Ann Braaten, associate professor of practice in the Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Interior Design and Hospitality Management, is scheduled to give a presentation during a Northern Plains Botanic Garden Society Hina Doll Collection display on Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Fargo Air Museum. The educational event is set to begin at 6 p.m., and will feature Japanese-inspired children’s activities and Braaten’s presentation.

Doll exchanges between Japan and America began in 1927 when each state in America received at least one doll as a sign of friendship between the two countries.

Braaten is curator of NDSU’s Emily Reynolds Historic Costume Collection, which houses Miss Okayama, North Dakota’s 1927 Japanese Friendship Doll. She is set to discuss Hina Matsuri, a girls' festival in Japan, during which Hina Doll sets are displayed to honor the happy, healthy growth of girls.

At the start of the Feb. 27 event, children and adults can try putting a paintbrush to paper to write their name in hiragana, one of three distinct alphabets in the Japanese language. At 6:30 p.m., society president Vern Hunter is scheduled to give an introduction, followed by Braaten’s talk at 6:45 p.m.

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