On the first Monday of February, Japan throws beans. Usually Japanese people'll go to some gathering (usually the local shrine) where they'll see "Oni" which are devils... and throw beans at em. Hate to be the guy wearing the oni costume. Beans can hurt! So why do Japanese people throw beans on this day? To celebrate the coming of Spring. I guess throwing beans at some dude wearing an oni costume is the Japanese version of watching the groundhog pop its head out for Groundhog's Day. Could've fooled me though. Sure doesn't feel like Spring's coming around. Maybe the Japanese people didn't throw their beans until the oni cried for mercy.