They're not toys, nor are they limited to merely serving as exclusive collectors' items. Japanese dolls, known as Nihon Ningyō, make for lifelong partners to their owners, keeping them safe from harm and offering a constant connection to the spiritual realm. It is believed that these dolls—most often representing empresses, samurai daughters, town girls, geishas, and other important Japanese figures—each have a soul of their own (not to mention some incredible fashion sense). The museum has gathered an impressive collection of these dolls along with their male counterparts for the purpose of this exhibit, which offers insight into the stuff Japanese legends are made of. It's no coincidence that the exhibit starts on 3 March, which is an important day in Japan known as Hinamatsuri, AKA Girls' Day and Doll's Day, all rolled into one.