Products made in the Hina Doll Workshop [Hinasei Hina Dolls]
This is where the only traditional Japanese-style Hina doll set in the Hina doll industry began.
I love Japan and I love the old townscapes.
Hinamatsuri is an ancient Japanese event.
Hinasei's goal
In this era when cities are changing to a Western style, Japanese cityscapes and houses are becoming increasingly Westernized. This is the same modernization of cityscapes all over the world.
"I want to have a Hinamatsuri that feels truly Japanese."
"What kind of seasonings can be used for Japan's Hinamatsuri?"
That's what I thought.
A request from someone at that time
A streetscape full of Japanese charm.
When I see a townscape like this, I feel a sense of nostalgia for the good old days.
When I think back to when I was a child, I remember going to visit my grandfather's house in Shimada.
The whole family was spending time together in a dimly lit house.
There was a hearth and firewood was burning with a crackling sound.
Memories and nostalgia of this warm house.
"If I were to celebrate Hinamatsuri for my beloved daughter, I would want it to be something like this."
A request from one such woman was the start of our crafts workshop.
Aiming for a Kyoto-like street atmosphere
"Is it possible to provide Hina dolls that resemble those found in the old streets of Kyoto?"
A group of people who make Hina dolls, called Hinasei Kobo, aimed to create an atmosphere reminiscent of Kyoto's streets.
However, this type of seasoning was not possible with the materials used in the Hina doll industry until now.
"How can we create this style in Hina dolls?"
No matter how much I processed existing materials or how hard I tried, I always failed.
Therefore, we changed to processing materials that are as natural as possible.
What ingredients to use and how to season them.
Days of trial and error continued at the Hina doll workshop.
The answer found in Kyoto
I happened to be visiting Kyoto for another reason and noticed the restoration work on the shrine.
Natural cedar wood was used for the construction, and the surface was processed to give it a brand new, plain appearance.
The warmth of the wood grain.
"That's right! We just need to use cedar as the material to speed up the oxidation."
The wood is selected to make the most of the grain, and the soot that burns in the hearth is used.
By going through this process, we were able to create the atmosphere of an old Japanese house.
The idea behind this was to use as many natural materials as possible in a natural way.
After several years of work, we finally arrived at a material that gives the feel of an old-fashioned Japanese house, made using an abundance of domestic cedar wood and selecting only the best parts.
A traditional Japanese style Hina doll created in pursuit of Japanese style
The material is natural cedar wood.
Some of the trees are over 30 years old.
It features wood grain that gives off the warmth of warm wood.
This is a popular Hina doll folding screen and display stand.
It's true that when you pay particular attention to the wood material and use special processing techniques, the number of products that can be produced in the workshop is limited.
First of all, we only want people who like it. We won't mass-produce it.
At our Hina Doll Workshop, we never seek mass production or mass sales.
Even if it's just a small amount, we want to deliver our carefully crafted Hina dolls to those who are willing to purchase them.
That's what I came here hoping for.
At first, it was difficult for the world to recognize our technology, but now, after years of hard work, our technology and uniqueness are being recognized.
Cedar wood blessed by the Oi River
We chose cedar wood from the nearby mountains, which have a large amount of water, the Oi River.
This area is famous for producing Kawane tea, a top brand of tea.
The atmosphere contains a lot of moisture which encourages the growth of trees.
The cedar grown in these areas is further seasoned and processed to create folding screens and display stands for Hina dolls.
Instead of using imported materials or printed materials that are commonly available, we use genuine materials.
This is an old-fashioned Hina doll that generously brings out the warmth of wood.
This old-fashioned Hina doll screen and stand was created with the idea of never producing large quantities and only producing high-quality items.
Appreciate the growth of our staff
Now, due to my position, I don't have much say in what's going on at the work site.
I left it up to my staff, trusted them and let them do their jobs responsibly.
In fact, my other responsibilities have increased, allowing me to focus on my role as president.
We are able to do this because we are grateful for the growth of our staff.
Co-produced and planned
To be honest, the moment we release a new product into the world is extremely tiring.
It takes a lot of wisdom.
However, the joy of having your project recognized by the world and being able to work is even more gratifying.
"We were able to give that family satisfaction."
It's a joy to be able to meet you at such a moment.
Without forgetting this feeling, we work hard and diligently to create Hina dolls at our Hina doll workshop.
