Ai Otsuka~Love Letter~

Love Letter-7/10

Love Letter-A mellow way to introduce this album, but nonetheless it open the album with a soft feeling, that makes me feel warm. I suprisingly love this song, even though it seems really different from her usual styles, because although it is a balld and like I said about Ai earlier it is her trademark to release beautiful ballads, but this one seems to have more soul. It displays more simplistic way of the piano for her than that of her previous works like Planetarium, Kingyo Hanabi, and Kurage Nagareboshi.

Rocket Sneaker-I don’t enjoy this song too much, mostly because of the fact that it’s not up to par with many of Ai’s single releases and she usually is.

Bye Bye-A sort of cute, more poppy Ai song from this more mellowed out album. It reminisces of the song Biidama, which I love. This song was chosen to be a recut single to be released February 25th. All in all it’s a cute Ai song.

Kurage Nagareboshi-Another beautiful Ai ballad, she never fails when it comes to ballads and they are her forte. It combines sweet blends of vocals, dripping water, and piano melodies that just suck you in.

Ningyo-A mellow ballad that contributes to the best parts of this album, it seems like a lullaby as Ai sings it as if she were soothing a child to sleep. a soft ballad, with sweet vocals from Ai.

Kimi Fetch-Everytime I look at the title of this song I think of kinky things…lol, once again another ballad type song to contribute to this album, but I don’t find it to my liking and therefore it’s one of the more failing parts of this album.

Creamy & Spicy-I’m going to say it…I LOVE THIS SONG! The way she says Creamy, Spicy it’s just absolutely adorable, and makes me laugh, I love Ai!

Do☆Positive-A fun poppy song from Ai again, it’s okay…imo it’s one of those “fillers” but I still like it, so not much to complain about.

360°-This song is absolutely beautiful and the BEST part about this album. I adore this track, it’s like a fantasy type song, and it feels like I’m falling forever when I close my eyes, it really soothes my ears, and relaxes my body.

Shachihata-A bumpy, fun, jazz track! I love Shachihata, it’s adorable with Ai’s scatting, and constant vocalizing, I also love the way she sings the word Shachihata. It’s fun, I didn’t like it at first, but it’s a good track.

One x Time-I love this song, it should have been the leading track from this single, and should have also received a pv, but to much dismay it didn’t .

Pocket-A ballad released as a single back in 2007, it has a wintery theme and feel to it. It’s another love song by Ai, and a brilliant masterpiece, I love the pv as well, displaying the soft features of Ai’s face.

Ai-The ballad the end this album, as I often say, Ai’s ballads are always great. It doesn’t stop in this song, she still has her flare with ballads, and overall this made the album overall what’s so great about it!

All in all this album actually impressed me, even though it differed a lot from her previous solo albums. I hope she continues a style of music like this, but also keeps her older music style as well.

And then, we were there
And you’d done something different with your hair
And then, you drew my eyes again
And I was like, orbital
But losing my spin
And you were like a siren
To a sailor, giving in
And then, you were taking pictures
And I was, well, in stitches
And noticing reverberance
With sibilance and clapping
And then, of course you were dancing
And tapping on my shoulder
And I was soon forgetting
The plotted course and setting
And then, we said a lot of things
I wish we didn’t mean
And you were so soon leaving
And I didn’t mean them anymore
And this heart has stood such beatings
But again this heart was sore
And then, well, I don’t know the end
But I was sitting alone again
And watching distant mermaids
From the incognita shore

September 2008 Derek Wilson

Ningyo 人魚

[fr] Chaque année, quelques semaines avant le 3 mars, les moteurs de recherche frémissent d’interrogations sur l’une des fêtes les plus connues hors du Japon, dite “Fête des poupées” ou “Fête des filles”. C’est le festival dit Hina Matsuri, dont nous avons déjà parlé plusieurs fois : Hina1 — Hina2 — Hina3.

