LIVE JAPAN

Hinamatsuri takes place on March 3rd. This is a day to pray for girl’s happiness and growth.

Families with girls display the hina ningyo (ornamental dolls). There are many ways to celebrate the day, such as Tsurushi bina (dolls are hung by string – famous in Yanagawa, Fukuoka), Nagashi bina (floating paper dolls down rivers, and in the ocean), and the most common Hinadan (platforms are used to display the dolls, with 5 or 7 tiers most widely used).

I went to Toyama Memorial Museum in Saitama, to see an old Hinadan display.

The top tier holds the Emperor and Empress. They are usually placed infront of a gold fan.
The 2nd tier holds three court ladies.
The 3rd tier holds five musicians.
The 4th, 5th, and lower tiers, hold miniature furniture, carriages, and tools. The 4th tier often holds two ministers. The Right Minister depicted as a young man, while the Left Minister is much older.

Also displayed with the dolls are peach blossoms, Hishi mochi (pink, white, and green, diamond shaped rice cakes), and Hina arare (colorful popped rice).

The dolls are dressed in costumes from the Heian period (794 – 1192), with the Empress wearing a Jyuuni Hitoe (12 layered kimino). The style of kimino is now only used for royal weddings.

The dolls are then packed away soon after the day of Hinamatsuri. Failing to do so will result in the girl being doomed to marry late.

As my day at Toyama was coming to a close, I received a complimentary cup of hot ama zake ( a sweet, non – alcoholic version of sake). It is the traditional drink of the day.