Boys' Day Dolls for Boys' First Festival | A Simple Explanation of the Correct Way to Decorate and the Meaning of Armor and Helmet [For Boys' Day]

A list of the trendy, compact and stylish May dolls

When you open the box,

There was a dignified helmet, a shining sword, and a small carp streamer.


"I hope this child grows up healthy and strong."

With this wish in mind, we celebrate the first Tango Festival.

But when I try to decorate it,

"Where do I put this sword?"

"Huh? Is the screen in the front or the back?"

And it might be a little confusing.

On this page,

The correct way to display May dolls and armor ,

We will introduce the parts in an easy-to-understand manner, along with their meanings .


Can be displayed in the living room, entrance, or apartment.

There are also placement ideas, so anyone can feel at ease.

Wishing for the healthy growth of my child,

I hope that the time you spend decorating will also become an irreplaceable memory.



Beautiful Japanese customs,

Why not join forces with your own hands?

A gift for a boy celebrating his first festival

May Dolls - A family-made Boys' Festival

Memories and the Japanese spirit

Nowadays, Golden Week is not just about going out to places,

Enjoy relaxing time at home with your family,

It is a time loved as a time for creating lasting memories .

May dolls that connect family memories

The first festival that takes place in this season is


This is a special milestone in which we pray for the healthy growth of boys.

May dolls are

It is a reflection of parents' desire to protect their children .



Its roots date back to the Heian period,

From the custom of irises warding off evil spirits,

Armor and helmets began to be displayed in samurai households.

The act of decorating involves

"I want to watch over your happiness forever"

It is filled with deep love.




This time every year,

I hope this will be an irreplaceable memory for both parent and child .

Correct placement of helmet ornaments and the meaning of left and right

Learn from the perspective of a military commander

The basics of how to decorate May dolls

When I decided to decorate the May doll,

Surprisingly, many people are confused

The arrangement is, "Sword on the right? Bow on the left?"



But actually, this arrangement

It reflects the "stance" of the warriors of the past .

A helmet is placed in the center and a folding screen is placed behind it.


On either side of it are a sword and a bow and arrow.


The reason for displaying a sword on the right and a bow and arrow on the left is


The samurai holds the sheath with his left hand,

It comes from the action of drawing a sword with the right hand .

In other words,

My child standing in front of the helmet,

The arrangement makes them look like small military commanders.

List of stylish May dolls

Knowing this background,

The decorations are naturally filled with love.

There is no correct way to decorate,

Knowing the meaning will make you love it even more.


Please come along with your children.

Enjoy the "stories" that are contained in each and every ornament .

Position of the helmet ornament parts

First of all, the most popular helmet these days

It is a combination of a display stand, a folding screen, and a bow and sword.

As shown in the photo, the main May doll is located in the center.

There is a folding screen behind it.

The sword's long blade is located to the right.

The bow and arrow part should be placed on the left.

The Boys' Festival is an event to celebrate and enjoy the season

May dolls bring the happiness of spring

It's a decoration to share with the family.

The Boys' Festival is a day to celebrate the healthy growth of boys.

It has been popular for a long time.


Carp streamers fly in the sky, and people gather around kashiwamochi and chimaki.

Enjoy the change of seasons from spring to early summer with all your senses.

That is the essence of this event.

May dolls and armor are

It is not a symbol for fighting.



Rather,

While feeling the love for my child's "now",

It is meant to celebrate life and bring spring to the heart .

By decorating, parents can also come face to face with the beautiful customs of Japan.

It will create a sense of ease in your mind .




This year, let's decorate


Please cherish the time you spend enjoying spring with your family.

What do the parts of a helmet ornament mean?

Enjoy the fun of discovery with your children

Would you like to experience it?

It was attached around the helmet or armor.

There are a variety of parts and accessories available.


- "What's the name of this?"

・"What does it mean?"

It will be an opportunity to stimulate your child's curiosity.

for example,

The "hachi" (bowl) that protects the top of the helmet is

It is an important piece of protective gear that covers the head securely.



The front "Maedate" has the following features:

They are decorated with ornaments that represent the pride of the family and the beliefs of the samurai and military commanders .

Also,

"Shikoro" to protect the head,

The horn-like "kuwagata" (helmet crest)

All of them have impressive shapes,

It has a powerful presence that draws the viewer's attention.

The meaning behind each and every part

Why not try decorating it together with your child, using your imagination?


Conversations are sparked, discoveries are made, and the time spent decorating is a learning experience .


It will change in an instant.

The decoration of the helmet ornaments has more meaning than just beauty.

The crest, shikoro and maedate tell the story.

The samurai's aesthetic sense and state of mind

The numerous decorations on the helmet are not merely decorative.


The shape, material and color

It was treasured by the samurai of the past

It reflects "beauty" and "state of mind."

for example,


The majestically towering kuwagata crest is a symbol of dignity ,

It was a sign of their determination to boldly assert their presence.