Le mois qui précède le 3e jour du 3e mois est un moment d’attente et de préparation, pendant lequel les petites filles se préparent pour cette fête qui leur est réservée, dite fête des poupées (hina matsuri) ou fête des fleurs de pêcher (momo no sekku). Les fillettes sont vêtues de kimonos et l’exposition des poupées précieuses sur des présentoirs à étages peut occuper une pièce entière, comme en témoigne cette ancienne photographie, extraite des collections numérisées de la New York Public Library (n° 1253761), où plusieurs séries de poupées, représentant le couple impérial et les personnages de la cour de l’ère Heian, sont exposées avec tous leurs accessoires, traditionnellement flanquées de deux arbres en pot : un mandarinier et un cerisier en fleurs. La pièce n’étant pas vue en entier, on imagine d’autres présentoirs vers la droite. On y voit aussi sur la gauche, d’autres poupées, et des raquettes décorées (hagoita) alignées contre le meuble.

Parfois, ce sont de minuscules personnages qui évoquent le couple impérial : l’empereur (お内裏さま, O-Dairi-sama) et l’impératrice (お雛さま, O-Hina-sama), comme dans cette photographie. Dans les livres d’origami, on trouvera aisément des modèles pour l’ensemble des personnages : l’empereur, l’impératrice, les trois dames de cour, les cinq musiciens, les deux ministres, ainsi que pour divers objets (lanternes, accessoires), etc. Le pliage reproduit ici, simplissime, n’en est pas moins ravissant.

On trouve aussi beaucoup de vidéos en ligne sur la fête du 3 mars, dont celle-ci, mise en ligne sur DailyMotion, qui montre l’installation raffinée d’un ensemble à 3 niveaux.

Source images : photos FuroshikiBlog, New York Public Library
———–

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hinamatsuri ningyo cipango japan origami

Since we all know that I am a shameless fanboy and that I will indubitably give this album an A+, I thought that instead I would celebrate the best album of 2008, offically now thanks to the Japan Record Awards, with a short overview of Namie Amuro’s career that spans the length of BEST FICTION.

