by Nicola, staff writer of japan-guide.com
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In early January, Takasaki's Shorinzan Temple hosts Japan's largest daruma market on January 6th and 7th. The fun, all night event is a popular start to the new year. Last Tuesday, I ventured out to the market to find a new daruma doll of my own.
Takasaki's market is not the only place to buy daruma. They are available all over Japan and all year round. However, Takasaki is the country's largest daruma producer, and the market is certainly the biggest daruma event. At a similar, (though smaller) market last year, I picked up my first daruma and I have since bought about a dozen as they make nice gifts and fun souvenirs.
Daruma are round and hollow, with large faces. They are based on the founder of Zen Buddhism, and usually coloured red, though other colours are common too. The most important thing about daruma, is that when bought, they have no pupils. The daruma owner is supposed to colour in one eye and make a wish. At the end of the year, or when the wish comes true, the other eye gets coloured in.
One of the best part about the daruma market is that all of last year's daruma are brought back to the temple where they are burned! I was hoping to see a big daruma bonfire, but given the number of people at Shorinzan Temple on Tuesday night, its probably better that I was disappointed.
Tuesday night's market was absolutely packed. I spent about 30 minutes in line just waiting to hand over my old two-eyed daruma and enter the market. But it was a lot of fun nonetheless, and the crowds just added to the lively, friendly market atmosphere.
The market is very large, and has lots going on besides daruma to keep everyone interested and happy. Every kind of festival food imaginable is on sale, along with toys and arcade style stalls for kids, and plenty of alcohol for adults.
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