Mariko From Japan

''"Konnichi Wa! I am Mariko from Japan!" '' Personality

Mariko is a shy, delicate, and respectful Japanese girl. Yet, she is proud of her city Kyoto. She loves to teach her GlobalFriends about Japan! She is considered earnest, graceful, and generous. She also enjoys figure skating and is really good at it. Mariko is a member of the GlobalFriends Club. The club consists of girls all over the world who write letters or send emails to each other as pen pals. The Global Friends often help each other on their adventures, solving mysteries and also learning from each other about different cultures and customs.

Description

Mariko is Asian and has a dark hair cut in a short bob. She is described by her friends as a beautiful Japanese girl. Her basic doll outfit comes with a blue floral kimono.

Family/Friends

Hiroshi: Mariko's older brother

Okasan: Mariko's respected mother.

Otosan: Mariko's respected father.

Aunt

Uncle

Meko Nakamura (Ojisama): Mariko's grandmother who gives her the infamous Hina Matsuri dolls.

Keko Nakamura: Mariko's great-grandmother who was a dancer in Emperor Hirohito's court from the 1920s to the 1940s.

GlobalFriends Pen Pal: Jody (USA), Gretchen (Germany)

Books

The Missing Japanese Festival Dolls (1997)  Jody is enjoying visiting her GlobalFriend Mariko in Japan for the first time. She is learning all about Kyoto from her friend Mariko, as they visit shops, watch Kabuki performances, visit Buddhist temples, sacred waterfalls, and even a Noh theater! During this time is the treasured Hina Matsuri doll festival in honor of girls. This year Hina Matsuri is especially special because her grandmother (ojisama) has given her the famous Japanese dolls from her great grandmother, said to be beautiful in appearance. But when the dolls are unpacked they look nothing like they are described which leads Mariko, Jody, and Mariko's brother Hiroshi to search for the truth behind the dolls.

Mariko is also one of the main characters in The Ghostly German Castle (1997) book.