安室 奈美恵
Amuro Namie
BEST FICTION
July 30, 2008
Oricon
Daily Album Chart: #1 (28+ consecutive days)
Weekly Album Chart: #1 (6 consecutive weeks)
Monthly Album Chart: #1 (August 2008)
Yearly Album Chart: #2
Billboard Japan
Hot 200: #1
Hot 100 Airplay: #6 (Do Me More)
Avex Trax

~~~

Since 2003, Namie Amuro has been putting out arguably some of the best JPop in the industry. Along with fellow label mates Kumi Koda and Ayumi Hamasaki she has released a best of album in the last year. Unlike Kuu or Ayu, she doesn’t do this every other thirty seconds and so this is actually something rather special. BEST FICTION is a perfect end to a new beginning for Amuro, whose career following her messy divorce and custody hearings was on the skids and most had assigned her the heap bin of pop princess has-beens.

Reinventing herself, she released her comeback single, a cover of the ballad Wishing on the Same Star which reached #2 on the Oricon charts. After a slew of mediocre selling singles, most of which were only slightly better than mediocre musically, she released her first album since 2000’s Break the Rules which was a terrible attempt at mimicking American R&B. The album, entitled STYLE, was a fresh take on her flailing JUrban status which reseated her on the charts at a healthy #3.

By 2004, she had started her single buildup to her newest effort, the smash hit Queen of Hip-Pop, arguably her best album since her debut Sweet 19 Blues in 1996. The first single, ALARM was unmemorable, but the ballad ALL FOR YOU, reversed her trend in declining sales and reestablished her popularity. After this well-received effort, she teamed up with hit-making duo, T.Kura and Michico who wrote her first true hit single since 2000’s NEVER END, the up tempo GIRL TALK, which drew in her estranged fan base and gave the artist her first #1 single since 1998. The sexually aggressive WANT ME, WANT ME also drew in a more varied crowd with her first club banger with the hint of bhangra. With the release of Queen of Hip-Hop in 2005, Amuro saw a resurge in sales and popularity, her album debuting at #2 and achieving Double Platinum status within the year.

Soon after, riding the wave of renewed interest, she released the double A-side White Light / Violet Sauce, one a Christmas ballad and the other the sexually ambiguous “sauce” song she is famous for in the JPop community which was used for the Sin City release in Japan. The single, despite the renewed interest failed to live up to its predecessors with disappointing sales. She would release another single, another double A-side: CAN’T SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’M SICK / Ningyo. The single debuted at #2 with a popular video with choreography by famed American choreographer Shawnette Heard. It would be almost a year, January of 2007, before Amuro would release another single. Baby Don’t Cry by JUrban mastermind Nao’ymt would give Amuro her best opening sales since 2001. The song was a huge success and was used in multiple commercials and was the theme song to a popular television drama. The next single, FUNKY TOWN would once again disappoint in physical sales but with a popular music video made good digital sales. The album PLAY completely reinitialized Amuro’s popularity, staying at #1 for two straight weeks in the summer of 2007. The album spawned a hugely popular recut single, Hide & Seek, which won a the MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video. The album has since gone Double Platinum.

One single led up to the release of BEST FICTION, the critically acclaimed 60s 70s 80s which gave Amuro her first #1 single since 1998’s I Have Never Seen. The decadal music revue covered songs by The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, and Irene Cara with a decidedly modern twist. With the release of BEST FICTION, Amuro brought another hit single by Nao’ymt to the radio, Do Me More which helped sales of the album top the one million mark within three weeks and is the world-wide third best opening sales of any female artist, behind Britney Spears and Taylor Swift. BEST FICTION spent a grand total of six weeks at #1 (the first female artist to accomplish this feat since 1979). Among other awards, BEST FICTION has the prestigious place of being chosen as Best Album at the 50th annual Japan Record Awards.

In short, Namie seriously came back this year in a big way. No half-assed performances on Good Morning America or staged mockumentaries, Amuro did it by the sweat of her brow and the immense talent that lies in her astonishingly small 5′2″ figure. And best of all, she deserves it.

Close your eyes and think of 5 things that represents a city you know of, but have never visited. This is the challenge we gave Hirai san our friend and customer form Japan. He is visiting Copenhagen next week and will attend our Party on the 17^th… we can’t wait to change his inner view on Copenhagen. See how Hirai San views our City prior to his first visit.  

The dolls shown on this page were made by a talented kokeshi collector named Roslina who chose to take up the craft herself. Her dolls are beautiful with a very unique and interesting form. The rounded heads are especially appealing and it is clear from the doll’s happy expessions that Roslina really enjoys her work! Thank you for sharing your dolls with us , Roslina.

Description

Tiny (please see size information below) hand-painted wooden Daruma figurine.  The little Daruma-san is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling and past display.  This Daruma figure is less than 30 years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 0.6 inches (1.6 centimeters)
