OKIKO’S DOLL, by Stefano FrigieriTranslation by Amanda Blee
Dolls are very precious in Japanese animism: they are the faithful companions of little girls all throughout their childhood, protecting them by attracting bad luck and storing it inside themselves.
To help girls face the inevitable separation from their dolls, collective funerals are organised on designated days of the year, during which the girls face the pain of separation, sharing it with others. This way, the dolls also finally find peace, taking all the evil they collected during their lifetime, kept locked away inside, with them on their last journey.
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On an altar inside the Mannenjin temple in Hokkaido, lies a small shrine, almost buried beneath flowers, small origami animals, incense sticks and baskets of fresh