When protecting your head,

It is designed to combine ease of movement and defensive power,

It has a "supple strength" to it.

The crest and beliefs are displayed on the front.

Although it is an external part, it also speaks of "inner feelings."

There is a quiet pride and dignity in every decoration.

When you look at it with that in mind, the helmet ornaments have even more depth.


Beyond the luxurious appearance,

As a presence that calms the mind ,

May dolls may be trying to speak to us.

Compact yet conveys your thoughts clearly

Creative ways to decorate May dolls to suit modern lifestyles

In modern homes, such as condominiums and apartments

Many people have trouble deciding where to display them .



"We don't have a nice Japanese-style room..."

Some of you may be worried.

But please don't worry.


What's important is,

It's not the size of the space you decorate, but the feelings you put into it .



Now it's on the shelves in the living room,

Can be placed in a small space in the entrance

There is an increasing number of stylish, modern and compact May dolls .

Even if it's small,

In one of them

The parents' wish for their child to grow up healthy is fulfilled

It's clogged.



Even in a limited space,

Creating a place that warms the hearts of families

That is the power of Tango no Sekku decorations.

In keeping with modern life,

Integrating Japanese traditions into modern life.



That is it.

Perhaps this is the future of May dolls.

The process of arranging the three-tiered display is also a treasured experience

While touching on the meaning of small items,

May Dolls for the Family to Enjoy

In front of the three-tiered May doll display,

The splendor of it all makes your heart leap.

But actually, its charm is not just in its decorative appearance,

It's also in the process of decorating itself .

The tools and decorations arranged on each tier are

All of them have their origins in festival customs and the lives of samurai.


"What is this?"

By talking with your child as you arrange the pieces,

Learning, conversation, and knowledge naturally emerge.

The drum is a signal for battle, and the war fan is a symbol of command .


Kashiwamochi and chimaki are symbols of wishes for seasonal blessings and good health .


Every time I learn the meaning behind each one,

It feels as if the hands that decorate it gently wrap around your heart.

"It's beautifully decorated."

With that one word,

Family time turns into memories .



Three-tiered display brings stories into your life


It's a gift that delivers.




The names and locations of the three-tiered May doll display parts

In the middle,

From the left, Jingasa,

Jindaiko (battle drum),

It is called a military fan.

It will be an array.

In the bottom row,

From the left,

Two-way streamers,

Chimaki (rice dumplings),

Bottles and eight-legged stands,

Kashiwamochi (oak leaf mochi),

We will decorate both carp streamers.

The memories of the first festival are born from the hands that decorate it.

How to decorate your home to create small anniversaries in your everyday life

First festival.

It's the first milestone in my child's life.


That's why,

That day,

Wouldn't you like to make it a memorable anniversary rather than just an event?

for example,

Take the helmet out of the box with your child.

"What is this?"

Decorate while talking.


From that polite parent to their child

Each and every word of encouragement will become a treasure for the future .

Once you decorate it in your favorite place,

Let's take some family photos.


Arrange kashiwamochi on the dining table,

Even just saying "Congratulations" to each other with a smile

It will be a wonderful celebration.

Festival decorations are

Not to show to anyone,

It's meant to be a keepsake for the family .


This spring, the words exchanged in front of the small helmet were,

I hope it stays warm forever...

Where should I display my May doll?

If you get lost,

Choose a place where your thoughts can reach

There are no absolute rules about where to display May dolls.


But when you're in doubt

"A place where the family's eyes naturally turn"

Why not choose a place where children's smiles gather ?

for example,

A shelf in the living room, a corner of the entrance, the edge of the dining table, etc.

We recommend a place that is an extension of your daily life .

By seeing it every day,

"I hope you grow up healthy."

"I'm always watching over you"


The parents' feelings are naturally conveyed through the decorations.

The place to decorate is

It's not just an installation space,


It is a stage where feelings can be conveyed .



May smiles bloom in that place today as well.

The act of decorating conveys feelings

May dolls connect family hearts

It's a kind gift

Displaying May dolls is not just an "event."

It is something that parents gently hand over to their children.

I think it is a form of "wish" and "love ."

Each piece of the helmet is a prayer for protection from disaster.


Swords and bows represent a wish for the strength to carve out new paths in life.


And the whole decoration,


"I hope you can live your life as you are."

There is a quiet feeling inside.

Every time I decorate it,

I noticed my child's growth,

Your heart as a parent will also grow...



And so,

May dolls are "guideposts for the passage of time, building up family memories"

It may be something like that.

This spring, we will be celebrating the Boys' Festival with our children.


Surrounded by smiles and warmth,

I hope it will be an unforgettable moment.

If you want to know more about how to decorate May dolls,

Click below



▶ Click here for a Q&A on how to decorate May dolls.