If the female offspring of a household are its princesses, then Japanese families celebrate this splendidly with the Hina Matsuri festival. The event, held annual on March 3, involves the setting up in the home of an elaborate set of dolls representing a Heian-era (794-1185) emperor and empress and their subordinates. The event is a time to pray for the happiness and prosperity of a family’s daughter(s), and dates back to the Edo period (1603-1868).
This Hyakudan Hina Matsuri exhibition, held for the first time in four years, is an opportunity to experience the charm of these dolls on a level surely larger and grander than in any home. Each room of Hotel Gajoen Tokyo’s Hyakudan Kaidan (‘The Hundred Stairs’; a designated tangible cultural property) showcases Hina dolls in a variety of stirring scenes. These figures range from creations faithful to the elegance of Heian Imperial Court dress, to new interpretations by contemporary artists.
For the duration of this exhibition, the Hyakudan Kaidan will also feature traditional early spring decorations, such as temari balls hanging from its ornate ceilings.
Text by Darren Gore