We start our Web shopping store today (March 3rd, 2011). I operate this Web Site from my Tokyo office with my colleague. We are both Japanese. Our concept is to collect Japanese hand-made crafts that are traditional but still useful for present daily routine life, and we introduce and promote them to overseas visitors and customers visiting our Web Site. Why traditional items? – Because, in any country of the world, we need to learn from ancient wisdom. It is something that brings to us an eco style of life, a healthiness of life, plus a beauty of life. We believe that there are always something to learn from history and that we need to enhance the ancient wisdom to the future.
Today is the special day for celebrating little girls in Japan. Those families who have little daughters display at home the sets of dolls (wearing graceful ancient costumes) as shown in the photograph above for wishing daughters’ healthy growth. These dolls are arranged in terraced steps, and the tow dolls on the top step represent emperor and empress, and three dolls on the second step from the top represent court ladies. These dolls should be put away after March 3rd; otherwise it is believed that the girls will have little chance of getting married.
These sets of dolls shown are sold between the price 100,000 Yen to 200,000 Yen at department stores. Very expensive! This photograph is taken at a department store in Shinjuku, one of the largest shopping areas in Tokyo.
This special day is the yearly event and called as “Hina-Matsuri” (meaning dolls festival for girls). This yearly event was originated in Heian-era approximately 1,000 years ago in Japan.
Thank you!
Ken Yoshimura, President
Small snakes made of rice typically eaten on this girl’s day (called Hina-Arare)
