African elephants get vegetable version of Setsubun rolls as day before spring rolls around

Video footage taken on Feb. 1 at the Shirahama Adventure World animal theme park in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture shows the facility’s African elephants being given a vegetables wrapped into the shape of traditional “ehomaki” rolls. The large-sized sushi rolls are traditionally eaten by Japan on Setsubun, the day before the start of spring, and are a symbol of longevity because of their length. The elephants ate early as Setsubun this year falls on Feb. 2. (Hiroshi Ono)