World Tour of “The Dolls of Japan” Exhibition Comes to Hawaii Japanese Center in Hilo

 Presented by the Japan Foundation’s Traveling Exhibition Program in conjunction with the Consulate-General of Japan in Honolulu and the Hawaii Japanese Center, “The Dolls of Japan,” a collection of 70 works, will be on display from March 1 to April 20 at the Hawaii Japanese Center in Hilo.

 After being postponed since May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “The Dolls of Japan” exhibition will finally be available in Hawaii to showcase a variety of Japanese dolls, including: Hina ningyo (Girls’ festival dolls) and Gogatsu ningyo (Boys’ Day dolls), which have their origins in ancient customs; dolls connected to traditional performing arts like noh, bunraku and kabuki; regional dolls from throughout the country; and “creative dolls” produced by contemporary craftspeople.

 “The Dolls of Japan” exhibition exemplifies Japan’s centuries-old tradition of doll-making and illustrates its unique culture of dolls, each of which has its own distinct purpose and meaning. The exhibition features authentic Japanese dolls that are crafted with time-honored methods. We hope that this exhibition will be an opportunity for people in Hawaii to experience Japanese craftsmanship, creativity and artistic value with the goals of enhancing the understanding of Japanese culture as well as promoting travel to Japan.

• All visitors must sanitize their hands and wear masks prior to entering the center.
• Visitors will also have their temperature checked and practice social distancing.
• For more information on visiting the center, please email the Hawaii Japanese Center at ehiura@icloud.com or call (808) 934-9611.