3 min readNew DelhiAug 29, 2025 08:17 PM IST
First published on: Aug 29, 2025 at 04:52 PM IST
On the inaugural day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan, Rev Seishi Hirose, chief priest of the Daruma-ji temple, presented him with a Daruma Doll — an iconic cultural symbol of Japan.
These dolls, considered a lucky charm in the country, vary in height from a couple of inches to several feet.
The doll
The Daruma is a traditional Japanese wish doll, which is typically made of papier-mâché. It is modelled after Bodhidharma, the 5th-century founder of Zen Buddhism. The doll is considered a symbol of perseverance and good luck, often used to represent setting and achieving goals, according to the Japanese website daruma.jp.
Traditionally, people colour one eye of the doll after setting a personal goal. If the wish is fulfilled, the other eye is coloured. The practice symbolises the virtue of not giving up.
The doll’s distinctive rounded bottom allows it to pop back up when tipped over, reflecting the saying, “Fall seven times, stand up eight”.
Its connection with India
The Daruma symbolises meditation of Bodhidharma, an Indian monk from Kancheepuram, known in Japan as Daruma Daishi. It is believed that Bodhidharma meditated for nine years continuously, facing a wall, with his limbs folded. This belief explains the Daruma doll’s peculiar, rounded shape with no limbs and no eyes. Bodhidharma is said to have meditated in a cave in Henan Province, China, after travelling there from India.
Furthermore, “Daruma” is a derivative of the Sanskrit word Dharma, which has no direct equivalent in Japanese or Chinese.
The temple
Shorinzan Darumaji Temple in Takasaki, Gunma, built in 1697, is considered the place of origin of Daruma. The temple houses huge piles of Daruma Dolls. Takasaki is also one of the largest producers of Daruma dolls in Japan. For over 1,000 years, the temple has been associated with success and victory, with many emperors and shoguns visiting for blessings. Today, locals frequently visit before exams or important business meetings.
Rev Seishi Hirose has served as the Chief Priest of Daruma-ji Temple, Takasaki, since 1981. He graduated from the Department of Buddhism, Komazawa University, and trained at the Zen Hall of the Manpukuji Temple, Kyoto, which belongs to the Obaku sect of Zen Buddhism. He also visited India on a private trip 40 years ago
The Daruma symbolises meditation of Bodhidharma, an Indian monk from Kancheepuram, known in Japan as Daruma Daishi. (Photo: X/@MEAIndia) 
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