Hina-Matsuri (Girl's Day)

Sir Nelson · Post by **Sir Nelson** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:06 pm

Hina-matsuri is Girl’s Day in Japan, and is celebrated on March 3rd.

In this MOC, a family gathers to celebrate the day with the pounding of mochi (rice cakes) in the traditional style - hammering it inside a large stone bowl. For those who have never seen this before, one person wets their hands and reaches into the bowl between hammer blows to fold the mochi over - timing is crucial! Everyone else helps to roll the mochi into smaller pieces.

A hina-ningyo doll is on display inside the house, along with something else...

Don’t forget to enjoy the cherry blossoms!

Glencaer · Post by **Glencaer** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:24 pm

First off, great MOCs. You're truly one of the masters of detail. And then I was looking at this picture and suddenly started laughing. I won't say why, but bravo Mr. Nelson! Bravo!

Rosh.Gonff · Post by **Rosh.Gonff** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:01 pm

Hmm... Looks like they have a... visitor

Post by **SavaTheAggie** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:29 pm

This is just fantastic. I love the tree, I love the roof, I love it all! It's all so realistic, in a built from plastic covered in little nobby things slice of life the building would fall over otherwise sort of way.

I'd say you awe-struck me, but then I'd have to press charges.

--Anthony

MaxiVisVires · Post by **MaxiVisVires** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 7:15 pm

Seeing this just gave me a craving for some Mochi balls.

Great MOC!

Dunechaser · Post by **Dunechaser** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:34 pm

Duuuuuuuuuude!!!

From the water bowl, wooden mallet, cherry tree and roof outside to the stove, hina ningyo and "vistor" inside, I can't imagine a more perfect way to recreate this scene. Wow, very nice indeed. And the roof! (I know I already mentioned the roof.) I've never seen roof tiles that look so good in LEGO.

Are you sure you never lived in Japan?

Jacob C. · Post by **Jacob C.** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:42 pm

Beautiful Moc.
I love the cherry blossom tree!
Nicely detailed.
Wonder what the hidden visitor is up to?

Azaghal · Post by **Azaghal** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:01 pm

The Urban Commando got slightly lost . . .

Sir Terrance · Post by **Sir Terrance** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:41 pm

Great creation! I just love the way you built the roof, and details are amazing. Great work!

~Chris Perron

Tristram · Post by **Tristram** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 12:40 am

I'm so impressed! I lived in Japan for a time, stationed in Iwakuni, and I find this MOC to be both LEGO accurate and fun. Very nice cherry blossom tree, I can almost smell the blossoms! The roof is splendid. In fact, everything just looks right.

I really love this.

Moroder · Post by **Moroder** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 1:37 am

That's not much left to say abouy this MOC... so I'll repeat the others, it's beautiful! Incredibly realistic and simple. The whole scene have a great level of detail, but keeping it 'light'. I would just take one or two minifigs away, but that's just me. Beautiful creation, Sir Nelson!

ottoatm · Post by **ottoatm** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 3:06 am

The details are once again present in this MOC (as others stated). Nice action going on indside, but the things I like the most are the cherry blossoms and the roof... I wonder how you know this about Japanese culture?

As usual, a pleasure to view your stuff!

Sir Nelson · Post by **Sir Nelson** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 7:27 am

ottoatm wrote:I wonder how you know this about Japanese culture?

Being from Hawaii, you can't help but to learn a lot about other cultures.... and that's a good thing!

This was really a fun build for me! Dunechaser knows that I have been wanting to make a mochi-pounding vignette for some time now, but when I tried it on an 8x8 base, I felt it just did not capture the feel of the event. So, it then became 8x16, but I felt it was still missing something - a background. I doubled the base (which is not really a familiar scale for me, other than my 2 CCC3 'room' entries) and then things started to really come together. I am very pleased with the result, especially the roof. You can thank my wife for the idea of the cherry-blossom tree... that made me change the direction of the MOC from a simple mochi-making one to a Girl's Day festival.

As for Urban Commando.... well, after all he is a contemporary ninja! Look for him in some of my upcoming MOCs!

Stone Goblin · Post by **Stone Goblin** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:16 am

Very cool MOC.

Love the unique roof design and cherry blossom tree. A lot of nice little details, like the concrete step and the hanging airconditioner on the side of the house, if that is what it is.

One question. Are cherry blossom trees suppose to be black? Or are you using the black to help bring out the pink and white?
Excellent work once again Sir Nelson.

Urban Commando, sure resembles my Assassin Rogue sig fig. Maybe they're related. I mean both of are characters like to hide.

JPinoy · Post by **JPinoy** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 6:14 am

Wow. Awesome set up! I've been to a Hina-Matsuri as well as a Haru-Matsuri when I had a Japanese language class back in highschool.

Great MOC!