Eho-maki, a special cuisine of the day of the Setsubun

This is the continuation of my previous blog with the title " What is Setsubun in Japan? (Reasons for throwing beans)". 

I think the bean-throwing custom is still popular as a ritual of a shrine, but not as popular as it used to be at home. 

What is replacing the beans recently is a new trend of “Eho-maki”.  “Eho-maki” is a special version of a Maki zushi (a sushi roll) that is sold on only Setsubun day.　It might sound like an exaggeration, but “Eho-maki” has dominated a delicatessen section of a supermarket on the day.

Maki zushi (a sushi roll) is a popular dish made by wrapping vinegared rice and various ingredients with a dried seaweed sheet. 

But Eho-maki is made of luxurious seafoods compared to a common Maki zushi. This is the Eho-maki that I bought at a supermarket on Setsubun day.

Ingredients are Kurose yellowtail, Atlantic salmon, yellowfin tuna, Sepia squid, Vannamei shrimp, seasoned salmon roe, red snow crab, herring roe, rolled omelette, cucumber, green Perilla leaf

This is the comparison with a common Maki zushi.

As far as I remember, the Eho-maki was not popular at least 20-30 years ago. But it has spread nationwide due to commercial advertisement by such as a supermarket and a convenient store. I think it is the similar situation as a Valentine chocolate. 

By the way, it is said that if I eat “Eho-maki” while facing the lucky direction in silence, my wishes will come true. The lucky direction is the direction of the deity who presides over the year's blessings and virtues. The lucky direction for “Setsubun” of 2025 is west-southwest.  There are 4 directions in the lucky directions, and it changes by rotation every year.