Collection: IMAI DARUMA NAYA

Daruma made entirely by hand in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, where more than 80% of these Japanese lucky charms are produced and is a No.1 producer of Daruma in Japan. Imai Daruma NAYA has a history of over 90 years and third-generation daruma doll maker – Hirohisa Imai – aims to create a mix of daruma dolls with traditional craft and contemporary design.

 

A long-established tradition as well as a symbol for good luck, fortune and perseverance, daruma dolls are modeled after the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma, who is the founder of Zen Buddhism. 

 

Traditionally, the left eye of the Daruma is drawn while making a wish. The second eye should be drawn once the wish has been granted, or one year after the first eye has been drawn. The Daruma is generally put up high, so that it can watch over the home where it is placed.

  

The six lines on the front of Daruma indicate that time passes from the past to the future. On each side of Daruma, the concept of “fall down 7 times, get up 8 times” is written as a mathematical formula.