Hina Dolls

The same every year, from the third week of February, Japanese people here started to prepare decorations for HinaFestival at schools, children centers, public places such as shopping centers, and even at home. This year our celebration of Hina Festival began with my daughter debut as a model for two hours, dressing up in the old time kimono and acting as a girl living in the old days (Heian era, 794 to 1185) playing with traditional Hina dolls.

The event was held by the Kokusaibunka (International Culture) Technical College of Hair Design in collaboration with Takakura Association (a prominent Japanese kimono school). The purpose was to introduce the story of hina dolls, how the concept of playing dolls evolves, in the course of studying Japanese traditional attire at the Imperial Palace.

In the old times, here in Japan, when a woman carried a baby, she would leave the main house and move to her parents' home for delivery and raising the child until she/he turns two years old. During this period, other family members living in the house usually put a doll to substitute the child who was away since birth with the mother. This is the origin of hina doll. When the child turns two, she/he will return to the main house and play the the doll that resembles him/her.

In the traditional practice Hina dolls were more like barbie dolls, which children can play with and are dressed in various costumes according to the changing of season. However, nowadays, hina dolls have become more just a decoration that are put up for display only during the Hina festival. Hina dolls displayed nowadays are apparently dressed in kimonos of highest rank and are put up at higher location to signify their status of importance. Whereas, in the past hina dolls were dressed in kimono of lower rank, because the children, wearing a higher rank kimono than the dolls themselves, are supposed to play with these dolls.

Yukata In Summer

Japanese summer calls for activities with a cooling effect, such as:

1. spending time in the water, such as public pool, resort pool, beach and river

2. visiting summer festivals, where you can eat "kaki-gori" (or in Bahasa, es serut / in English, shaved ice) with colorful sauce of strawberry, green tea, blueberry and "lamune"　(lemon soda), or a watermelon festival, where you get to break a watermelon with your eyes covered up.

3. taking a stroll in the park, hiking in the mountainside

Unlike in the old days when kimono was a daily wear for Japanese, nowadays the only time you can see many children and adults wearing kimono is during summer. Summer kimono is called yukata, which is worn only during July and August. Yukata has also become a popular souvenier for foreigners to bring home, because they are sold in various size, colorful and attractive, easy to wear and reasonable. (The price varied from 980 Yen to 20,000 Yen).

I used to wonder why the Japanese like to wear yukata in summer, considering the heat. However, I learnt that by wearing yukata you can take the heat off summer. Most Yukata is made of 100% cotton, that absorbs our sweat and it is designed in such a way that allows ventilation around the arms. Its long sleeves actually protects us from getting sunburn. Here is one of Japanese traditional customs that still lasts to these days . . . amazing!