Across cultures, dolls can be more than objects of play. They can carry family memories, express hopes for children, and represent the people and traditions a community values. In Japan, dolls have long held a place in seasonal celebrations particularly Hinamatsuri, the Doll Festival, also known as Girls’ Day.

The dolls and festivals invite us to look beyond the objects themselves: who made them, who cared for them, who gathered around them, and what did they mean to the families who brought their traditions into the Mission Inn?