Hello, I am Yoshi from NILS Japanese language school. I would like to talk about 日本人形 Nihon-Ningyo or Japanese dolls.
Japanese dolls were not children’s toy to play with, originally. In ancient times, dolls were used as effigies to rid people of misfortune and disease. It was only after the Edo period that they were made for the appreciation of annual events such as Hina Matsuri, the Girls’ Festival, and Tango No Sekku, the Boys’ Festival. After the Meiji period, dolls made of celluloid and rubber were introduced from Western countries. Barbie dolls became very popular in Japan at the end of the 60’s. Foreigners may consider geisha dolls or those of women in kimonos to be typical Japanese dolls. They are generally quite expensive because each part of the dolls is made by hand and silk is used for their kimonos. Their faces must be painted by master craftsmen.
You can experience painting a doll in Fukuoka where Hakata Ningyo is very famous all over Japan.

May 29th News, from NILS Japanese language school.