Oct 23, 2013 - 1 min read

Daruma No Furusato Daimonya

Paint the whiskers on your own Daruma doll

By Aline Laborde

Community writer

The mounds of Daruma dolls completed

You'll see towers of Daruma dolls as you enter the factory

Norita-san giving a demonstration

The blank Daruma doll faces ready to be painted by Norita-san

I chose a pink Daruma doll with the kanji: grant wish (kanau)叶

Thinking hard of my wish, I sit down at my work table ready to begin

My finished attempt. I tried to model the whiskers to the Daruma to the left

Drying it with a hair dryer in case I smudge the paint with my fingers

Don't forget to paint the Daruma's left eye for your wish!

Near Takasaki Station lies Daruma No Furusato Daimonya, a small factory for handmade Daruma. From Metropolitan Hotel, catch the JR bus heading to Shorinzan Temple at bus stop 4, and then a 10 minute walk. Here you will meet Norita-san, a man who has painted Daruma for 40 years. Choose your own Daruma in green, pink, blue or purple. On these Daruma are different Kanji. Daruma sold in stores have the symbol for prosperity (fuku), but here, they are tailored to what you really want: happiness (shiawase), grant wish (kanau), victory (hissho), and pass exam (kogaku). Although not as pretty as Norita-san’s, if you work hard and think deeply of your wish, it will hold more meaning than a Daruma you buy at the store.

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Aline Laborde

By Aline Laborde

Community writer

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Kim Bergström

Kim Bergström 4 years ago

I love hands-on experiences like these!

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Elena Lisina

Elena Lisina 5 years ago

As a doll artist, I'd like to paint my own Daruma!

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Bronwyn O'Neill

Bronwyn O'Neill 7 years ago

Great photos, looks like a fantastic activity!

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