Dolly Day this year featured Volks as guest of honour, which was a very good excuse to visit Barcelona again. I love this city and there's still so much I haven't seen there, so I suppose I'll have to visit again in 2027 for the next Dolly Day. This year the theme was red, so with two weeks to go I made matching dresses for me and Maddie. The pattern for our dresses is Angelic Pretty's Crown Trump one-piece, available in GLB22. I was cutting it pretty close, so my headdress was mostly handsewn the night before the event and I even had to find a haberdashery in Barcelona for some extra ribbon. I didn't have time to make something new for Felicity, so she wore her Babydoll JSK. I got asked for photos by many people, including Volks staff, but didn't get around to taking a nice coord photo myself, so a quick mirror selfie in my hotel room is all I've got.
For extra photos I took of other dolls at the event, take a look at my album on flickr
This is kinda late but a few people said they did want to see a report, so here is a small one! I-Doll was on October 9th on a Monday - it was a public holiday, but unfortunately because not everyone got that day off and Doll Show in Tokyo being on the same day, there were less vendors than usual. However, Dearmine attended as a vendor for the first time which I think more than made up for that.
I hurried right over there as soon as I got in because I knew they’d get swamped with people quickly and it would be hard to get photos, and there was already a line.
They had the samples of their newest dolls on display and available for preorder - these ones aren’t out yet.
Those blond ash-skinned DearPets - Oz and Storm - sure are cute in person, I do kinda wanna get a DearPet one day.
They also had a whole load of other dolls - mostly from their DearBeans range - including previously released limited colours and some that were limited to this event. I had been lining up just to get close enough to take photos, but when I saw all the Beans there.... well, I was worried that when I got closer I didn’t want to be the person who left the line without buying anything, but then when I got even closer and actually saw all the Beans up close I realized that I probably wouldn’t be able to leave without buying one even if I wanted to ._. Looking at them on the website is one thing, but seeing them right in front of you...
I actually took a really long time to decide, though, and I ended up letting 3 of the people behind me go first. I was waffling between one of the grey ones, the event-limited yellowy one or a black one, but as you may already know, I got this dude. He was displayed in a pink nightgown (you can see him in the photo) but was slightly cheaper without it so I got him naked, as I wanted to buy him clothes at the event itself anyway.
Rachel and Angelica were stunning in person, too...
Dearmine had real cute bags, too!
Anyway One of my twitter/insta mutuals choco.tan was also there selling a bunch of cute 1/12 miniatures she’d made, so I got some pancakes.
She’d also brought along her adorable Rudy, who I am a huge fan of and always make sure to take a pic of when I see her! Rudy is a honey delf Corni, another doll I really want. (I want both Kid and Honey delf Cornis, but I have different plans for each)
(I got a pic of Apollo with Rudy back at Doll Friend earlier this year!)
The teeny little dealer shop Fukuoka has called Doll Shop Eden also had a booth there with some of the newest dolls they’d gotten in. I really like that special grey-skinned Dollzone Miss Kitty.
A bunch more sellers - many had Halloween-themed items.
^^^I really like the spooky faces on those ones!
The custom Houzuki is pretty cool too.
A whole load of cute little custom heads!
That little coffin case for 1/12 dolls is cute.
Some cute furniture here.
I really liked these cute little cats this person was selling! I didnt look too closely though cos I spent all that money at Dearmine already 8′)
I’ve seen this person at a few different events, they sell feather-wigs.
That’s the booth of another mutual, I always get a cute hair accessory when I see her. I got a bunny-shaped one this time.
Not all the ‘big’ dealers went to Doll Show! I got that sailor dress from them at May Dolpa.. I really like their clothes but thanks to Dearmine I was just looking now.
It’s always fun seeing how dealers decorate their booths. This one has a YoSD Kanon sitting up there next to the pink star...I was really tempted to enter the lottery for her back in May along with Renee to be honest, she’s pretty cute with different eyes (I’m not really a fan of the dull-looking eyes Volks gave her).
The heads/eyes of those two girls were for sale...tempting.
So many tiny clothes! I got Jasper’s (my new Dearmine) from here. You can actually see the set in this photo if you look closely... There was another set I wanted but I didnt have enough for it, although its probably for the best that I got the one I did because the pants are stretchy - they’re made for obitsu11 but dearbeans have bigger thighs and non-stretchy pants might not have even gone on.
Nekomasshigura was also there selling some eyes,
and some custom heads,
and also showing off ‘Vivimol’, a Nekomasshigura original head-sculpt.
These chairs are cute!
