Oni Out, Fortune In: A roundup of J-pop you’ll want to listen to during Setsubun
Setsubun, a seasonal tradition long cherished as a hallmark of February.
From bean-throwing to eating ehomaki, it’s an event that lets you fully savor the feeling of the season.
In this article, we’ve put together a selection of Japanese songs themed around Setsubun to make this fun event even livelier! We’ve picked a variety of tracks, from cute tunes you can sing with little kids to J-pop numbers that feature motifs like oni (ogres) and fuku (good fortune).
You’re sure to find a song that will add even more color to your seasonal festivities!
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“Demons Out, Good Fortune In”: Japanese songs to listen to during Setsubun. Recommended J-POP roundup (11–20)
Demon Parent and ChildMasuda Hiroko
A fun hand-play song that’s perfect for the Setsubun season.
Featured on the 2004 album Sing and Play!! Keropons 2, which was released alongside a book, this cheerful track centers on an ogre (oni) parent and child.
Family members like the father and the kids appear one after another, and you change your poses to match the size of each oni’s horn.
Simple yet guaranteed to get everyone excited! Before the bean-throwing, be sure to move your bodies and play along with your child!
Ma~me Ma~me ~Dancing Mame Mamix~Chīmī & Den-chan
Many of you may remember the bean-throwing song that aired in living rooms as a commercial jingle around Setsubun in 2011, gaining buzz for its addictive, almost incantatory melody that sticks in your ears.
“Ma~me Ma~me,” used in the Setsubun commercial ‘Mame-maki Dance’ by the bean snack maker Denroku, is a track created by singer-songwriter Cheemy, known for her trademark oversized hat, and it drew attention at the time well beyond the realm of a typical TV jingle.
This time, we’re introducing the official remix, reborn as floor-ready dance music.
Turning it into dance music has made it even more unforgettable after a single listen, so be sure to check it out along with the original!
Setsubun bun!May’n & JUVENILE
From the lively rhythm of the intro, you can’t help but start moving.
It’s a collaboration track by May’n and JUVENILE, released in January 2023.
Chosen as the TV commercial song for Denroku Co., Ltd., it became a hot topic.
The lyrics, themed around bean-throwing, pair with a pop and catchy melody to capture listeners’ hearts.
The hook is striking, and once you hear it, it sticks in your head.
It’s a perfect song not only for Setsubun season but also whenever you need a burst of energy.
Insanely awesome!onipanzu!
An irresistibly addictive number with an impressive, rhythmic groove.
It’s a song by Onipanzu!, released in June 2022.
As the theme song for the anime “Onipan!”, its bright vocals and catchy sound arrangement are delightfully habit-forming.
The lyrics brim with humor and are crafted to energize you to the fullest.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to soak up a poppy, fun vibe.
Ready, set—Setsubun! ~The Setsubun Song~Watanabe Furawā
While touring nationwide with entertaining performances as a three-piece band, Watanabe Flower continues a wide range of activities that go beyond just being musicians.
Their song “Tentoumushi,” which aired on NHK’s Minna no Uta, has made them well known in households across Japan.
In 2018, Watanabe Flower released the Setsubun song “Se-no de Setsubun ~Setsubun no Uta~,” which was specially written at the request of the food manufacturer Maruyanagi to teach children about the origins of Setsubun—making it both a Setsubun song and a food-education song.
With its catchy melody, it’s easy to remember, and by singing along you can also learn about the tradition of Setsubun—a truly excellent tune!
Peach demon, party demon ~ we are the world ~Jūsu goku goku Kurabu
This is a song by Juice Gokugoku Club, a band formed by a group of comedians.
It was released as a digital single in January 2024 and was chosen as the theme song for an anime of the same name.
Just hearing the catchy intro will sweep you off your feet.
The humor-filled lyrics and rhythmic melody make it a blast.
It’s the perfect party track that will have the whole family smiling!
“Demons Out, Fortune In”: Japanese songs to listen to on Setsubun. Recommended J‑Pop roundup (21–30)
We are ogres!ONIGAWARA
It’s like a demon is enthusiastically singing! ONIGAWARA, who perform not as an idol group or a band but as a SUPER J-POP UNIT, released “We are Oni!” in 2018—a pop song that, despite having fearsome demons as its theme, somehow makes them feel endearing.
Listening to this track, you can’t help but wonder: “Is it really okay to drive demons away when they haven’t even done anything bad to us?”
