Recreation Ideas for Seniors: Perfect for Setsubun and Bean-Throwing Activities
Here are some recommended recreational activities themed around Setsubun.
Setsubun is one of the major events in February, so many nursing homes and day service centers likely enjoy fun activities like bean-throwing (mamemaki) and making masks.
While everyone does the recreation—grabbing beans and throwing them at the “oni” (ogres)—it might bring back memories of childhood.
There are also plenty of hand games and activities that can be done while seated, so everyone can enjoy them together.
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- [For Seniors] Liven Up Setsubun Crafts! Handmade Ideas Using a Variety of Materials
- [Day Service] Setsubun decorations that bring smiles. Ideas for enjoying them with a variety of materials.
- [For Seniors] Today’s Recommended Activity: Fun and Engaging
- [For Seniors] Recommended Events for February: Fun Ideas to Fill Everyone with Smiles
- [For Seniors] Fun February Crafts: Ideas Inspired by Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and Other Events
- For Seniors: Wishing for Good Health — Handmade Setsubun Decoration Ideas
- [For Seniors] Recommended Handmade Activities! Simple Ideas
- [For Seniors] Fun Recreational Activities Without Equipment
- For Seniors: Wall Decorations to Brighten Up February — Festive Ideas for Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, Plum Blossoms, and More
- [For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
- Recommended fun performances that will appeal to elderly people
[For Seniors] Recommended Recreational Activities for Setsubun and Bean-Throwing (1–10)
Bean-throwing (Mamemaki)
Setsubun coincides with Risshun, the first day of spring and the turning point between winter and spring.
In the past, people believed that seasonal changes brought about evil spirits, so Setsubun was held on the day before Risshun as a way to ward off misfortune.
People throw beans at the oni (ogres) while chanting, “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!” (“Devils out, good fortune in!”).
It’s a classic, but bean throwing is still one of those can’t-miss, fun recreational activities.
First, have the staff play the roles of the oni and good fortune and move around.
Older adults can sit in a circle and throw beans at the moving oni to drive away bad luck.
After enjoying the bean throwing, eat the same number of beans as your age and pray for a year of good health.
Oni target practice
When it comes to Setsubun, it’s all about ogres, so here’s an easy indoor game with an ogre theme.
For preparation, attach an ogre illustration to plastic bottles weighted with water or similar so they won’t tip over.
Arrange the ogres evenly, and lay a towel or something similar behind them to make a goal.
The game is to avoid the ogres and kick or roll the ball into the goal! Think of it as indoor mini soccer with ogres as the goalkeepers.
It’s a fun way for anyone to enjoy the season indoors.
Ehomaki Game
Speaking of Setsubun, eating ehomaki has also become an established custom, hasn’t it? You face that year’s lucky direction and eat a big nori roll.
Since it’s fun to make ehomaki by rolling everything up, I think this kind of game would be interesting too! Make the fillings—salmon, cucumber, egg, and nori—out of construction paper, and use a towel for the rice.
Roll up the fillings, then wrap the “nori” around the outside and secure it with a rubber band.
Let’s compete to see how many we can make within the time limit!
[For Seniors] Recommended Recreational Activities for Setsubun and Bean-Throwing (11–20)
Balloon Demon Craft
Would you like to make an ogre for bean-throwing? Crafts use your hands, so I think they’re a perfect recreation for seniors.
First, prepare some yarn, a balloon, and yellow construction paper.
Make pom-poms with the yarn, and place them on the balloon head to create hair.
The yellow construction paper will become the ogre’s horns—roll it into a cylinder and add stripes with a black marker.
Tape the horns onto the hair, and your ogre is almost done.
Just draw the eyes, nose, and mouth to finish.
You can hang it by the window and actually throw beans at it, or use it as a decoration for Setsubun.
Please give it a try!
Ehomaki Rolling Game
Ehomaki, which used to be eaten mainly in the Kansai area for Setsubun, is now known all over Japan.
Let’s turn that ehomaki into a game and enjoy Setsubun! It’s called the “Eho-Maki-Maki Game.” Just like making real ehomaki, place a black non-slip mat on your lap to represent the seaweed and a white ventilation fan filter sheet to represent the rice.
Then, on top of that, place rolled colored paper tubes in the correct order.
The order works as brain training, so it’s okay to ask the person next to you—just make sure to place them in the right sequence.
Finally, roll up your ehomaki, and when it’s done, face the lucky direction for that year, pretend to eat it, and shout, “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” to end the game.
People around you should also say, “Banzai!” Rolling and gripping with your hands makes for good training, and shouting “Banzai” at the end creates a sense of unity and is lots of fun.
Making holly sardines
There is a custom of warding off demons by sticking the head of a sardine onto a branch of holly and displaying it at the house entrance.
This decoration is read as “hiiragi iwashi.” It’s said that demons are very averse to holly’s spiky leaves and the fishy smell of sardines.
The sardine head is used grilled, which is believed to drive away evil spirits with the smoke.
Pac-Pac Oni Craft
This is a chattering ogre craft you can make with a single sheet of construction paper! Fold a colored sheet into eighths and unfold it, then fold it in half again and cut a slit in the center.
If you fold the slit diagonally and open it up, you’ll have a big ogre mouth.
Next, make horns, hair, and facial parts out of paper and glue them on, or draw them directly, to complete the ogre’s face.
Hold both sides and move them, and it looks like the ogre is talking! By changing the parts, you can adapt it into all kinds of characters, so you can enjoy making not just ogres but your favorite characters or animals too.