I was also surprised that Sen came here, considering they’re an actual store in Tokyo so it seemed weird they’d come all the way down here when Doll Show was much closer. They had some nice stuff and it looks like they brought a sizeable load of their inventory but as before, I didnt want to look too closely as I’d already spent enough money today.
There was some obitsuroid shenanigans next to Dearmine’s booth - I’m not 100% sure if Dearmine were running this too or not.
On to the collection area! It’s very, very small compared to other doll events - especially Dolpa, where the collection area is almost as big as the dealer area, but there was still a lot of dolls set up - most of them MDDs.
Many like these are familiar faces at most doll events in Fukuoka.
Some fancy gents chiling out over here...
(ilikethechapwiththeglasses)
aaaah a Prisma Illya...she’s got such a cute head, I want her head so bad.
But not as much as I want Arle’s head...and this repainted one was so adorable ;_;
A Musunde Hiraite Rasetsu to Mukuro Miku! Very very cool.
A Cirno and a Kudo too? What is this, MDDs Torino wants and can probably never have day?
There’s this one guy who goes to every doll event with a giant suitcase full of Azone50s, I’m pretty sure these are all his.
A nice little Dearmine collection!
The little blue kitty is one of my fave Dearmine dolls...
Two very cute DearPets!
I-Doll is organized by the same people that organize a ‘hand-made’ fair called Hand Art Marche, and its typically on the same day close by. During I-Doll in Tokyo, Hand Art Marche is usually also at Big Sight but in a different hall with a separate entry fee. Since Fukuoka’s one is smaller, they put both I-Doll and Hand Art Marche in the same hall, and a ticket for one gets you free entry to the other. I didn’t take any other photos except for this one but they always have a lot of interesting crafts and stuff there - and there’s usually a bit of overlap between the doll and craft people.
Anyway, that was I-Doll Fukuoka 8! It was a little smaller than previously, which worked out well because I spent so much at Dearmine. I’d like to see I-Doll Fukuoka get more companies to visit in future!
In Mob Puz’ new event, as same as the traditional occasion that is currently happening in Japan, we are joining their girl’s celebration that is Doll event or also known as Hina Matsuri. I already shared a post about it just a few days ago about how the dolls are placed in a step altar. Now, considering we have 5 new limited characters from Mob Psycho 100 as dolls as shown already, I figured out where to place them based from the blog sources I found. I also included the others that aren’t mentioned based from my creative imagination of my mind. I’m also looking forward for a step altar fanart that is arranged traditionally according to Japanese culture and customs by looking at the following information below. Let’s say this is a challenge for all artists out there
Now, going down to the Hina-Ningyo placements using the Mob Psycho 100 characters. In Japan, You can’t just arrange the dolls how you’d like, and wouldn’t you believe it’s actually quite complex. Some additional information that was already been shared/posted but it’s still quite important because of this gorgeous occasion (for girls):
The dolls themselves are usually acquired by the family after the first girl is born; either by inheriting them, as a gift from the grandparents, or by simply purchasing themselves. This custom of putting dolls on display is said to have begun during the Heian period (794-1185), and as such the dolls are all modeled after the hierarchy of the imperial court during that time.
Some Hina-Ningyo displays are very extravagant and elaborate.
Traditionally they are arranged and displayed on a five or seven-tiered stand covered with a red carpet. Sets can range from a few hundred-thousand yen to up in the millions! Although, due to the cost and limited space, it is now common to see smaller versions on display in homes. In fact, today it is most common to only display the very top-tier.
First platform:
The top-tier holds the two most important dolls. These dolls represent the Emperor, called Odari-sama (御内裏様) who is holding a ritual baton, and the Empress, called Ohime-sama (御雛様) who holds a fan. Using MP100 characters, as already showed in the game, the top tier includes Emperor Mob and Empress Teru.
Between them you’ll see an arrangement of two vases of peach blossoms called a sanbo kazari (三方飾) i or in other term known as Momo no hana, and to the outside of the platform there are bonbori (雪洞), paper lanterns decorated with plum blossoms or cherry blossoms which represent the spring season. In traditional arrangements the female is seated at the right side of the male doll, because historically the Empress was always seated to the right side of the Emperor. However, in the 20th century the Empress began to sit on the Emperor’s left side. You’ll find this change has since been incorporated in the modern Hina-Ningyo placements– except in Kyoto where they still place them in the original, traditional position.
Second platform:
In the second tier are the three court ladies, sannin kanjo (三人官女), and each one is holding some form of sake equipment.
