In no time, as February ends, comes the arrival of March and the plum festival.

In this essay, I would like to shine a light on Suzuki Kiitsu’s “Hina Dolls”.

When we think of ‘hina dolls’ today, we imagine beautiful dolls sitting on red steps, but until the Edo period, it seems ‘tachi (standing) hina dolls’, like the ones in this work, were mainstream.

In addition, they also say that the placement of males on the left and females on the right, which is now common in the Kanto region, came from western rules which were incorporated after the Meiji era.

If you look at the kimono that the male and female dolls are wearing in this work, you will notice that their patterns match.

The blue part of the kimono is called a ‘Kikko pattern’. The equal-sided hexagons imitate the shell of a tortoise. Tortoises are known for their long-life span, so this pattern has been a symbol of longevity since ancient times. In addition, because the same pattern continues infinitely in what is called a ‘Kikko tsunagi (connection)’, the pattern symbolizes wishes for everlasting ‘prosperity’.

A closer look at the kimono design reveals pine and wisteria drawn against its red background. You might notice how the pine is painted in the center of the male doll, while the female doll is painted with many wisteria flowers.

Since ancient times in Japan, pine trees have been associated with men and wisteria with women, making it a custom to plant them side by side. They often appear together in old waka poems as well.

Just by looking at the pattern of the kimono, you can see how these hina dolls represent the parent’s wish for longevity and prosperity for their children.

One of the great charms of the kimono is that you can express your feelings and wishes with motifs and patterns, which go beyond words.

Mademoiselle Yulia
Mademoiselle Yulia rose to prominence as a DJ and singer in her teens. In recent years, she has grown widely active as a kimono stylist, model, columnist, awards judge, and has become the face of numerous global campaigns of widely known brands. Yulia graduated from Kyoto University of the Arts in 2020 and styled the visual campaign for the Victoria & Albert Museum’s exhibition, Kimono -Kyoto to Catwalk-.
https://yulia.tokyo/