Make Darumas

Darumas are a very famous and well-loved toy in Japan. The name is short for Bodhidharma who was a Buddhist priest from India in the sixth century. The story is that Bodhidharma meditated and sat on the floor absolutely still for nine years. Because he didn’t move and stayed seated for so long, his legs and arms ceased to work and they wilted away, so Daruma toys do not have arms and legs.

   

Materials:

Balloons
Newspaper
Wheat paste

  1. Blow up oval balloons.
  2. Tear up lots of strips of paper and soak them in wheat paste. Cover the balloon completely with the strips. Let dry.
  3. Add extra layers of strips to the bottom, rounded end. This will give the bottom the extra weight it needs so that the daruma will end up in an upright position.
  4. The daruma is traditionally painted red, the color of the robes worn by the priests. Paint the body and the features on the face. Remember not to paint the eyes yet.
  5. Make a wish and paint one eye. Be patient.
  6. When the wish comes true, paint the other eye.
  7. To play the game, the teacher and students sit in a circle with their legs and arms folded. They sway from side to side in rhythm and chant in unison:
Daruma-san, Daruma-san Mr. Daruma, Mr. Daruma
Nira miko shimasho Let us stare at each other
Warattara dame yo You had better not laugh
Ichi ni san shi go One, two, three, four, five