Hina Matsuri
One of my favorite places to celebrate Hina Matsuri ( 雛祭り) Doll’s Day or Girl’s Day is Ningyocho ( 人形町). This neighborhood of the Nihonbashi district, in Tokyo’s Chuo ward, is home to Kabuki theaters and puppet shows. It is also home to the makers of dolls, and puppet makers and these craftsmen earn the town its name Doll Town. Every year on March 3, Japan celebrates girls and women with Hina Masturi. Before the craftsmen moved out of Ningycho due to a fire there were many who would make these dolls.
And a few can still be found in alleyways beyond the main street of Ningyocho-dori. One such shop I happened upon, and marveled at the beautiful dolls sitting in the window.
There are also dolls in the station, watching the crowds of people that go by each day.
Hina Matsuri is one of the five seasonal festivals, which are held on the auspicious date of the Lunisolar Calendar. I think it is for this reason that merging Hina Matsuri with Boy’s Day (5/5) was unsuccessful- that and some traditions died slowly. This day celebrates the health and happiness of young girls and women.
These dolls are placed on cushions on top of multi-tiered platforms ((雛壇, hinadan)) covered with a red carpet. The ornamental dolls (雛人形) represent the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians of the Heian era. The seated dolls are often called the Emperor and Empress of Japan but also represent a Heian-era wedding.
There are many festivistes and belfies surronding Hina Matsuri. One is that the dolls can be put out a few days before March 3rd. They should be brought in the day after as in leaving them out longer will delay marriage for the daughter. The display of the doll ceases once the daughter reaches ten years of age.
On Hina Matsuri and the days leading up to it girls and women meet with their friends and have parties. The typical foods are hina-arare (雛あられ, multi-colored rice crackers), chirashizushi (ちらし寿司, raw fish and vegetables on rice in a bowl or bento box), hishi mochi (菱餅, multi-colored rice cakes),[4] ichigo daifuku (いちご大福, strawberries wrapped in adzuki bean paste), Sakuramochi (桜餅) and ushiojiru (うしお汁, clam soup, as clam shells represent a joined pair). The customary drink is shirozake (白酒, lit. “white sake”), also called lit. “sweet sake” (甘酒, amazake), a non-alcoholic sake.
This holiday is at the beginning of spring and celebrates the delicateness of girlhood. It is a peaceful and bright day that leans into the oncoming warmth.
