I had some young relatives and a neighbor over for a Hinamatsuri (Girl’s Day) themed dinner. Click here to find out more about this Japanese holiday. I made a vegetarian meal tailored for American kids to eat.
Music:
I played a CD of Koto Music of Japan (Zumi-Kai Original Instrumental Group).
Decorations:
I decorated my dining room for Hinamatsuri. I downloaded and created an inexpensive 5 tiered Hinamatsuri doll display.
Years ago my friend gave me a hanging decoration. I hung it from my chandelier above the dining room table.
- Paper Hinamatsuri dolls on a tiered display – I printed these onto card stock, cut-out, and assembled.
- Hanging decoration
- Place card – I found these via Hiragana Mama. I printed onto card stock and colored with markers.
Hinamatsuri Paper Dolls
Hanging Hinamatsuri Decoration
Place Card at Table Setting
Craft:
I found simple crafts that reinforced the cultural symbols of Hinamatsuri. We made a lot of simple origami Emperors. The kids decorated some faces as crying, angry, and laughing faces. These are for the three habits represented on the 5th tier of the doll display.
- Emperor Origami via Hiragana Mama Pinterest
- Coloring Page via Hiragana Mama Pinterest
- Maze via Hiragana Mama Pinterest
Emperor Origami
Food:
I planned the meal around a tiered rice cake that I wanted to recreate. Many years ago my friend gave me a set of cute cooking cards. I recreated a similar looking rice cake using different ingredients. See below for instructions.
- Hinamatsuri Salad – I used the holiday colors of green, white, and pink. I was inspired by this and this. My salad includes lettuce, carrot, radish, cucumber, snow peas, and pink grapefruit.
- Hinamatsuri Rice Cake – I copied the Ohinasama Sushi image from ‘with Cooking Cards’. ISBN4-06-187736-4. See below for directions.
- Hinamatsuri Fruit Kabobs – I used green melon, apple, and strawberries cut into flower shapes. I printed this image to make picks for the kabobs.
- Yogurt Fruit Dip – I added cinnamon and honey to plain Greek yogurt.
- Strawberry Pokey – I purchased from Wegmans grocery store.
- Peach Tea – I made iced tea with herbal peach tea bags.
- Ramune Japanese soda (with marble) – I purchased from Wegmans grocery store.
- Hinamatsuri Pudding – I made and layered pistachio pudding, whipped cream, and vanilla pudding (with some red food coloring).
- Strawberry Cream Cake Roll
Hinamatsuri Salad
Hinamatsuri Rice Cake
Slice of Hinamatsuri Rice Cake
How to make the Hinamatsuri Rice Cake
Rice: Use an 8 inch springform pan. Spray the inside of the springform pan with cooking spray. Cook 1 cup of raw Nishiki rice for each layer. (I used my Vegetable/Rice steamer). Green bottom layer – add some cooked food processed spinach to the hot rice until it turns the color you want. Pack the green layer into the bottom of the springform pan. White middle layer – pack the white layer on top of the green rice layer. Pink top layer – add some red food coloring to the water when cooking rice. Press the pink rice on top of the white rice later. Remove the outside of the spring form pan.
Emperor and Empress: Body – Make a triangular shaped rice ball (onigiri). Shape rice with your hand or a mold like this. Clothing – make some crepes. (my crepes were thin so I needed two for each body). Inner clothing – cut thin cucumber slices for Emperor, cut thin carrot slices for Empress. Put cucumber or carrot slices on top of the onigiri. Place onigiri in the center of the crepe and fold. Use a kitchen scissors to cut away excess crepe. Emperor’s baton – trim a piece of broccoli. Empress’s Fan – slice radish and cut ridges for fan. Belt – cut a piece of dried seaweed (Nori) with kitchen scissors. Place baton (f0r Emperor) and fan (for Empress) on top of onigiri but under nori. Press belt into crepe. Use some water if necessary to help the nori stick to the crepe. Head – Peel radishes and attach to bodies with a toothpick. Hair – cook some pieces of raw spinach a few seconds in the microwave until limp. Place spinach on top of radish heads to look like hair. Squeeze a few pieces together to form the Emperor’s topknot.
Decoration: Gently push three snow peas into the rice. Thinly slice radish and place two radish slices in front of the snow peas. Decorate around the top of the rice cake with an edible herb such as thyme (pictured).
Picture I Followed to Make Rice Cake
Hinamatsuri Fruit Kabobs
Hinamatsuri Pudding
Strawberry Cream Cake Roll
Linking to:
Eclectic Lamb 
very creative, enjoyed looking at all the preparation.
Thank you!
Everything is sooo impressive looking, and makes you ready for the best part, eating. Be BLESSED, Mtetar
WOW! Love the placecards and the rice cake! Bet everyone had a fabulous time!
Thank you so much. It was a fun party.
Thanks! We had a great time.
What a very special party meal with a lot of planning. Everything is beautiful and I imagine all your guests felt special to be invited.
Thank you so much. I actually spent less time on the planning than usual – 3 days.
These are absolutely BEAUTIFUL, Kathy! Your work really paid off!
Thank you so much! I was pleased that my Emperor / Empress rice cake actually looked similar to the picture.
YUMMY ❤ ❤ ❤
It was. Thanks!
This party is awesome! I wish I could have been there 🙂 I might have to add it to my list of resources for Hinamatsuri.
I ended up getting sick today so I am hoping to celebrate tomorrow!
Thank you so much! I hope that you feel better soon.
wow, probably the fanciest hinamatsuri celebration I have seen. Everything from food to decor is simply detailed and amazing!
Oh my goodness, Are you sure you are not adopting a child some day? XX Kathleen https://kathysnest32.wordpress.com
Thank you so much!
LOL. I love playing with food and planning parties. At the end of this month I will host an around the world party for my husband’s birthday.
Oooh I love this, the food were lovely and love the craft as well. I am sure your guests must be really happy , what a fun and great celebration 🙂
Thank you so much! I enjoyed preparing for and hosting this party.
Oh my goodness you are SO creative…and patient, obviously! What a wonderful idea – you must have had a great evening!
Thank you so much! I find crafting with paper and food to be relaxing. We did have a great evening and I am already thinking of a possible menu for next year.
I often have grand ideas such as this, so I’m envious of your talent!
Some years ago, when I was doing curriculum development with an elementary school program, I first learned of Hinamatsuri. Your dinner is a great example of how one can teach teach little ones about other cultures in a fun way.
Have you heard of the site, Kid World Citizen? It seems like you, and its founder, Becky, could mutually inspire each other with the fun projects you both share. 🙂 Now, I’m inspired to get creative too.
Wow! Thank you so much, I had never heard of Kids World Citizen. I checked it out and love it.
This looks fantastic! Wish I was there to see the action!!! Rice cake royal couple looks absolutely divine! 😀 xx
Thank you Winnie! It was a fun party!