Nagashi-bina

Cast adrift for a photo finish

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

2010/03/04

Children release paper dolls into the Mitarashigawa river in Kyoto on Wednesday to offer prayers for perfect health. (KAZUNORI TAKAHASHI/ THE ASAHI SHIMBUN)

KYOTO--Paper dolls symbolizing prayers for the health of children are cast afloat Wednesday at Shimogamojinja shrine in Sakyo Ward as the nation celebrated Hina Matsuri, or Dolls Festival.

Called Nagashi-bina, the rite traces its origins to a Heian-Period (794-1185) custom in which people floated dolls on a river to carry away bad luck and bring good health.

A local commerce and industry association re-established the event in 1989.

A couple wearing gorgeous 12-layered kimono and other garments were the first to release the dolls into the Mitarashigawa river, which flows through the shrine, followed by kindergarten children and other worshippers.

Tottori

Nagashi-bina

Nagashi-bina is an event that involves dispelling impurities and misfortunes by floating dolls away on water. In earlier days this took place all over Japan, but the practice has died out in most areas. Only in Tottori-shi and Mochigase-cho in Tottori Prefecture does nagashi-bina survive today. In this rite, dry straw is woven into a boat, which carries a pair of male and female dolls to be cast adrift in the river. As it has become quite a rare event, in recent years it has come to attract visitors by the busload.