Oldest man - Toshiotoko

A priest who officiates at the family's New Year's festival. In Nasu District, Tochigi Prefecture, Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture, and former Ichishi District, Mie Prefecture (present-day Tsu City and part of Matsusaka City), he is called Wakaotoko, and in Kamo District, Shizuoka Prefecture, he is called Sechiotoko. He performs all the duties related to the New Year's deity, such as cutting New Year's pine decorations from the mountains at the end of the year, making shimekazari decorations, holding the New Year's night festival, drawing young water for New Year's Day, and preparing zoni (rice cake soup) for the three days of the New Year, and taking care of the offerings is an especially important role. In eastern Japan, it is often taboo to have a woman prepare meals for the first three days of the New Year. Generally, the head of the household is often the one to play the role of the "Toshiotoko", and if he is old, his son takes his place, but in some regions, the head servant, farmhand, or as young a person as possible is chosen to play the role. Today, the boy who throws beans on Setsubun and is born in the year of the Chinese zodiac is called the "Toshiotoko", but this is a vestige of the old calendar system, when Setsubun was an event attached to New Year's Day. There is also a custom of having those who are in unlucky years participate in temple and shrine events as "Toshiotoko".

[Hisako Maruyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

家の正月の祭りの司祭者。栃木県那須(なす)郡、山形県最上(もがみ)郡、三重県旧一志(いちし)郡（現津(つ)市、松阪(まつさか)市の一部）では若男(わかおとこ)、静岡県賀茂(かも)郡では節男(せちおとこ)といっている。年末に山から門松を切ってきたり、注連(しめ)飾りをこしらえたり、年取りの夜の祭事、元朝(がんちょう)の若水くみ、正月3日間の雑煮をつくることなど、年神に関することいっさいを勤め、とくに神供の世話はたいせつな役目である。東日本では正月三が日の食事の支度を女にさせることを忌む所が多い。一般にはその家の主人が年男をすることが多く、年とっている場合は息子がかわるが、地方によっては奉公人頭、作男(さくおとこ)あるいはできるだけ若い者にやらせる。今日では節分の豆撒(ま)きをする、その年の干支(えと)にあたる男子を年男とよぶが、古い暦法では、節分も正月に付随した行事であったための名残(なごり)である。また、厄年(やくどし)にあたる者を年男として寺社の行事に参加させる習俗もある。

［丸山久子］

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