Welcome to the Hotaru website!

By choosing a card from Hotaru, you have three excellent reasons to pat yourself on the back for:

First you will be sending a lovely card to your friends or family, which has been completely handmade by myself with great care and love. The traditional Japanese paper dolls, also called washi ningyo (paper dolls) or shiori ningyo (bookmark dolls), are patiently cut, folded and pasted one by one which enables me to perfect the details at every stage. The finished doll is a delicate and elegant figure, wearing a beautifully patterned kimono. They are sure to charm your friends and family, unless you prefer to collect them yourself!

It is important to me to offer eco friendly paper products. So, by choosing Hotaru, you are doing your bit for the planet. This card is made of recycled materials*: the card itself is recycled as well as the envelope. The display bag and the little sealer at the back are both made of biodegradable potato-starch plastic. The face and the neck of the paper doll are made of reused cardboard. Any printed text material, like the little note that accompanies the card is printed on recycled paper.

Finally, you should know that all proceeds go towards the living expenses and university fees for a family of four people living in Uganda and who currently do not have the means to support themselves. With the purchase of a card from Hotaru, you are helping people in need as well as helping the planet. Thank you on their behalf too!