Hoshoryu, the new yokozuna or sumo grand champion hailing from Mongolia, helped celebrate the spring festival setsubun at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, east of Tokyo.

Over 1,200 kilograms of soybeans and peanuts were tossed at the temple’s annual event.

Members of the crowd were heard congratulating the 25-year-old Hoshoryu who won the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament as an ozeki and was later promoted to yokozuna.

The 74th yokozuna and others wished for a healthy harvest and tossed the beans to visitors who eagerly caught the symbols of good fortune.

The festival traditionally welcomes the approach of spring by calling out for good luck and revoking demons. However, this temple simply calls for good luck as the temple deity is said to be strong.

Around 50,000 people were expected to visit the temple to celebrate the festival.