There are many iconic images that represent Japan. Some of these are quite famous around the world — Mt. Fuji, or the “floating Japanese arch” of Miyajima — while other images, like the “Aka-beko” or red cow of Northern Japan, are less famous. Another image of Japan that might not be universally recognizable are those red, round Daruma dolls. A Daruma is a representation of Bodhidharma, a historical figure from India who founded Zen Buddhism and (according to some) what would become Kung Fu, and who attained his unique shape by fasting and meditating for so long that his arms and legs disappeared. Like Japan’s Lucky Cat, which beckons good fortune into your home or business, a Daruma is an object that promises to bring you good luck. The doll originally comes with no eyes drawn in, and when you make a wish or set a personal goal, you blacken one of the eyes with ink. If your wish comes true, you color in the other eye, and a Daruma displayed in a home or business with both eyes colored in is a statement of having attained success.
