Hello, I am Yoshi from NILS Japanese language school. Today’s topic is Doll’s Festival which families with girls celebrate March 3 as a day to wish for their growth and happiness.
This family event originally began in the Edo era and is referred to as the Doll’s Festival because families of girls display a set of dolls.
A formal set of hina dolls consists of the Emperor and the Empress, three court ladies, five musicians, two ministers and three servants. They are arranged on finve or seven stepped shelves that are covered by a red cloth. The word hina means a small doll. In the ancient days, people made dolls by themselves and threw the dolles into a river along with offerings. It was believed that sickness and ill-fortuned would flow away down the river with them.
Today, hina dolls are sold in specialty shops or department stores, but they are very expensive, so they are cusomarily handed down for generations.
Yanagawa City is famous for hina dolls around here. I believe you can enjoy watching various types of hina dolls there.

Yanagawa Doll’s Festival: Sagemon Matsuri

March 11th News, from NILS Japanese language schools.