In Japan, soybeans are part of an annual festival.
During the Setsubun, celebrated on Feb. 3, the traditional start of spring, citizens use soybeans to help bring good luck and keep out bad luck.
One custom is to throw roasted soybeans at a devil mask while chanting for the spirit to leave and for good luck to remain.
Another custom is to eat one soybean for each year of your life to bring good luck.