Daruma
Akabeko DARUMA
$11.00
A handcrafted Shirakawa Daruma — hand-painted in Fukushima, no two faces alike.
Akabeko Daruma. A playful fusion — the traditional Shirakawa daruma wearing the red cow (akabeko) spirit of Aizu. Two of Fukushima's oldest folk traditions in a single face.
- Size: 8.5cm H × 8cm W
- Material: Washi paper, hand-painted watercolors
- Origin: Handmade in Shirakawa, Fukushima, Japan
The design. The face of a Shirakawa Daruma brings together five auspicious symbols — crane (long life), turtle (perseverance), pine (resilience), bamboo (growth), and plum (hope) — gathered into a single gaze. The composition is attributed to the master painter Tani Bunchō.
Making a wish. Paint the left eye to make a wish. When the wish comes true, paint the right eye to complete the ritual. Until then, the daruma watches over you.