Weight: 0.04 ounces (1 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R2S4-0004161
ship code: L1650

Description

Tiny (please see size information below) hand-painted wooden Daruma figurine.  The little Daruma-san is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling and past display.  This Daruma figure is less than 30 years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 0.6 inches (1.6 centimeters)
Weight: 0.04 ounces (1 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R2S4-0004161
ship code: L1650

Description

Tiny (please see size information below) hand-painted wooden Daruma figurine.  The little Daruma-san is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling and past display.  This Daruma figure is less than 30 years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 0.6 inches (1.6 centimeters)
Weight: 0.04 ounces (1 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R2S4-0004160
ship code: L1650

Description

Tiny (please see size information below) hand-painted wooden Daruma figurine.  The little Daruma-san is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling and past display.  This Daruma figure is less than 30 years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 0.6 inches (1.6 centimeters)
Weight: 0.04 ounces (1 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R2S4-0004160
ship code: L1650

Description

Tiny (please see size information below) hand-painted wooden Daruma figurine.  The little Daruma-san is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling and past display.  This Daruma figure is less than 30 years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 0.7 inches (1.7 centimeters)
Weight: 0.4 ounces (1 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R2S4-0004159
ship code: L1650

Description

Tiny (please see size information below) hand-painted wooden Daruma figurine.  The little Daruma-san is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling and past display.  This Daruma figure is less than 30 years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 0.7 inches (1.7 centimeters)
Weight: 0.4 ounces (1 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R2S4-0004159
ship code: L1650

Description

Tiny (please see size information below) hand-painted wooden Daruma figurine.  The little Daruma-san is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling and past display.  This Daruma figure is less than 30 years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 0.8 inches (2.0 centimeters)
Weight: 0.1 ounces (3 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R2S4-0004158
ship code: L1650

Description

Tiny (please see size information below) hand-painted wooden Daruma figurine.  The little Daruma-san is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling and past display.  This Daruma figure is less than 30 years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 0.8 inches (2.0 centimeters)
Weight: 0.1 ounces (3 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R2S4-0004158
ship code: L1650

Description

Tiny (please see size information below) hand-painted wooden Daruma figurine.  The little Daruma-san is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling and past display.  This Daruma figure is less than 30 years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 0.8 inches (2.0 centimeters)
 Weight: 0.1 ounces (3 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R2S4-0004157
 ship code: L1650

Description

Lovely pink Japanese wooden kokeshi doll with artist’s signature on bottom.  This pretty doll is less than 40 years old and is in poor condition with marks and scratches from handling and discoloration and stains from age and display.  Please read below to learn about the history of kokeshi dolls, one of Japan’s most unique and distinctive folk crafts.

Size:
Height: 6.8 inches (17.5 centimeters)
Weight: 3.7 ounces (107 grams)

Important note:
Images of the kokeshi we list are often uploaded to our Japan Vintage Kokeshi Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting kokeshi dolls.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful dolls we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a kokeshi from us and do not want a digital copy of your doll displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the image.

Click here to see more kokeshi!
Click here to see other Japanese dolls!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Kokeshi

Kokeshi wooden dolls are one of the most unique and interesting of Japan’s many traditional folk crafts.  Originating in the early 19th century in the northern spa towns of Miyagi prefecture, kokeshi are thought to have first been produced as toys for children from leftover bits of scrap wood.  These early dolls were made by craftsmen who earned their living producing other types of woodcraft, but who eventually began to create kokeshi to be sold as souvenirs in the area’s many local hot spring resorts.  Over time the craft was refined, with many regional varieties appearing reflecting a wide range of technical and artistic variation.  Today there are several schools of kokeshi design led by master craftsmen who often pass their trade to succeeding generations within their own family.

