CONVERSATION BETWEEN ONI AND SATAN

Oni(Japanese goblin)

-Yesterday was the worst day for me.

Satan

- Why ?

Oni

- The third of February is "Setsu-bun". It means the day before the first day of spring according to the Chinese calender. In the old days, Japanese people believed that bad spirits came when the season changed, so they decorated the eaves of their houses with holly leaves and sardine's heads so that the bad spirits including me wouldn't enter. They also did a bean-throwing ceremony to send the bad spirits out of their house that were likea disease, and brought bad fortune and poverty. Nowadays, most Japanese don't know the meaning, but they continue the ceremony. Many people, especially children shout "Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi (Oni go out, Fortune come in)", they repeat this while they are throwing roasted soy beans. Last night, the children of the house where I stay did this ceremony, so I had to run out the back door into the chilly air. Kids !

Satan

- Ha ha, it serves you right !

Oni

- What ! How heartless you are !

Satan

- Of course ! Can you imagine a warmhearted Satan ?

Oni

- Ah you have a reason.(disappointed)

Satan

- Your situation is better than mine. You have to run awayonly for a day. As for me, I am driven away all the time. Churches bear constant enmity against me. Do you know how many churches there are in the world ?

Oni

- Hen, I have never counted such a thing.

Supplemental information:

On this day, if you eat the same numbers of roasted soy beans as your age, your are promised good health for that upcoming year.In this ceremony, a member of family wears a mask of Oni and plays the part by driving away from the house.

On this day, shrines and temples often hold gatherings to throw lucky beans, lucky rice-cakes, lucky coins, candies and sweets over the crowd into the gardens. For children, it's fun to catch many sweets.

Oni is a typical Japanese goblin. He resembles humans but has horns like a bull and has fangs. He only wears tigerskin pants.

Oni is said to eat people. He represents bad power, ruthlessness and boldness.Sometimes, the gods of wind and thunder are depicted as Oni. Oni is also familier in the Japanese folk tales. Many children think Oni is strong and fearful, but is a little bit stupid, therefore the heros always win the battle between good and evil.

(16th January 1998)