Do you know the secret behind the face? Shirakawa Daruma

  • Fukushima
  • Souvenirs
The Shirakawa Daruma doll was created as a lucky charm to bring good luck by Sadanobu Matsudaira, famous for his Kansei Reforms, in the hope of "making the lives of citizens more cheerful. The most distinctive feature is the depiction of "cranes, turtles, pine trees, bamboo, and plum" in the face, which is considered a symbol of good fortune. The eyebrows represent the crane, the ear beard (mustache) the pine and plum, the beard the tortoise, and the chin beard the bamboo. They continue to be familiar good luck charms for family health, company prosperity, and success in high school and college. When making a wish, place an eye in the Daruma's left eye, and if it is fulfilled, place the right eye. Daruma dolls range in size from small to extra-large, so if you have a wish, why not make a wish for a Daruma doll? By the way, even if you don't have a wish, it is said that putting both eyes in will ward off bad luck.
Photos used in this page are taken from Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization.
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