Mihara City

If you’ve spent some time in Japan, you’ve probably come across more than a few of those small, round, brightly colored dolls that sit on shelves and stare at you from one or two white eyes. A bit unsettling at first, these legless, armless, “daruma” dolls are quite charming when their significance is considered. daruma dolls, also known as dharma dolls, are modeled after the founder of Zen Buddhism, and they have become coveted talismans of good luck in Japanese households. In addition to being good luck charms, the dolls also serve as reminders to remain steadfast and determined in pursuit of your goals. Their round, hollow design allows for these dolls to rock back upright if they happen to be knocked over; a physical embodiment of the famous proverb, “fall down seven times, stand up eight.” Like many Japanese traditions involving good fortune, daruma dolls have their own exclusive, annual, celebratory event. In the early months of each year, daruma festivals are held in multiple cities across Japan, where people can buy their dolls for the new year. Traditionally, the dolls are sold with two white eyes, and once purchased, one of the eyes is painted black, and a…