1.
MS ASAKUSA KANNON TEMPLE (TILT DOWN) CROWD OUTSIDE
7.02

2.
MCU CROWD WAITING FOR BEANS TO BE THROWN FROM BALCONY
9.06

3.
CU HANDFUL OF BEANS GATHERED FROM BOX AND THROWN DOWN TO CROWD BELOW
14.04

4.
MS MORE THROWING OF BEANS (PAN) CROWD
27.02

5.
MS CROWD
28.08

6.
MS MONK THROWS MORE BEANS
32.00

7.
MLS CROWD (TWO SHOTS)
37.06

8.
MS MONK EMPTIES BOX
42.04

9.
MS MONK THROWS GOOD-LUCK NOTES TO CROWD (TWO SHOTS)
57.06

10.
MS TEMPLE
59.02

11.
MLS PEOPLE PRAYING IN TEMPLE
1.02

12.
MS BURNING JOSS-STICKS ON ALTAR (PAN WOMEN PRAYING)
1.06

13.
MS PEOPLE DISPERSING AT END OF FESTIVAL (2 SHOTS)
1.13



Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE ASAKUSA KANNON TEMPLE IN TOKYO IS THE BIGGEST TEMPLE IN EASTERN JAPAN. EARLY THIS WEEK (WEDNESDAY) IT WAS THE SCENE OF A BEAN-THROWING FESTIVAL MARKING THE END OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.

THE FESTIVAL, CALLED SETSUBUN OR CHANGE OF SEASON, ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF JAPANESE TO THE TEMPLE. THEY GATHERED ON THE GROUNDS TO COLLECT BEANS SHOWERED ON THEM BY BUDDHIST MONKS FROM THE TEMPLE'S BALCONIES. AS THE BEANS WERE COLLECTED, THEY SHOUTED LOUDLY "WELCOME GOOD LUCK."
ACCORDING TO THE JAPANESE TRADITION, PEOPLE IN POSSESSION OF THESE BEANS WILL NOT ENCOUNTER EVIL SPIRITS, BAD LUCK AND OTHER MISHAPS IN THE NEW YEAR -- YEAR OF THE HORSE. THEY SHOULD IN TURN GIVE SOME OF THE BEANS TO THE LESS TO RELIEVE THEM OF THEIR MISERIES.

THE FESTIVAL WAS CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT JAPAN ... THRONGS OF PEOPLE PACKED TEMPLES TO OFFER THANKSGIVING PRAYERS TO THE ALMIGHTY FOR FAVOURS ANSWERED.