As wedding season approaches, Kokeshi Designs is buzzing with Wedding Dolls and ideas. You’ll notice all our wedding sets are featured this month on the home page.

One of our customers, Karen, recently sent us this great picture. She purchased a white Sayonara doll and used it as the guest book at her son’s wedding! What a wonderful idea, Karen. Thanks for letting us be part of the big day and congratulations to the happy couple!

Sharon and Naomi

Though I’m a little late getting this post up, I wanted to share some information about one of my favorite May holidays – Boy’s Day (Tango no Sekku). This holiday has an interesting history. Traditionally, the third day of the third month is Girl’s Day and the fifth day of the fifth month is Boy’s Day. Because Boy’s Day is a national holiday and Girl’s Day is not, in 1948, the government changed Boy’s Day to Children’s Day (kodomo no hi). They made it a holiday to celebrate the happiness of all children, but old traditions are hard to break and in Japan May 5th is still celebrated as Boy’s Day.

Here are a few things you might notice if you are in Japan for Boy’s Day.

Koinobori

Koinobori are carp windsocks flown on Boy’s Day to help bring good futures to boys. Because carp have to swim upstream to reach their spawning ground they are considered symbols of strength and courage. Parents hope their boys will embody these same qualities. It is typically to see at least 3 carp on the streamer – the large black one at the top represents the father. Though the red one which comes next traditionally symbolized the first born son, these days in commonly represents the mother. Each son in the family is then represented by a smaller colorful carp – blue, green, purple. When the winds blows and these koinobori flutter they look just like carp swimming upstream.

Warrior Dolls

In addition to the strength and courage of the carp, parents hope their boys will grow up to be masculine. Warrior dolls (musha ningyo) are traditional samurai and displayed in a manner similar to the dolls displayed on Girl’s Day. Each doll is unique and detailed. They may have helmets, weapons, suits of armor. Some may be posturing for battle while others sit atop a noble horse.