Setsubun Bean Throwing at Sumbe Waterfront

Tropical sunlight floods the waterfront promenade near Sumbe, illuminating a crowd gathered for the Setsubun festival. Participants in traditional attire stand shoulder to shoulder, their arms raised mid-motion as roasted soybeans arc through the air. The beans appear as small, dark specks suspended against the bright sky, caught in the act of being cast. Dramatic, heavy clouds stack high above the water, casting shifting shadows across the paved ground and the faces of the onlookers. The cool season air is suggested by the layered clothing worn by the attendees, ranging from light kimonos to casual jackets. In the immediate foreground, a cluster of beans rests on the concrete, their smooth, roasted surfaces reflecting the harsh afternoon light. The water of the harbor shimmers in the background, its surface broken by the movement of small boats.