1) What is Daruma?
Daruma dolls are treasured in Japanese culture. Japanese Daruma is usually depicted as a small, round, red doll with one black eye and one white eye.
What exactly does Daruma mean? Why is it so important in Japanese culture? Here is an introduction.
Daruma dolls are displayed with great care as a good luck charm. Before decorating Daruma dolls, people decide what they want or what their goal is, then paint one of the eyes with paint and write their wish.
It is generally considered good luck to paint from the left eye. It is believed that painting from the left eye symbolizes success and the fulfillment of one's wish.
It is not wrong to paint from the right eye, but the traditional way is to start from the left eye. Then, when the wish is fulfilled, the daruma is completed by applying paint to the other eye.
2) Why is the Daruma doll shaped like this?
ーDaruma shape
One of the most popular theories is that Daruma dolls are imitations of the figure of the founder of Zen, Master Daruma.
It is said that in the posture in which the great Zen master Daruma devoted himself to the practice of Zen meditation, often only his torso was visible. For this reason, Daruma dolls are now depicted with only the torso.
The kanji character under the Daruma doll is "Fukuiri（福入）". It means "luck" or "inviting luck". This kanji is sometimes depicted on the bottom or body of Daruma dolls as a symbol of happiness and prosperity.
Daruma dolls do more than just make wishes. The true meaning of Daruma is to remind one of one's perseverance, concentration, and discipline.
Meaning of "達": "Datsu (da) means "to accomplish" or "to achieve. Daruma dolls are meant to symbolize the fulfillment of wishes and goals.It is a promise to the self-poet that by painting the first coat, he will fulfill his wish, and by painting the second coat, he will achieve his goal.
ーDaruma color
Red (Aka-daruma): The most common and popular color, it is used to pray for wishes and the attainment of goals. Red is considered the color of happiness and good fortune, and is often associated with prosperity, family security, and good health.White (Shiro-daruma): White symbolizes cleanliness and purity, new beginnings, and the desire to succeed. White Daruma is often used to mark a new stage or change, especially a marriage, the birth of a child, or the start of a new business venture.
Yellow (Yellow Daruma):Yellow symbolizes money and fortune and is used to pray for prosperity and the expansion of a successful business. Yellow can also represent wisdom and academic success.
Green (Green Daruma):Green symbolizes growth and health, and is sometimes used to pray for health and safety. Green can also signify abundance and the bounty of nature, and is used to pray for success in farming and harvesting.
Blue (Blue Daruma): Blue symbolizes peace, stability, and security, and is used to pray for safety and emotional stability. Blue can also signify academic achievement and the acquisition of knowledge.
ーWhat are the letters written under the Daruma's body?
The kanji character under the Daruma doll is "Fukuiri（福入）". It means "luck" or "inviting luck". This kanji is sometimes depicted on the bottom or body of Daruma dolls as a symbol of happiness and prosperity.
Daruma dolls do more than just make wishes. The true meaning of Daruma is to remind one of one's perseverance, concentration, and discipline.
Meaning of "達": "Datsu (da) means "to accomplish" or "to achieve. Daruma dolls are meant to symbolize the fulfillment of wishes and goals.It is a promise to the self-poet that by painting the first coat, he will fulfill his wish, and by painting the second coat, he will achieve his goal.
The meaning of "磨":"Ma means to polish or refine.The Daruma doll is said to symbolize spiritual refinement and discipline, as it resembles the image of the great Zen master Daruma in his Zen meditation practice.
Meaning of "mute":It is also interpreted to mean mute or silent, since Daruma dolls have no mouths. This mute nature expresses a quiet attitude toward one's goals and sincerity.
While portable talismans are popular in Japan, Daruma dolls are fixed talismans and Daruma dolls are displayed in a fixed position. It is a symbol of encouragement and inspiration.
Daruma symbolizes the strength to get up even after falling down. Because of its posture, it is also used as a symbol to encourage the spirit to face difficulties and move toward one's goals without giving up. By looking at Daruma, we can gain encouragement and inspiration.
A common Japanese saying is "seven falls, eight rises, seven falls, eight rises. When you have a goal, you may feel like giving up or quitting, but by displaying Daruma dolls, you are constantly reminded of what you originally wanted and why you made that promise in the first place.
3) Daruma in popular culture
Daruma dolls play an important role in many aspects of Japanese culture, including wishes and goal achievement, prayers for business prosperity and success, seasonal and traditional events, and the expression of creativity and art.
There are also fun games with children, some examples of which are listed below.
ーDaruma-otoshi
This is a traditional Japanese game that uses a large Daruma doll. Participants take turns removing the round platform from under the Daruma doll, and the winner is the one who removes the platform without toppling the Daruma doll. 
ーDaruma-san Koronda
This is a popular game among Japanese children.The person in front shouts "Daruma-san Koronda!" and turns around to see that the children behind him are standing still.
The person in the back approaches the person in front while shouting, and turns around while shouting, " Daruma-san koronda ! "
If the children in the back cannot stand still and move, the person in the front wins, and if the person in the back can touch the person in the front, the person in the back wins.
ーDrawing Daruma
Kids can create their own Daruma by drawing and making Daruma dolls. Through colorful drawings and handmade Daruma dolls, children can exercise their creativity and imagination.
ーMaking Daruma-shaped candies
Making Daruma-shaped candies is another fun activity for children. Using clay or cookie dough, children can make Daruma dolls and decorate them to create their own Daruma doll.
4) Where are Daruma dolls made?
Most Daruma dolls are made in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture.
The beginning of Daruma doll production in Takasaki City dates back to the Edo period. Although there are various theories as to when exactly it began, Daruma doll production in Takasaki City is said to have a history of over 300 years.
According to a popular theory, Daruma production began in the Takasaki area around the middle of the Edo period (around the 18th century). It is believed that local craftsmen began making Daruma dolls at that time, and the practice gradually spread.
One of the reasons why Takasaki City developed as a Daruma production center is due to the rich pottery techniques and materials in the area. The fact that Daruma dolls were widely used as lucky charms to pray for business prosperity and family safety also contributed to the development of the city as a production center.
5) What is the process of making Daruma dolls?
Preparation of clay or paper paste. Traditional Daruma dolls are usually made of clay, but alternative materials such as paper paste are also used.
Prepare paints or colors such as red, white, and yellow. Roll the clay to form the body of the daruma doll. Traditional Daruma dolls have a round body with a slightly flattened head at the top. Paint the face of the Daruma doll with white paint.
When dry, use black paint to paint the eyes, nose, mouth, and other facial features. Traditional Daruma dolls are usually painted with round eyes and a blank expression.
Red color is used to paint the body part of the Daruma doll. Red is the traditional Daruma color and symbolizes happiness and prosperity.
Other colors of paint can be used for decoration as needed. For example, a yellow or green pattern can be painted in prominent areas.
When the work is complete, allow the uma to dry thoroughly. This can take from several hours to several days.
Traditional Daruma dolls are usually made by hand and finished with great care. Japanese craftsmen carefully and thoughtfully make each Daruma so that people's wishes and goals will come true.