Foreign residents and local citizens took part in a multicultural exchange event themed around “Hina-matsuri,” or Girls’ Day festival, at Citizen’s Plaza Fukuchiyama in the Kyoto Prefecture city of Fukuchiyama earlier this month.
The participants came together to deepen their understanding of each other’s traditions and cultures through doll displays and traditional cuisine from their home countries. The Kyoto tamba tango network, a non-profit organization, organizes seasonal events to promote multicultural coexistence.
International students and local residents enjoy decorating Hina dolls at Citizen’s Plaza Fukuchiyama
This was the second time the group have celebrated Hina-matsuri, following an event the year before last, with 26 local residents participating. Attendees included international students from Canada and Myanmar studying at Fukuchiyama Seibi High School, as well as participants from Vietnam and Bolivia.
In a Japanese-style room, participants, including three international students, decorated a seven-tiered Hinadan with traditional dolls. They assembled the stand, spread red wool blankets, and carefully arranged the dolls on each tier.
Once finished, they smiled and took photos together. Meanwhile in the kitchen, participants collaborated on preparing various dishes. Guests enjoyed sampling a diverse array of flavors, including Japanese “chirashizushi,” the Filipino home-cooked dish “adobo,” and the Bolivian party dish “chanca.”
The Kyoto Shimbun
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