(Mis)adventures in eating

Today is setsubun which is the celebration of the beginning of spring. A little early in my mind, but somehow in Japan a celebration of spring has already begun even thought it snowed all day and there is no spring in sight! Anyway, Part of the setsubun tradition involves roasted soybeans called fuku mame. First, there is the mamemaki where households throw beans at an oni ("demon"-usually the father wearing a demon mask). As they throw they beans, they shout "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" which means "demons out, luck in!" Supposedly the beans symbolize purifying the home by sending all bad luck away. Then in keeping with bringing the luck in, you eat fuku mame. You should eat one bean for each year of your life! Unfortunately I did not get to take part in any bean throwing, but I did get to take part in the eating. For school lunch, we got these little bags of beans. I did not look clearly at the bag, and just started eating mine while talking to one of the of the other teachers, and not paying much attention. It was fine, but then I tasted something that was not quite bean-like. So I reached in the bag and pulled out another pinch, actually looked at it, and found myself having a stare-down with a small, dried fish! At that point, I could not eat any more. Something about having my food look back at me is just too much to handle. So I tactfully put the bag in my pocket so I could bring it home, take pictures, and share my misadventure in eating with all of you.