Paint your own daruma!
”Homeland of daruma, Daimonya”

Takasaki is the top ”Daruma City” in Japan

”Takasaki Daruma”once called ”Toyooka Daruma,” is very popular in Japan. We often see elected politicians painting black eyes on ”daruma” dolls in TV news. Almost all the ”daruma” that are used for such occasions are the ”Takasaki Daruma”, because Gunma has the majority market share in ”daruma” production. That is why it is called the town of ”daruma”.

”Homeland of Daruma, Daimonya” is an established ”daruma” company with 200 years of history. In addition to traditional ”daruma,” they also create colored ”daruma” in colors such as pink, purple and other colors, as well as customized ones. In 2010, the company produced the blue ”daruma” to pray for the victory of the Samurai Blue (a nickname for the national soccer team) in the World Cup Tournament.

A yellow ”daruma” to pray for traffic safety!

Entering the production studio, we saw rows and rows of ”daruma” being made. The craftsmen were sandwiched by many ”daruma” dolls while they were painting them.

Here, tourists and visitors can experience painting their own”daruma”. Choose your favorite ”daruma” and paint an eye and mustache as you make your wish. Nakata chose a yellow ”daruma”. He wanted to pray for traffic safety. ”How should I draw it?” he exclaimed as he worked diligently on replicating the sample of a beautifully finished ”daruma” .

とはいえ、お手本は眉毛も髭もお手本はとても立派なので、思うようには進まない。横目で師匠の筆を盗み見ながらようやく描き上げただるまには、「NAKATA」「JAPAN」と名前が入り、なかなか立派な眉毛と髭が付いていた。最後に師匠に緑の文字で「交通安全」の文字を入れていただき、完成。

200年以上も前から、人々の福を見守ってきた高崎だるま。丸々したその姿は「七転八起」。転んでも必ず起き上がるという教えを今に伝える、力強い姿でもあるのだ。