When collecting kokeshi it is important to note that you will likely encounter two main types; dolls which are made by artists and those which are mass-produced to be sold as souvenirs.  The former are usually one-of-a-kind originals created by dedicated artisans who take their work very seriously and place great emphasis on traditional design and appearance.  The other type of kokeshi are those which are manufactured specifically to be sold as souvenirs of famous or interesting places such as resorts or hot springs.  These are produced en-mass, and while often attractive and interesting memorabilia they are not as frequently sought after by collectors and usually command a lower selling price.  How can you determine if a kokeshi is an ‘artist’ or ‘craftsman’ style doll?  This is actually quite easy as artist dolls are normally signed (on the bottom) by the maker, and may have no other writing on the body of the doll besides decorative calligraphy.  Souvenir types on the other hand are normally unsigned and may have the name of the place which sold them conspicuously visible on the body of the doll.  Collectors of Kokeshi typically place special emphasis on the facial quality of the dolls, desiring certain types – gentle or mischievous for example – over others.  One interesting Japanese Kokeshi collector we previously met expressed a preference for newer dolls over older ones, fearing the older dolls may be haunted.

item code: R4S4-0004545
ship code: L1650

Description

Lovely pink Japanese wooden kokeshi doll with artist’s signature on bottom.  This pretty doll is less than 40 years old and is in poor condition with marks and scratches from handling and discoloration and stains from age and display.  Please read below to learn about the history of kokeshi dolls, one of Japan’s most unique and distinctive folk crafts.

Size:
Height: 6.8 inches (17.5 centimeters)
Weight: 3.7 ounces (107 grams)

Important note:
Images of the kokeshi we list are often uploaded to our Japan Vintage Kokeshi Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting kokeshi dolls.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful dolls we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a kokeshi from us and do not want a digital copy of your doll displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the image.

Click here to see more kokeshi!
Click here to see other Japanese dolls!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Kokeshi

Kokeshi wooden dolls are one of the most unique and interesting of Japan’s many traditional folk crafts.  Originating in the early 19th century in the northern spa towns of Miyagi prefecture, kokeshi are thought to have first been produced as toys for children from leftover bits of scrap wood.  These early dolls were made by craftsmen who earned their living producing other types of woodcraft, but who eventually began to create kokeshi to be sold as souvenirs in the area’s many local hot spring resorts.  Over time the craft was refined, with many regional varieties appearing reflecting a wide range of technical and artistic variation.  Today there are several schools of kokeshi design led by master craftsmen who often pass their trade to succeeding generations within their own family.

When collecting kokeshi it is important to note that you will likely encounter two main types; dolls which are made by artists and those which are mass-produced to be sold as souvenirs.  The former are usually one-of-a-kind originals created by dedicated artisans who take their work very seriously and place great emphasis on traditional design and appearance.  The other type of kokeshi are those which are manufactured specifically to be sold as souvenirs of famous or interesting places such as resorts or hot springs.  These are produced en-mass, and while often attractive and interesting memorabilia they are not as frequently sought after by collectors and usually command a lower selling price.  How can you determine if a kokeshi is an ‘artist’ or ‘craftsman’ style doll?  This is actually quite easy as artist dolls are normally signed (on the bottom) by the maker, and may have no other writing on the body of the doll besides decorative calligraphy.  Souvenir types on the other hand are normally unsigned and may have the name of the place which sold them conspicuously visible on the body of the doll.  Collectors of Kokeshi typically place special emphasis on the facial quality of the dolls, desiring certain types – gentle or mischievous for example – over others.  One interesting Japanese Kokeshi collector we previously met expressed a preference for newer dolls over older ones, fearing the older dolls may be haunted.

item code: R4S4-0004545
ship code: L1650

Description

Interesting Japanese wooden kokeshi doll set with ceramic bodies shaped like Japanese sake flasks (tokkuri).  This unique doll is less than 40 years old and is in fair condition with marks and scratches from handling and discoloration and stains from age and display.  Please read below to learn about the history of kokeshi dolls, one of Japan’s most unique and distinctive folk crafts.

Size:
Height of taller doll (excluding display base): 4.5 inches (11.5 centimeters)
Weight: 5.9 ounces (168 grams)

Important note:
Images of the kokeshi we list are often uploaded to our Japan Vintage Kokeshi Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting kokeshi dolls.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful dolls we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a kokeshi from us and do not want a digital copy of your doll displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the image.

Click here to see more kokeshi!
Click here to see other Japanese dolls!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Kokeshi

