It’s common to buy at least two Hina Dolls (the bride and groom) when a daughter is born and before her first Hina Matsuri. The first two dolls alone cost around 100,000 to 200,000 yen, so some families cannot afford it. Therefore, some dolls may be inherited from other female relatives.
Then, after spending this decent amount (or receiving the dolls), they are presented for about a month every year. For the remaining months– they are in storage. This is mainly to protect the dolls so they will stay in good condition for many more years to come.
When I began to have an interest in Hina Dolls, I thought I should ask a Japanese woman about her dolls. The first woman I met was, well, my academic supervisor. She did have Hina dolls, which her grandmother bought for her when she was born. After telling me this, she mentioned: “did you know that the dolls have a spirit?”
Me: “have a spirit?”
My supervisor: “Yes. They exist for many years, and they have a spirit. Therefore it’s important to treat them nicely”.
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