Otafuku Throwing Black Beans to Chase Away the Demons on New Year's Eve - Tōshūsai Sharaku

A traditional Japanese woodblock fan print by Tōshūsai Sharaku depicting Otafuku performing the mamemaki bean-throwing ritual to ward off spirits.

This fan print by Tōshūsai Sharaku depicts the figure of Otafuku, a traditional Japanese character associated with good fortune and mirth. The subject is shown in the act of scattering beans, a ritual known as mamemaki, performed during the Setsubun festival to expel malevolent spirits and invite prosperity for the coming year. Sharaku, active in the late 18th century, is known for his unconventional approach to portraiture. Unlike many of his contemporaries who idealised their subjects, Sharaku often employed exaggerated features and expressive gestures to capture the personality of the individual or character.

The composition is specifically designed for a fan format, which dictates the curved boundaries of the image. The figure of Otafuku is rendered with a rounded face and a jovial expression, her arm extended in a dynamic motion as she tosses the beans from a wooden box. The lines are clean and deliberate, typical of the ukiyo-e tradition, while the limited colour palette emphasises the graphic quality of the print. The inclusion of Japanese calligraphy to the side provides context for the scene, linking the visual narrative to the cultural practices of the Edo period.

Sharaku's career was brief, spanning only ten months in 1794 and 1795, yet his output remains a subject of study for its departure from standard aesthetic norms. This particular work demonstrates his ability to adapt his style to functional objects such as fans, maintaining his signature focus on character and movement. The print captures a moment of domestic ritual, blending folklore with the artist's distinctively bold graphic sensibility. The work is a clear example of the intersection between popular culture and artistic production in 18th-century Japan, offering a glimpse into the traditions that defined the period.