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Daruma dolls are very popular in Japan. There
are various stories about Daruma. The one
I like best is, that Daruma was supposed
to have been a South Indian monk (look at
his moustaches and whiskers) who lived in
China. When he expressed his wish to return
to his native country the reigning emperor
who came to rely on Daruma for his advice,
ordered Daruma's legs to be cut-off so that
he may not return.
Daruma dolls are the basis of a belief in
Japan, that when you embark on a project,
or mission you start-off with a Daruma doll
with one eye painted. When you succeed in
your mission, you paint the other eye. Very
popular around election time.
This picture you see in my pages were taken
from http://www.sphere.ad.jp/takasaki/ENG-DARUMA/ENG-DARUMA-INDEX.html . I made it wink using animation. I am requesting permission
to continue using it. If I do not get permission,
alas, it has to go....Jay