Ehomaki

Ehomaki is a lucky food that’s become a well-established modern Japanese tradition in recent years, eaten to wish for good fortune throughout the year.
Ehomaki refers to a thick sushi roll eaten on Setsubun (the old lunar New Year’s Eve), a uniquely Japanese food custom meant to pray for that year’s luck, good health, and more.

The rule is to face that year’s lucky direction, don’t look away, and eat it in silence in one go.
“Eho” is the direction where Toshitokujin, the deity of good fortune, is believed to be, and it’s considered the luckiest direction of the year.
There are also manners such as “don’t cut it with a knife (so you don’t cut off luck and ties)” and “don’t talk until you finish (so you don’t let good fortune escape).”

A classic Ehomaki uses seven auspicious fillings.
However, there’s no strict rule that it must be seven, so the fillings and number can vary by region or shop—sometimes five, sometimes 12.