WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE DARUMA DOLL?

THE DARUMA DOLL IS USED AS A TOOL FOR ACHIEVING PERSONAL GOALS OR WISH-MAKING.  JAPANESE PEOPLE BELIEVE, THAT RED COLOUR REPEL EVIL SPIRIT, THATS WHY USUALLY DOLL IS PAINTED RED.

THESE DOLLS ARE MODELED AFTER BODHIDHARMA, THE FOUNDER OF ZEN TRADITION OF BUDDISM.

WHAT IS A DARUMA MADE OF?

DARUMA ARE MADE OF PAPIER - MACHE, PORCELAIN, CERAMICS OR PLASTIC. THE EARLIEST MATERIALS WERE RUBBER AND CELLULOID.

HOW ARE DARUMA DOLLS PAINTED?

THE DARUMA FACE IS PAINTED BY HAND BY CRAFTMAN AT LOCAL ATELIERS, USING A BRUSH.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSER, YOU'LL NOTICE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THICKNESS OF EACH LINE.

THE DESIGN DEPENDS ON A REGION AND ARTIST.

HOW DO YOU MAKE A WISH OR SET A GOAL FOR THE NEW YEAR?

ONCE YOU HAVE BOUGHT THE DARUMA HOLLOW DOLL, YOU PAINT THE LEFT EYE AND MAKE YOUR WISH OR SET A GOAL. 

TRADITIONALLY YOU CAN TAKE ONE DARUMA DOLL FOR YOUR WISH.

IF YOUR WISH COMES TRUE DURING THE NEW YEAR, YOU PAINT THE SECOND RIGHT EYE TO MARK YOUR SUCCESS.

IN ANY CASE, WHETHER YOUR WISH IS COMPLETED OR NOT, YOU MUST BURN THE DARUMA DOLL, THEN TAKE A NEW ONE AND START TO SET A NEW WISH OR CONTINUE ACHIEVING PREVIOUS ONE.