群馬県·工芸品
Takasaki Daruma
With gold lettering for 'business prosperity' and 'success in exams' on both shoulders, the Takasaki Daruma waits for wishes with its wide-eyed gaze. Its national market share reaches a staggering 80%. Its origins lie in the Toyooka district of Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture. It is said to have begun about 210 years ago when Yamagata Yugoro started making papier-mâché Daruma. A key feature is that its face is filled with good omens, with eyebrows shaped like 'cranes' and whiskers modeled after 'turtles.' In 1993, it was designated as a traditional local craft of Gunma Prefecture. Every election and exam season, orders for these Daruma arrive from all over the country. It is a souvenir that allows you to hold the entire experience of prayer in your hands—making one eye when you make a wish, and completing the second eye once it comes true.
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