Our shop would like to continue these traditions of doll crafting and pass them on to the next generation of children.
About us
Our Suruga Hina Dolls1, a set of dolls dressed in ancient Japanese costumes, are made by Reikou, a Japanese METI-designated traditional craftsman. (METI stands for Ministry of Economy and Trade and Industry.) This traditional Hina Doll shop has been run by a craftsman family for three generations.
Reikou Mochizuki the First established present Mochizuki-Ningyo, Japanese doll manufacturer in 1936.We have been making imbued dolls with soul using head made of toso2 and body made of straw with traditional techniques, methods and materials.
We truly hope your child or grandchild not only to respect the tradition but also feel the genuine sense of Japanese beauty.
If our Hina Doll Shop can help your child or grand-child to maintain a link with Japanese tradition, we will be very happy.
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1. Authentic Japanese dolls↩
2. Toso is a traditional modeling with paulownia wood↩
Hina doll history
The displaying of Hina Dolls is said to date from the Heian Period (794-1192). At that time, people transferred their sins and misfortunes to Hitogata or Katashiro (simple dolls made of plants or paper) and floated the dolls down the river or to the open sea. The dolls have now changed their meaning to be a treasure that protects children from misfortune. Parents wished for their daughter to be healthy and to be a kind lady. That wish has never changed.
However, since the way of living and the style of housing has changed and become more westernized, many Japanese children are not as familiar with Japanese traditions.
Pattern
We use Japanese washi paper that is cut according to the sizes in the Japanese Hina Doll Measurement Book. We paste the washi paper to the fabric with glue. There are hundreds of basic sizes. A kimono for an Emperor Doll needs about 50 parts and for an Empress Doll, about 120 parts are needed. We use special washi paper made from kozo wood which is a type of mulberry wood. Our glue is a special sticky glue made of starch paste.
Costume
Our Hina Dolls wear famous Nishijin kimono brocade from Kyoto or Kiryu. The kimono pattern for the Court nobles is woven especially for our Hina Dolls.
Body
The basic body of each Hina Doll is a bundle of straw that is firmly arranged. The straw is cut to different sizes and shapes. We aim to create a human shape. Washi paper is wound around wire to make arms and legs.
Hands and feet
The hands and feet for most of our Dolls are made by the craftsman, Tadashi Sawano who learnt from his father. The Sawano family in Kyoto is Kyo ningyo artist family descended from Tyozan Kawase, a famous master doll head craftsman. The family used to specialize in making heads but now it specializes in hands and feet. They use traditional methods, some of which are one hundred years old. Tadashi's knowledge is priceless.
