Our Little Dumpling Turns One! A Sweet, Simple First Birthday in Japan
When it came time to celebrate our daughter’s first birthday, life looked a little different than expected. We had just moved to Japan, and with family thousands of miles away, we decided to keep things intimate and intentional—just our little trio, celebrating one very big milestone.
When our daughter was just 3 months old, we took her on her very first outing to Chinatown in Yokohama. It became one of my favorite places almost instantly—colorful, flavorful, and full of charm. As a foodie and huge fan of Houtenkaku's famous soup dumplings (if you know, you know), the idea for her birthday theme came naturally:
A sweet “Little Dumpling” party with kawaii vibes and heartfelt details.
One of my favorite moments was hopping on the train to Ebina to visit the cutest little flower shop tucked around the corner from the 7-Eleven inside the station. There's something I really admire about Japanese culture—especially their attention to detail and quality. The way they carefully wrap your flowers, how they only give you the best stems... it’s art.
With a fresh bouquet in hand and a happy heart, I boarded the train back home, ready to bring this tiny celebration to life.
Earlier that year, I had visited Kitchen Street (Kappabashi)—a dream come true for any home baker or chef. While wandering through the shop-lined street, I picked up a few dumpling steamer baskets, already dreaming of how they’d anchor the design for her first birthday.
I ordered a few small pieces on Etsy—
A high chair banner -
Dumpling garlands -
A cake topper -
Birthday Onsie -
Party Hat -
I also pulled out some blush pink napkins I had left over from a past shoot and found a set of cute glass tumblers that had been hiding in a box (from some long-forgotten project). With just a few balloons, a stuffed friend or two, the space felt just right.
Every month, we had been taking milestone photos of our daughter. One of the best parts of living in Japan? You can print anything at your local 7-Eleven, in amazing quality and at the push of a button. So we printed out her “month-by-month” photos to display—a visual walk through her first year.
We didn’t spend a lot. We didn’t go over-the-top. There were no crowds or fancy props. But with family watching on Facebook Live, balloons floating in the air, and our happy girl in her birthday hat, it was everything I could’ve hoped for and more.
This little celebration was a beautiful reminder that you don’t need big budgets or Pinterest-perfect setups to create magic. Just love, intention, and a few well-chosen details.
Here’s to our little dumpling’s First of Many. 🥟💕
Photography by: Alta Velasco