From left to right:
Kuwae no choushi (加えの銚子): backup sake-bearer (standing)
Sanpou (三方): sake bearer (seated)
Nagae no choushi (長柄の銚子): long-handled sake-bearer (standing)
Since we don’t have court ladies presented in Mob Puz game, I will be using 3 ladies that are commonly showed in Mob Psycho 100, the left will be Emi, the middle will be Takane Tsubomi and the right will be Mezato Ichi
The accessories placed in between the ladies are called takatsuki (高坏), which are round-topped tables used for serving seasonal sweets. A dinner tray on above image is an image for it.
Third platform
This tier features five male musicians, gonin bayashi (五人囃子). Each one holds a musical instrument besides the singer, who holds a fan.
From left to the right:
Taiko (太鼓) drummer (seated)
Otsuzumi (大鼓) drummer (standing)
Kotsuzumi (小鼓) drummer (standing)
Fue (笛) or Yokobue (横笛) flautist (seated)
Utaikata (謡い方), the singer (seated)
I will be using the 4/5 members of the Telepathy club as a dolls for this platform:
From left to right:
Drummer (seated) - Inugawa
Drummer (standing) - Kijibayashi
Drummer (standing) - Saruta
Flautist (seated) - Takenaka
Singer (seated) - Kurata Tome
Fourth Platform:
The fourth tier displays two ministers (大臣, daijin), who are usually equipped with bow and arrows.
Udaijin (右大臣): The Minister of the Right, who is on the left side.
Sadaijin (左大臣): The Minister of the Left, who is portrayed as much older with a long white beard.
The Minister of the Right is depicted as a young person, while the Minister of the Left is much older.. Also, because the dolls are placed in positions relative to each other, the Minister of the Right will be on the viewer's left and the Minister of the Left will be on the viewer's right. Both are sometimes equipped with bows and arrows. Between the two figures are covered bowl tables kakebanzen (掛盤膳?), also referred to as o-zen (お膳?), as well as diamond-shaped stands hishidai (菱台?) bearing diamond-shaped ricecakes hishimochi (菱餅?). Hishidai with feline-shaped legs are known as nekoashigata hishidai (猫足形菱台?).
I will be using 3 characters that are already shown in the Mob Puz game, the MInister on the Right is Udaijin Ritsu, the Minister on the left is Sadaijin Reigen and Diamond shaped rice cakes whom is Hishimochi Dimple
Fifth Platform:
The fifth tier holds the three samurai protectors of the Emperor and Empress.From left to right:
Nakijogo (泣き上戸): the maudlin drinker
Okorijogo (怒り上戸): the cantankerous drinker
Waraijogo (笑い上戸): the merry drinker
On the leftmost side there is a mandarin orange tree (ukon no tachibana 右近の橘), and one the rightmost is a cherry blossom tree (sakon no sakura 左近の桜).
I will be using 3 guys from Body Improvement Club as the protectors of the Emperor and Empress.You are free to choose whoever from the 5 will be the 3 protectors on this platform since in the manga and anime, it’s also their duty and responsibility to look after their member whom is considered as one of their family like Mob. Goda Musashi must be included as one of the 3 here since like guys from BIC, he’s a really reliable president and of course a friend too.
Sixth Platform:
There are actually no dolls on the sixth tier, and instead used to display a variety of miniature items that can be found within the imperial palace. Common items include:
Nagamochi (長持): a long chest used for kimono storage
Kyodai (鏡台): a chest of drawers with a small mirror on top
Tansu (箪笥): a chest of usually five drawers
Hasamibako (挟箱): a small box used for storing clothes, it’s placed on top of the nagamochi
Daisu (台子): utensils for a tea ceremony
Haribako (針箱): a sewing kit box
Hibachi (火鉢): two braziers
Seventh Platform:
Like the sixth platform, this level also contains no dolls. These items however are all things that can be found outside the imperial palace. Some common items are:
Jubako (重箱): a set of lacquered food boxes tied together by a cord with a handle
Goshoguruma (御所車): a carriage pulled by an ox
Gokago (御駕籠): a palanquin
So there, I hope to see this in one of your fanart soon. Take it as a request from me but I’m not rushing anything so you are free to use your time whenever you want. Just in case you’ve finished it, please feel free to share your arts in fanart category of our discord server. Please be followed of the pinned rules over there
Web/Blog sources: Japan Travel in Translation, Japanese dolls tumblr blog and Wikipedia
My friend was running a craft workshop at the event so I thought, why not go along? Other than one guy with a Dollfie Dream, my girls stood out as being way bigger than all the other dolls! A blessing in disguise, as all the vendors were the wrong scale for me and I didn't spend much. The theme was 80s so I had a great time going around with my camera, but mostly I hung around the craft table and had a relaxed day.
