1F Lobby

Japanese dolls for both girls’ and boys’ day will be on display – a perfect spot to snap a family photo.

Hina-ningyo, small dolls in court-style dress are displayed in homes for a few weeks leading up to celebrate Hinamatsuri (doll’s festival) on March 3. It is an occasion to wish for young girls’ growth and happiness. The emperor and empress dolls dressed in ancient costume are placed on the highest tier of a five- or seven-tiered stand covered with red carpet. Under them come two ministers, three court ladies, five court musicians and other decorations. Peach blossoms, round rice crackers, colourful diamond-shaped rice cakes are often enjoyed on the occasion.

Koinobori (carp streamers) and Kabuto (warrior armour)　May 5 is kodomo-no-hi (Children’s Day). Originally called Tango-no-sekku (Boy’s Festival) and was for celebrating boy’s growing up, but now it has become a day to celebrate children in general. Families with boys set out dolls of warriors and heroes, and fly carp streamers. Carp have the strength to swim up waterfalls and are a symbol of success in life. Chimaki (rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) and Kashiwa-mochi (rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves) are traditionally enjoyed.

1階ロビーで雛人形および鯉のぼり、兜の展示をおこないます。（3月3日午前中まで展示中）

ご家族で写真撮影してお楽しみください。

1F Intergenerational Room

Drop in to play with traditional Japanese wooden toys such as kendama, enjoy some colouring, and other Japanese crafts.

Japanese Story Time

2 sessions from 10:30am and 1:30pm

Suitable for children who understand Japanese. We will read a picture book about making the earth a better place called “Shopping is the Voting” in Japanese, and another Japanese story.  

本の読み聞かせ

2回　10:30am と1:30pmより

「買いものは投票なんだ　EARTHおじさんが教えてくれたこと」

絵：ほう　文：藤原ひろのぶ

毎日の買いものは社会とつながっている。「買える」を「変える」を提案する、メッセージイラストブック。子どもたちの未来を少しだけよくする方法、EARTHおじさんと一緒に考えてみませんか?