[Setsubun Song] Demons out, fortune in! Bean-throwing songs to enjoy on Setsubun
When February comes, it’s all about Setsubun.
Setsubun is a traditional event, passed down to the general public since the Edo period, in which beans are scattered to drive away evil and invite good fortune.
In this article, we introduce songs themed around Setsubun and oni (demons).
We’ve gathered not only classics like the children’s songs “Mame-maki” (Bean-Scattering) and “Oni no Pantsu” (The Ogre’s Underpants), but also songs often sung at kindergartens and nursery schools during Setsubun, as well as tunes perfect for listening on the day.
If you’re looking to discover famous Setsubun songs or tracks you can enjoy with children during the holiday, be sure to check these out.
Some selections are aimed at adults, too.
Let’s welcome good fortune by enjoying Setsubun to the fullest—kids and adults alike!
- [February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs about Setsubun and winter!
- Summary of songs with the 'Momotaro' motif and tracks featuring peaches or ogres
- [Fun] A Collection of Children’s Songs Featuring “Ghosts”
- Children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes for Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day)
- [Children’s Songs] Let’s Sing of Spring! A Fun Collection of Nursery Rhymes, Folk Songs, and Children’s Songs
- Children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes for March: fun spring hand-play songs.
- A collection of parody versions of the children's song 'Oshogatsu'
- Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
- [Let's Enjoy Japanese Festival Songs!] Songs about festivals. Famous songs related to festivals.
- [Snow Songs for Winter] Children's Snow Nursery Rhymes and Hand-Play Songs
- [Childcare] Fun Songs for 2-Year-Olds to Sing! Recommended Song Collection
- I want to sing it at the senior class recital! A choral piece that 5-year-olds can sing with all their heart
- [Classic] New Year’s BGM: Music for Japan’s New Year and Spring Festival
[Setsubun Song] Demons Out, Good Fortune In! Bean-Throwing Songs to Hear on Setsubun (11–20)
We’ll take care of the demon here.Lyrics by Toshihiko Shinzawa / Music by Hirotaka Nakagawa
Beloved as a seasonal tradition for Setsubun, “Oni wa uchi de hikiuketa” brings a fresh waltz-like feel that breathes new life into Japan’s Setsubun customs.
The unusual phrase “Oni wa uchi de hikiuketa” makes this a fun song.
It’s a piece teachers can enjoy together with children, and its appeal lies in letting you sing while feeling the season.
It’s perfect for bean-throwing events at kindergartens and nurseries, and can also be enjoyed at home with parents.
You could call it a hidden gem of Setsubun songs.
Maki-Maki Song
This song, played in supermarkets and other places as a promotional tune for the sushi rolls of the Hiroshima-based food company Ajikan Co.
, Ltd.
, is a cute, poppy, and cheerful piece that kids will likely learn and hum along to.
Listening to it makes you crave sushi rolls!
Deathmatch on Onigashima (feat. Kagamine Len, Kagamine Rin, Gackpoid, Lily, Megpoid, Hatsune Miku, and KAITO)Hitoshizuku-P × Yama△
When it comes to Setsubun, bean-throwing and ogres are indispensable elements—and when it comes to stories with ogres, Momotaro is a classic.
This song uses Momotaro, which aligns closely with Setsubun, as its motif.
By rephrasing the familiar tale from childhood and setting it to a rock sound, it takes on the feel of a grand epic.
Reading the lyrics, the story faithfully traces Momotaro’s plot, yet the various arrangements make it feel like a completely different tale—which is part of what makes it so intriguing.
The Three Ogre SiblingsLyrics and Music by Hajime Nihonmatsu
The bean-throwing of Setsubun carries the meaning of driving away evil and inviting good fortune.
Oni (demons) are depicted as symbols of the evil cast out during Setsubun, and they strongly evoke an image of being powerful and fearsome.
This piece of music takes the figure and terrifying nature of oni as its motif.
It portrays three classic oni colors as siblings, roaming about in search of misbehaving children.
Though short, it clearly illustrates what oni represent in the context of Setsubun.
By incorporating movements inspired by oni, their strength can be emphasized even more.
MomotaroWednesday Campanella
A rising star in the J-pop world, Wednesday Campanella delivers a playful, humorous song that riffs on the Momotaro tale! The lyrics and theme draw you into its unique world, and the backing track is outstanding.
Even just watching the music video is entertaining.
A mysterious artist—definitely one to watch!
Setsubun SongRan Watanabe
RAN Watanabe’s original song “Setsubun Song,” which she wrote when she was a second-year high school student.
For many people, the word Setsubun brings back memories of throwing beans with their family when they were children.
The lyrics, filled with memories of family bean-throwing, will resonate with anyone, inviting you to swap in your own recollections and let them swirl through your mind.
With a gentle yet warm singing voice and a piano-and-vocal arrangement whose tones evoke the coming spring, “Setsubun Song” is the kind of tune you’ll find yourself humming along to after just a few listens.
[Setsubun Song] Demons Out, Good Fortune In! Bean-Throwing Songs to Hear on Setsubun (21–30)
Out with the demons (Japanese title: Oni wa soto)Edgar Broughton Band
If you’re getting tired of shouting “Oni wa soto!” in Japanese, how about trying this song instead? It’s a slightly edgy number with the aroma of the ’70s UK underground scene, but if you throw beans to this track, you might enjoy a distinctly different vibe from the usual.