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Cultural Festivals

Hina Matsuri, Doll’s Day

The doll display that is put up for Hina Matsuri.
The top tier of a hina doll display features the Emperor and the Empress while the following tiers hold their imperial attendants. Photo by Jonathan Ley

Hina Matsuri, also called Doll’s Day or Girl’s Day, is celebrated each year in Japan on March 3 to celebrate the happiness, growth, and good health of girls. In Japan, families with daughters mark the festival by displaying intricately crafted hina dolls dressed in ornate costumes several days before the festival. Visitors can view and take photos with a traditional display of hina dolls that were generously donated by the Dozono Family. Located in the Cathy Rudd Cultural Corner in the Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center, the seven-tiered display represents the Emperor and Empress with members of the Imperial Court.

March 3 is also called Momo-no-Sekku, or Peach Blossom Festival, because according to the lunar calendar peach blossoms were in full bloom on this day. It was also believed that peach blossoms had the power to drive away evil spirits. At Portland Japanese Garden, like many families in Japan, we display sprigs of peach blossoms together with hina dolls. An ikebana arrangement by Carolyn Alter, Head Teacher of the Ohara School of Ikebana’s Oregon Chapter, featuring peach blossoms will accompany the display.

Carolyn Alter assists a student at a previous ikebana workshop.

Festival visitors may sign up to participate in an ikebana class for children, learning the fundamental foundations of ikebana and creating their very own arrangement to take home. Each ikebana workshop can have 18 attendees on a first come first served basis. We ask that guests allow children present to get first seating, but adults are welcome to participate if there are open spaces.

The workshops in the Yanai Family Classroom will take place at the following times:

Members-only workshop: 9:30 – 10:00 am

10:30am-11:00am

11:30am -12:00pm

12:30pm-1:00pm 

In the Miller Living Room, two family-friendly Hina-Matsuri themed performances by Kotori Kai Shamisen School and Takohachi will feature shamisen (three-stringed traditional Japanese musical instrument), dancing, and singing.

1st performance: 10:45am

2nd performance: 11:45am

Hina Matsuri Events

Portland Japanese Garden is celebrating Hina Matsuri throughout late February and early March! Make sure you plan your visit today so you can attend these specially themed events.

About HINA MATSURI

Hina Matsuri is said to have originated in the Heian period (794-1185), a time when people believed that dolls had the power to drive away evil spirits. Paper or straw hina dolls were set afloat on boats down the river and out to sea, sweeping away troubles and bad spirits. This tradition, called nagashi bina, still takes place in some regions in Japan.

The tradition of displaying hina dolls at home began during the Edo period (1603-1868) and still takes place today. Traditionally, parents or grandparents purchase a set of hina dolls following the birth of a girl. In some instances, the dolls are passed down from previous generations. 

Hina dolls are displayed on a tiered platform (hina dan) covered with a red carpet (dankake). The top tier holds the two imperial dolls. The Emperor holds a ritual baton and the Empress a fan. The following tiers hold their attendants: the second tier holds three court ladies (san-nin kanjo). Each lady holds ceremonial sake equipment. The third tier holds five court musicians (gonin bayashi) each holding a musical instrument, except the singer who holds a fan. The fourth tier holds two ministers (udaijin and sadaijin), the one on the right (Minister of the Left) being older and higher ranking. The three court attendees (sannin jogo) on the fifth tier each show angry, merry, and sad faces.

Dolls on display in Portland Japanese Garden to celebrate Hina Matsuri, or Doll's Day.
The five court musicians. Photo by Jonathan Ley

WHERE IS THIS EVENT HAPPENING?

Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center

The Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center was designed to be the cultural, educational, and architectural hub of the new Cultural Village. “With a new classroom, library, and performance space, the Learning Center provides an open and welcoming space where visitors can learn more about the culture that gave us the Japanese garden art form,”