Hello, My name is SHINTA+
Hi, SHINTA+ !
I saw beautiful dolls in Japan in March.
What are these ??
That’s to celebrate ‘Hina Matsuri’ !
Let me explain about it !
Hina Matsuri is very important event in Japan. Most of Japanese have experience to enjoy this event with family and friends. This page is to explain basic knowledge of Hina Matsuri in Japan to you.
This article consists of two parts. Have Fun !
- You can get knowledge about ‘Hina Matsuri’ in Japan
- You can get explanation by Japanese webmaster
- You can enjoy Quiz Game about Hina Matsuri in Japan
- You can get score of Quiz Game
10 things to know about ‘Hina Matsuri’
In this paragraph, I would like to make explanations about Hina Matsuri in Japan with Q&A style. You can get knowledge smoothly.
Please open item which you want to know or have interest in !
‘Hina-matsuri’ is one of important event in Japanese life. It is to celebrate growth of the girls. The family who has girl display ‘Hina Ningyo’, to celebrate growth of daughters.
The day of Hina Matsuri is 3rd. March. Although everyone know this day and it is very traditional event, the day of Hina Matsuri is not national holiday in Japan.
People celebrate Hina Matsuri with flowers of peach, in Japan, as it is in the season of peach blossoms. Hina Matsuri has another naming, ‘Momo no Sekku’. ‘Momo’ means ‘Peach’, ‘Sekku’ means ‘important day’.
Hina Matsuri has more than 1000 years of history in Japan.
It’s not clear when this tradition was started and its origin. However, it’s said that in Heian era (794-1185), Hina-asobi as prototype of Hina-matsuri was held by the person in aristocracy at that time in Kyoto. In Edo era (1603-1868), the style of Hina-matsuri was getting near to current one. The tradition was spread all over Japan.
Hina Ningyo is very traditional dolls in Japan. People display Dolls are in Hina Matsuri day to celebrate growth of girls.
Dolls are with very old style gorgeous Japanese dresses, while style of Hina Ningyo is slightly different in each area (e.g Kyoto, in western and Tokyo in eastern)
Hina Matsuri is generally made as family event. It’s not popular to display Hina-Ningyo in public space. People withdraw dolls as soon as Hina Matsuri day is ended.
It’s rather difficult for tourists to see Hina Ningyo in Japan, as Hina Matsuri is basically home event. However, in January and February as the sales season of Hina Ningyo, many of Hina Ningyo are on sale at the department stores in Japan.
In other season, if you really want to get Hina Ningyo, you need to go to dealer of Hina Ningyo. Major dealers are located in Asakusa Area in Tokyo and Matcha Machi Area in Osaka.
The price of ‘Hina Ningyo’ has a very wide range. It depends on a types and quality.
The most simple one, with two dolls, king (Odairi sama) and queen (Ohina sama) has a price at least JPY 30,000 and in case high quality products, it could be more than ten times. It could be shopping once in a life, generally, in Japan.
Reference : Yoshitoku webpage
Small toy-dolls are also available in general merchandise stores. These are available with very reasonable price, less than JPY1,000.
Author’s research
There are some popular foods for the day of ‘Hina Matsuri’. People eat these foods to cerebrate this day. Let me explain some of them.
Chirashi-Zushi
‘Chirashi-zushi’ is kind of Sushi, which is made of vinegar rice, seafoods, eggs, etc.
Hina Arare
‘Hina Arare’ is kind of rice cookie. It’s usually ball shape and gree, white, pink colores.
Hishi Mochi
‘Hishi Mochi’ is kind of rice cake. ‘Hishi’ means ‘diamond shape’. ‘Mochi’ means ‘rice cake’.
Reference : Hankyu Food
‘Hina Matsuri’ is to cerebrate growth of girls. And there is no official regulations and customs to limit age for celebration. It depends on policy of each family.
Reference : Yoshitoku webpage
As of today, there is generally nothing to do for boys on ‘Hina Matsuri’. Boys can enjoy ‘Hina Matsuri’ party with girls simply. However, it could be possible to be changed, in the development of gender equality society.
Quiz Game
Here is a Quiz Game about Hina Matsuri in Japan. You can check your knowledge and get score of it. There are brief explanations by Japanese webmaster in each question.
Let’s try and enjoy your the Quiz !
Postscript
That’s all today.
How was the content today ?
Hina Matsuri is very popular event especially for family who has daughter. I only have sons, however, when I was a child, my parents displayed Hina Ningyo for my sister. It was so beautiful.
Hina Ningyo is so beautiful !
Thank you for your reading !
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