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.
- [For Seniors] Simple Recreational Activities You Can Enjoy While Seated
- For Seniors: Fun Activities in February — Celebrate Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and Snow
- [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 (21–30)
Handmade felt demon bean box
Here’s how to make a soft bean box out of felt.
This one has an ogre face on the side of the box, so it works great as a decorative piece too.
The key when making it is to fold the felt in half to make it double-layered, which gives the box strength.
When shaping it into a box, the corners will also be thicker, making it easier to glue.
Once the box is done, all that’s left is to attach the facial parts and horns cut from felt.
Scary face, cute face, funny face… Express whatever expression you like.
Bean-Throwing Cup
Let’s make an easy bean cup using a paper cup.
First, firmly press and flatten the rim of the cup, then cut off the edge with scissors.
Overlap the drinking rim to create a lid, add the beans, and then slide the previously cut rim under the lid to use it as a handle.
Finally, decorate the outside like an oni (ogre) and you’re done! Feel free to make it cute using yarn, felt, or construction paper.
Since the handle is only tucked under the lid, it will come off when you open the lid.
If it’s a hassle to tuck it in each time, try cutting the edge in half and gluing it on.
Setsubun wall decoration with origami
How about making a Setsubun wall decoration like a wreath using origami and a paper plate? Cut out the center of the paper plate in a circle, leaving just a small section, paste gold origami paper in the middle, punch a hole at the top, thread a string through, and the base is done.
Next, make the decorations to attach around it with origami.
According to tradition, for Setsubun people display a grilled sardine head and holly at the entrance, so you can make those out of origami and add them too.
With holly-and-sardine, red and blue oni, and an Otafuku figure, it becomes a very festive wall decoration.
Bean-Scattering Exercise Dance
This is an exercise that lets you feel a Setsubun-themed story with your whole body, inspired by the bean-throwing custom to drive away demons.
It’s divided into two parts—the person throwing beans and the demon receiving them—and you imitate each one’s appearance and movements.
It’s important to include marching your feet while seated; keeping a steady rhythm with your whole body leads to full-body exercise.
When throwing beans, wear a smile as if inviting good fortune; when portraying the demon, make a scary face that suggests mischief.
Focusing on facial expressions is also recommended to help engage the facial muscles.
Setsubun Newspaper Bean-Throwing Game
February, when the cold is at its peak.
Why not try a seasonal newspaper bean-throwing game? This is a recreation activity tailored for Setsubun.
First, hand out newspapers, tear them into pieces, and crumple them into “beans.” The beans can be any size—large or small.
This process also serves as a finger and hand exercise.
Next, set up a box with an oni (demon) face on it and have participants throw the beans into it.
You can make it a point-based game by competing to see who gets the most beans in the box, which is sure to liven things up.
Or, everyone can work together to fill the box with beans.
A folktale featuring an ogre
There are many folktales that feature oni (demons).
Momotaro, The Old Man with a Lump, and Issun-boshi are famous examples, but if you look around, you’ll find them all over Japanese folktales—so many that you can’t count them.
There’s even a story where an oni is born from an egg.
Rhythmic gymnastics with bean throwing
Bean-throwing is one of the major events in February, isn’t it? Depending on the region, some people throw peanuts or edamame, but in Japan, people have traditionally done bean-throwing on Setsubun in February.
So, we’d like to introduce a rhythm exercise perfect for February: a bean-throwing themed routine.
Move your body to the children’s song “Mamemaki.” Sit in a chair and, while singing, extend your hands and feet forward.
An exercise with a bean-throwing theme can help older adults connect with the current season.
Also, using a familiar song makes it easier for many seniors to join in.
