This pink Daruma doll is a handcrafted piece by Yoshida Daruma (吉田だるま), a renowned producer based in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture—the heartland of traditional Daruma-making in Japan. Known for their meticulous craftsmanship, Yoshida Daruma creates each piece with care and attention to both tradition and innovation.
Painted in a soft pastel pink, this Daruma bears a bold and expressive face with golden eyebrows and beard strokes, as well as the kanji character 福 (fuku), meaning “good fortune” or “happiness,” written in gold across the chest. The pink coloration symbolizes gentle wishes such as love, happiness, and emotional healing, making this Daruma especially popular as a gift for women, romantic blessings, or family well-being.
The accompanying booklet explains the traditional Daruma eye-painting ritual: when making a wish or setting a goal, the user paints in the left eye. Once the wish is fulfilled, the right eye is filled in as a sign of gratitude and completion. The Daruma’s rounded shape, which rights itself when tilted, represents resilience and the Japanese proverb “七転び八起き (nanakorobi yaoki)”—fall down seven times, get up eight.
