I was at Ryogoku Station, where the Sumo is held in Tokyo, to visit the offices of a friendly bear company yesterday, and on the way back spotted this display of Hina Ningyo that had been set up by the Ryogoku Station staff.
There is a great write up of the Hina Ningyo matsuri and its traditions at kidswebJapan.
March 3 is Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival or Girls’ Festival), when people pray for the happiness and healthy growth of girls. Families with young daughters mark this day by setting up a display of dolls inside the house. The dolls wear costumes of the imperial court during the Heian period (794-1192) and are placed on a tiered platform covered with red felt. The top tier is reserved for the emperor and the empress.
After the Hina matusri, kodomo no hi (Boy’s Day) will also be coming up where the koinobori (carp) will be flying in front of people’s houses.
Do you display any special types of dolls, flags or other items for holidays celebrating children in your country?
10 comments
Have you tried splash coloring?
What is splash coloring?
Wow.. It’s not even march yet and they already having promotion?
That is so beautiful! I’m trying to make my own hina doll using my limited skills with clay and silk, so I’m grabbing every dress design I can find. Time is running out though >.>
I love the shots looking down the hall at the display – the ordinary and the divine.
what a great idea. a very unique hina doll matsuri for you 🙂
“A friendly bear company” ? Sounds familiar. 😉
😉 more coming soon
Now this is the Red Carpet treatment.
by:whipcracker
RT @tweetmeme Doll Festival, Japan Culture http://bit.ly/dhAT9H The thing they do in my neighborhood is put a sign in their yard anoucing the birth of their child. Now my curiosity has been peaked a new friend for Rilakkuma?
Hmm interesting to just come across this, JR staff is really toughtfull
You mentioned sumo .. man I was bummed to find out that Sumo wasn’t happening in Tokyo itself last November when I read somewhere in a paper there “Sumo tickets for sale” – I hope April is Sumo season in Tokyo .. I need to investigate on that.
Oh, pssst 🙂 Are you using a 50/1.8 or 50/1.4 lens here 😀 ?