Let's lit the light on the Bonbori-lanterns
And we offer the beautiful peach blossoms
Do you hear the music of the Five musicians (Gonin-bayashi)
Today is a wonderful day for Hinamatsuri

From ancient times, Japanese people have been enjoying the seasonal beauty and following the rythm of nature through a cup of tea. This little series of Toridori's seasonal letter was born to bring — a little spoonful of — seasonal beauty and nature's rythm into our life.  

The leading four sentences are my own translation of the lyrics sang for our Japanese Girls Festival, the Hinamatsuri. After the Setsubun (February at the day before spring equinox) is over, all the streets and shops are filled with this music, hyping up our mood towards this joyous event.

If you are a father of a girl in your family and if your family follows the tradition, a very hard, physical work awaits for you. Once a year, for this big day for your girl, you need to first assemble heavy Hinadan-display shelf. In our culture, lucky numbers are uneven numbers. That makes our Hinadan one-, three-, five-, or seven-stories, depending on the size of your room (and wealth). Then you carefully place some decorations and hinaningyo-dolls, which are very delicate dolls wearing (again) delicate silk kimono and holding (and again) delicate accessories. The positioning is also important. Right doll at the right place. Then finally, you will be rewarded by a big smile and "Thank you papa!" from her.

When I was very small, I remember "secretly" playing with these dolls (obviously these dolls are not made for playing as a toy but for appreciating its beauty). What a mischievorous kid I was —. And if I remember correctly, there is one decoration shelf of which one parts got loose.

For little Erina, beauty was not yet what to appreciate but to play with, I guess.

Erina