Kokeshi wooden dolls are one of the most unique and interesting of Japan’s many traditional folk crafts.  Originating in the early 19th century in the northern spa towns of Miyagi prefecture, kokeshi are thought to have first been produced as toys for children from leftover bits of scrap wood.  These early dolls were made by craftsmen who earned their living producing other types of woodcraft, but who eventually began to create kokeshi to be sold as souvenirs in the area’s many local hot spring resorts.  Over time the craft was refined, with many regional varieties appearing reflecting a wide range of technical and artistic variation.  Today there are several schools of kokeshi design led by master craftsmen who often pass their trade to succeeding generations within their own family.

When collecting kokeshi it is important to note that you will likely encounter two main types; dolls which are made by artists and those which are mass-produced to be sold as souvenirs.  The former are usually one-of-a-kind originals created by dedicated artisans who take their work very seriously and place great emphasis on traditional design and appearance.  The other type of kokeshi are those which are manufactured specifically to be sold as souvenirs of famous or interesting places such as resorts or hot springs.  These are produced en-mass, and while often attractive and interesting memorabilia they are not as frequently sought after by collectors and usually command a lower selling price.  How can you determine if a kokeshi is an ‘artist’ or ‘craftsman’ style doll?  This is actually quite easy as artist dolls are normally signed (on the bottom) by the maker, and may have no other writing on the body of the doll besides decorative calligraphy.  Souvenir types on the other hand are normally unsigned and may have the name of the place which sold them conspicuously visible on the body of the doll.  Collectors of Kokeshi typically place special emphasis on the facial quality of the dolls, desiring certain types – gentle or mischievous for example – over others.  One interesting Japanese Kokeshi collector we previously met expressed a preference for newer dolls over older ones, fearing the older dolls may be haunted.

item code: R4S4-0004544
ship code: L1650

Description

Interesting Japanese wooden kokeshi doll set with ceramic bodies shaped like Japanese sake flasks (tokkuri).  This unique doll is less than 40 years old and is in fair condition with marks and scratches from handling and discoloration and stains from age and display.  Please read below to learn about the history of kokeshi dolls, one of Japan’s most unique and distinctive folk crafts.

Size:
Height of taller doll (excluding display base): 4.5 inches (11.5 centimeters)
Weight: 5.9 ounces (168 grams)

Important note:
Images of the kokeshi we list are often uploaded to our Japan Vintage Kokeshi Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting kokeshi dolls.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful dolls we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a kokeshi from us and do not want a digital copy of your doll displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the image.

Click here to see more kokeshi!
Click here to see other Japanese dolls!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Kokeshi

Kokeshi wooden dolls are one of the most unique and interesting of Japan’s many traditional folk crafts.  Originating in the early 19th century in the northern spa towns of Miyagi prefecture, kokeshi are thought to have first been produced as toys for children from leftover bits of scrap wood.  These early dolls were made by craftsmen who earned their living producing other types of woodcraft, but who eventually began to create kokeshi to be sold as souvenirs in the area’s many local hot spring resorts.  Over time the craft was refined, with many regional varieties appearing reflecting a wide range of technical and artistic variation.  Today there are several schools of kokeshi design led by master craftsmen who often pass their trade to succeeding generations within their own family.

When collecting kokeshi it is important to note that you will likely encounter two main types; dolls which are made by artists and those which are mass-produced to be sold as souvenirs.  The former are usually one-of-a-kind originals created by dedicated artisans who take their work very seriously and place great emphasis on traditional design and appearance.  The other type of kokeshi are those which are manufactured specifically to be sold as souvenirs of famous or interesting places such as resorts or hot springs.  These are produced en-mass, and while often attractive and interesting memorabilia they are not as frequently sought after by collectors and usually command a lower selling price.  How can you determine if a kokeshi is an ‘artist’ or ‘craftsman’ style doll?  This is actually quite easy as artist dolls are normally signed (on the bottom) by the maker, and may have no other writing on the body of the doll besides decorative calligraphy.  Souvenir types on the other hand are normally unsigned and may have the name of the place which sold them conspicuously visible on the body of the doll.  Collectors of Kokeshi typically place special emphasis on the facial quality of the dolls, desiring certain types – gentle or mischievous for example – over others.  One interesting Japanese Kokeshi collector we previously met expressed a preference for newer dolls over older ones, fearing the older dolls may be haunted.

item code: R4S4-0004544
ship code: L1650