5 Dishes to Make for Japanese Girls' Day

Japanese Girls’ Day is an annual event, and like many celebrations it offers lots of opportunities to enjoy plenty of traditional dishes and foods! Here, we breakdown the celebration and offer a bit of inspiration for those who want to make traditional Japanese dishes at home.If you’re planning to celebrate the day this year, remember to check out our online Japanese grocery store to find everything you’ll need for authentic at-home cooking.

What is Japanese Girls’ Day?

Also referred to as the Doll’s Festival or Hinamatsuri, Girls’ Day is celebrated on March 3rd - a lucky date where families pray for the health and happiness of their daughters and the young girls of Japan. Traditionally, displaying dolls is a way of warding off evil spirits. In many families, parents or grandparents will buy a set of Hina dolls for baby girls. These will then be displayed from the end of February to March 3rd as part of the Girls’ Day celebrations.It is not uncommon to celebrate the day every year, but many families will put particular emphasis on a baby girl’s first Girls’ Day. Unsurprisingly, the day is also marked by delicious traditional dishes that make the celebration extra special! But what are some of the best dishes that are usually enjoyed on Girls’ Day?

Chirashi sushi

Also known as scattered sushi, this dish is a favourite for celebrations and festivals. The dish consists of a bowl of sushi rice flavoured with vinegar and topped with a variety of ingredients, depending on preference or the celebration it is part of. For Girls’ Day, it is often topped with pink ingredients like crab meat or pink fish roe - sometimes pink rice is also used!This dish is simple to prepare, making it the perfect choice for those looking to make some authentic celebration dishes at home this year.

Ushio Jiru

Girls’ Day is celebrated when hamaguri clams are in season, making them a wonderful ingredient to harness for the festival. The clams are added to a clear, salty soup that can be paired nicely with chirashi sushi. The clams shells are also said to represent a joined pair and happy unions in marriage.

Inari sushi

Another popular Girls’ Day treat, this is a form of sushi with a twist! Here, balls of sushi rice are wrapped in deep-fried tofu pockets and make for perfect, tasty mouthfuls. The ingredients are simple but embody classic flavours of Japan, making them a brilliant finger food for festivals.

Hishi mochi

Sweet treats are also embraced as part of the traditional Girls’ Day preparations! Hishi mochi is highly symbolic - formed into a diamond shape, the mochi is said to represent fertility and is presented to Hina dolls in the days leading up to the day. The sweet mochi is coloured with pink, white and green. The colours symbolise sakura blossoms, snow and new growth, embodying the overall wishes for good health that the day promotes.

Hina-arare

These little rice cakes are another sweet treat that are frequently enjoyed during the celebration. Like hishi mochi, the puffed rice is coloured with springtime hues of pink, yellow, green and white to embrace the symbols behind the day. Their origin is thought to have come from when leftover New Years rice crackers were made into the little rice cakes. Because of this, they have become a symbol of economic thrift and being a good wife. If we have tempted you to try something new this Spring, why not check out our wide range of authentic oriental snacks and ingredients? From rice and sauces to sweet snacks and treats, we’ve got everything you need for your Japanese Girls’ Day celebrations right here at Oriental Mart!