Hina Matsuri — wishing happiness to girls

On this occasion of the Japanese Doll Festival, celebrating the growth of girls and wishing them happiness, dolls wearing the Heian period clothing were put on display at the residence of Japan’s Ambassador to Jordan Shuichi Sakurai.

On the occasion, Naoko Sakurai, the spouse of the ambassador, explained to a small gathering of ladies the meaning of the dolls and celebration, taking the audience centuries back to explain the hierarchy of the pyramidal dolls’ exhibited with the emperor and empress on the top tier, with the rest of the seven tiers occupied by court assistants, musicians, guards and bride’s furniture in miniature.

The host also performed a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and embassy officials demonstrated how Japanese delicacies and sweets are made.

Reflecting on the theme of the day, that celebrates the growth of girls and their happiness, my opinion, as a person who visited Japan several times, is that when girls, “past and future mothers”, are given such a high status, there is no wonder that the outcome is a nation with high technology, stunning architecture, high education, all blended with traditional historical temples, castles, gardens, kimonos and costumes, traditional festivals, Ikebana, tea ceremonies and fine Japanese cuisine.

Encompassing all of that is the very warm Japanese hospitality and highly distinguished demeanour of the Japanese people.

A trip with the Shinkansen “super-express train” bears witness to the natural beauty of Japan, with the sacred Mount Fuji dominating the country.

In Kyoto, for example, the ancient capital of Japan, hosts the imperial palace and most renowned shrines, one of which is “Heian”, which gives its name to the costumes of the Hina dolls festival, one is taken back to the traditional historical Japan with its museums, samurai swords and all amidst so much present modernity.