According to the custom, one looks in the lucky direction of the year (according to the Chinese zodiac) with closed eyes, and silently bites into a thick sushi roll while thinking of his or her wish.
節分の夜にその年の恵方に向かって目を閉じて一言も喋らず、願い事を思い浮かべながら太巻きをまるかじりするのが習わしとされている。