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PHOTO ESSAY: Purification festival brings out the bean catchers

BY LOUIS TEMPLADO AJW STAFF WRITER

photo：Visitors at the Honmonji temple in Ota Ward, Tokyo, vie for baqs of beans thrown from a stage on Feb. 3, the date of Japan's annual Setsubun event. (Louis Templado) Visitors at the Honmonji temple in Ota Ward, Tokyo, vie for baqs of beans thrown from a stage on Feb. 3, the date of Japan's annual Setsubun event. (Louis Templado)

photo：A red ogre precedes dignitaries entering the Honmonji prayer hall before the bean-throwing ceremony. (Louis Templado) A red ogre precedes dignitaries entering the Honmonji prayer hall before the bean-throwing ceremony. (Louis Templado)

photo：Monks at Honmonji temple prepare to chant before the bean-throwing ceremony on Feb. 3. (Louis Templado) Monks at Honmonji temple prepare to chant before the bean-throwing ceremony on Feb. 3. (Louis Templado)

photo：Many of the dignitaries who throw out the beans at the Honmonji temple ceremony are professional wrestlers. (Louis Templado) Many of the dignitaries who throw out the beans at the Honmonji temple ceremony are professional wrestlers. (Louis Templado)

photo：A special runway is erected every year at the Honmonji temple from where the stars will throw out beans. Placards mark their places on the stage. (Louis Templado) A special runway is erected every year at the Honmonji temple from where the stars will throw out beans. Placards mark their places on the stage. (Louis Templado)

photo：The bean catching can get raucous, although the event is actually a purification ceremony. (Louis Templado) The bean catching can get raucous, although the event is actually a purification ceremony. (Louis Templado)