Recreation Ideas for Seniors: Perfect for Setsubun and Bean-Throwing Activities

Fukuwarai — Setsubun Edition

Today's activity at Day Service Asumiru

Fukuwarai is a game often played during New Year’s, but try a Setsubun twist by making it an ogre’s face! You can cut out and use pictures you draw yourself, or search the internet—there are plenty of printable ogre illustrations you can use to make it.

Oni Balloon Art

Setsubun recreation at a nursing home

We’re going to make oni (demon) figures with balloon art.

They range from cute, palm-sized ones to large ones big enough to cover an adult’s head.

Twisting and shaping inflated balloons takes a bit of practice, but why not take this opportunity to give it a try?

Making a bean container

How to Fold an Origami “Bean-Holder Box (Masu)” | Setsubun Decoration

During Setsubun bean-throwing, let’s try making our own masu (bean containers).

You can easily make one with a single sheet of origami paper.

There are various folding methods, with or without a handle.

For formal Setsubun celebrations, square masu made of cypress are used, but making one by hand out of paper is fun too.

Making an oni mask

How to make a Setsubun demon mask: an easy coloring craft with construction paper!

We’ll have fun making our own oni masks for bean-throwing.

Of course, you can draw your own oni, but if you search online, you’ll find websites where you can download coloring pages for making oni masks.

Just print them out, add color, and you’re all set—it’s easy!

konjac dishes

[Recipe] Garlic-Steak Konnyaku / antenna foods & recipes

Konnyaku is rich in dietary fiber, and it has long been said that eating it cleans out your stomach.

It’s also known as the “stomach broom.” In the old lunar calendar, people ate konnyaku on Setsubun, the year’s end, to cleanse the body of the accumulated impurities from the past year.

Setsubun wall decoration with origami

Setsubun wall decoration — 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.

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utatane

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Soy shooting

@karitasunosato

This is Hamanomiya Shouchikuen Day Service 🤗 Setsubun marks the turning of the seasons. Spring is already just around the corner 🙌🏻💕CaregivingCertified Care WorkerTranslationRecreationStrikeoutSetsubunFun timeLovely smile

♬ Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson

For the February tradition of Setsubun, try enjoying “soy shooting.” It’s basically a strikeout-style game where you throw balls—standing in for beans—at targets featuring illustrations of oni (demons) and compete for points.

Since it feels like demon-slaying, it’s perfect for a Setsubun event.

Using photos of acquaintances for the oni illustrations could make it unique and lively.

You can buy ready-made strikeout sets, but it’s also possible to make one yourself with cardboard and other materials.

It can be played while seated, too, so everyone can join in and drive away misfortune together.

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sasashina

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