Press Kit

For journalists, editors, and producers covering Japanese craft, Fukushima recovery, multigenerational businesses, or international e-commerce.

Quick Facts

  • Founded: 1783 (Tenmei 3) — predates U.S. independence by 7 years
  • Generations: 14 (and counting)
  • Location: Shirakawa, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
  • Current head: Takaaki Watanabe (14th generation)
  • Annual production: ~50,000 hand-painted daruma
  • International launch: 2026 — first time selling globally in 240 years
  • Languages served: English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
  • Notable collaborations: Tyrol Chocolate, JR Shinkansen Lines

What We Do

We hand-paint Shirakawa Daruma — Japanese good luck charms — using the same techniques our family has practiced since the late Edo period. Every face is brushed by master craftsmen. No two are identical.

Our daruma carry five hidden auspicious symbols (crane eyebrows for longevity, turtle beard for wisdom, pine cheeks for strength, bamboo wrinkles for resilience, plum brow for renewal) — a Shirakawa-specific tradition that distinguishes our region from others.

Story Angles for Coverage

1. The 14th Generation Question

Most regional daruma workshops in Japan have closed in the last 50 years. Why some survive — and what made the current head (Takaaki Watanabe) decide to stay rather than leave for Tokyo — is a story about the realistic future of traditional crafts.

2. Post-2011 Recovery

Fukushima has been recovering for over a decade. Our international launch is part of how the region rebuilds — both economically and in cultural visibility. Fukushima as a producer of beautiful things, not just a place a disaster happened.

3. Modern Brand Collaborations

We've collaborated with Tyrol Chocolate (limited edition akabeko) and JR East's Shinkansen lines (train-themed lucky charms). These are case studies in how Edo-period crafts adapt to contemporary commercial channels.

4. The Five Hidden Symbols

Every Shirakawa Daruma's face contains five symbols (crane, turtle, pine, bamboo, plum) — the most powerful auspicious combination in Japanese folklore. Most international observers have never noticed them. They make for striking close-up photography.

5. International E-Commerce of a 240-Year-Domestic Business

For 240 years, we sold only domestically. The decision to enter international markets in 2026 — and how a small workshop navigates Shopify, Etsy, Pinterest, TikTok — is a snapshot of how Japan's regional crafts are entering global commerce.

Available for Interview

Takaaki Watanabe, 14th generation owner. Available by:

  • Email (primary): takaaki-watanabe@hanjiro.co.jp
  • Video call (Zoom or Google Meet)
  • In-studio interview (Shirakawa, Fukushima — 90 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen)
  • Photo & video shoot at the workshop, by appointment

Languages: Japanese (native). English (conversational, with translation support if needed).

Photo & Video Assets

High-resolution images available on request, free of charge for editorial use:

  • 14th generation portrait (in studio, painting bench)
  • The painting hall (rows of drying daruma)
  • Hands painting a daruma face (close-up brush work)
  • Completed daruma collection (color variations)
  • Workshop exterior, Shirakawa, Fukushima
  • Tyrol × Akabeko collaboration product shots
  • Family lineage materials (older photos available)

For high-resolution downloads, please email: takaaki-watanabe@hanjiro.co.jp

Past Coverage

Available on request — selected Japanese media features (NHK, regional press) translated to English upon inquiry.

Sample Daruma for Review

Press representatives may request a complimentary daruma for editorial review. Please email with publication name and shipping address.

Brand Assets

  • Logo: Available in PNG, SVG (light and dark versions)
  • Brand colors: Daruma Red (#C9302C), Gold (#B7935A), Cream (#F4EFE2)
  • Press kit PDF: One-page overview, available on request

Contact

Press inquiries: takaaki-watanabe@hanjiro.co.jp
Subject line preference: "Press: [Outlet name] — [topic]"
Response time: Within 24 hours, M-F (Japan time)

Quotes from Takaaki Watanabe (free to use)

"My grandfather painted these. So did his father. And his father. I almost didn't continue — Tokyo had cooler jobs. But there's something about painting a face every day, knowing someone, somewhere in the world, will paint an eye on it and remember they have a goal. That's why I'm still here."

"For 240 years, we've been making daruma for our neighbors. Now we're making them for the world. The face is the same. The wishes are universal."

"A daruma is not a decoration. It's a contract you make with yourself. The first eye is the commitment. The second is the celebration."