With Japanese traditions and crafts gaining renewed attention, department stores are seeing a boom in sales of Hina dolls ahead of the Girls' Day festival.

This season, in particular, there's a strong trend toward styles that can be enjoyed as "spring interior decor." While retaining their elegant charm, modern styles that save space and are crafted with delicate Japanese sensibilities and meticulous craftsmanship, such as compact sizes suitable for living rooms and designs that use display stands as storage boxes, are gaining popularity.

Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store began selling Hina dolls on Wednesday, December 26th of last year. They offer a wide selection of approximately 110 types (at their peak during the sales period), including works by some of Japan's leading doll artists, including master craftsman Kanabayashi Shintaro, the only recognized legitimate successor to Kimekomi dolls, a tradition boasting approximately 270 years of history and tradition. Sales are currently up approximately 120% compared to last year, and this year's traditional Kyoto Hina doll display (Okino-kazari) by doll artists is particularly popular. Many people choose the elegant "Korozome" dyeing for the Emperor's costume, a style reserved only for the Emperor. Furthermore, the Nara Ittobori Hina Doll Exhibition is being held at the Art Square on the 6th floor of Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store until Monday, February 18th, with artists also in attendance and demonstrations. Isetan Shinjuku Main Store also began selling Hina dolls on Wednesday, January 2nd, and sales are showing strong growth, surpassing last year's figures. The store has expanded its variety of modern, compact, and storable designs suited to modern living spaces. A wide variety of "Selectable Hina Doll Sets" and decorative and standing Hina dolls are also available. Sales areas will be expanded from the peak in late January. This year, sales have been particularly strong for higher-priced items with an expanded product lineup, with a notable trend toward compact-sized products.