February 3rd is Setsubun (節分) in Japan, so I prepared sushi rolls, sashimi, and miso soup for dinner after taking care of my sick cat and my playful grandson. Setsubun is traditional Japanese event, and I've written about it in my previous post. If you're interested in it, please click here.

We threw beans this year too. I really hope my family and I will stay healthy throughout this year as well.

Today, I'd like to share an interesting story related to Setsubun. There is a tradition connected Japanese surname Watanabe. Some people may recognize the name Watanabe from Hollywood movies such as " Memoir of Geisya" or "The Last Samurai". One of the main actors' name in those movies is Ken Watanabe.

In the Heian period (794 to 1185), there was a samurai worrier named Watanabe no Tsuna, who first used it as the surname. Today, there are over 1 million people whose surname is Watanabe, and he is considered the original one. The Watanabe no Tsuna is famous for Ogre hunting. He was so strong that all ogres were terrified of him. Because of this legend, even today, people whose surname is Watanabe don't need to throw beans at Setsubun.

My maiden name was Watanabe, but my dad had never shared such an interesting story. Ever since I was a kid, my family used to throw beans. I guess my dad doesn't believe in such a tradition even though he believes in Setsubun. When I meet him next time, I'd like to ask him about it.

After dinner, I took my dog for a walk. When I looked up at the sky, I saw the beautiful full moon called the Snow Moon. Since it looked breathtaking, I took a photo, but unfortunately, the picture couldn’t capture its true beauty .

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