Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Japan (29–30 August) for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit, was presented with a Daruma doll on Friday.
The gift was handed over by Rev Seishi Hirose, Chief Priest of the Darumji Temple.
The Daruma doll, a well-known Japanese cultural symbol, is inspired by Bodhidharma, the Indian monk who founded Zen Buddhism. It is seen as a token of perseverance and good fortune, often linked to goal-setting and achievement.
Unlike regular figurines, Daruma dolls are hollow, painted in bright shades such as red and gold, and stand out for their round shape without limbs or eyes.
The connection with India is significant. Bodhidharma, originally from Kancheepuram, is revered in Japan as Daruma Daishi.
Legend says he meditated facing a wall for nine years with folded limbs, which explains the doll’s unique appearance.
Traditionally, people paint one eye of the doll while making a wish or setting a goal. Once the goal is achieved, the second eye is painted to mark success. The doll, therefore, carries the message of resilience and determination.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi held meetings with former Japanese Prime Ministers Yoshihide Suga and Fumio Kishida. He also addressed the India-Japan Economic Forum in Tokyo, where he highlighted opportunities for cooperation in manufacturing, technology, green energy, innovation, and skill development.
PM Modi stressed, “The world is not just watching India, but also counting on it.”
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