Suruga Hinagu

Real furniture, doll-sized

Hinagu are the chests, mirror stands, oxcarts, bowls and stands that sit on the tiers of a hina doll display. They are made much like the real thing: even a sewing box that fits in your palm has drawers built as proper boxes. Gorgeous maki-e of arabesques, flowers and birds, or landscapes makes them stand out. Shizuoka makes about 90 percent of Japan's hina furniture. It is made in Shizuoka, Yaizu and Kakegawa in Shizuoka.

Five specialists

• Woodworkers make the joined and turned wooden parts from hinoki, magnolia, katsura or mizume birch.
• The pieces are lacquered.
• Maki-e artists add gold and coloured designs.
• Copper fittings are attached.
• A maker gathers the parts from each specialist and finishes the set.

Shrines, lacquer and the road

Hina furniture was already made in the 16th century, when the Imagawa clan ruled Suruga. Craftsmen gathered from across Japan to build Kunozan Toshogu and Sengen Shrine, and with a warm, humid climate ideal for lacquer, Shizuoka grew a lacquer industry in the Edo period, with hina furniture as one branch. Dividing the work among specialists let hand work meet big demand, and Shizuoka's place between Edo and Kyoto helped it sell.