Small あ after は? I’m trying to read a book but I came across a sentence where there are small s after s and I’m not sure why. Do you know why that is and what it means? > > **** **** > > !

The phrase is said during the _mamemaki_ performed as part of _Setsubun_.

It is often recited _rhythmically_

> []{}[]{}[]{}[]{}[]{}[]{}[]{}[]{}[]{}[]{}[]{}[]{}

Just writing just looks/reads very ordinary, so here the small is added to convey the (rhythmical) sound of the children singing/reciting the phrase.

(Rhythm can also change the pronunciation of the numbers when counting, for example during hide-and-seek.)