a court ceremony, it spread among ordinary people by the Heian period and developed into the bean-throwing practice seen today.

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How many times a year is Setsubun observed?

one time
four times
ten times

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four times

Setsubun originally occurred four times a year. In the past, the day before the start of spring, summer, autumn, and winter was each called Setsubun. Nowadays, only the Setsubun before the beginning of spring is well-known, but in fact, it was an important day at every seasonal change. It was an event to welcome the new season with energy.

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How many beans are you supposed to eat for Setsubun bean-throwing?

As many as one's age
Age plus one
age minus one

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Age plus one

It is said that you should eat your age in beans plus one for Setsubun bean-throwing. For example, a five-year-old child would eat five beans plus one, for a total of six. This custom involves eating as many beans as your age to pray for health and happiness, and then one extra to ensure safety in the coming year. Even small beans carry wishes passed down from long ago.

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