Hello, 
this is KOTO KYOTO.

In March, the daylight hours in Kyoto gradually increased, and it's getting to feel spring little by little.

Hinamatsuri is celebrated each year on March 3rd.

Hinamatsuri is often called "Doll's Festival" or " Girl's Festival" in English. It is a day to pray for the health and happiness of young girls.

Most families with girls display dolls for the Doll's Festival called Hina-ningyo. Today, we eat traditional dishes like Scattered sushi (chirashi-sushi), cherrystone clam  soup, sweet white sake (shirozake), rice cake cubes (hina arare) and diamond-shaped rice cakes (hinamochi) for the Girl's Festival.

If you are interested in Japan, you may often hear about Hina-ningy, then do you know why we eat cherrystone clam soup for this festival?

 Since the shells of cherrystone clam did not change their partner, they became a symbol of harmony between married couples. So, parents prepare cherrystone clam soup for the Girl's Festival hoping their daughter will come across a good partner.

If you have a daughter in your family, please try to celebrate the Hinamatsuri in the hope of their growth and happiness.

We hope spring will come soon from Kyoto...

Let's have a wonderful Hinamatsuri!!