SENDAI MID STATION

Sendai Papier-Mâché & Matsukawa Daruma [Sendai City, Miyagi]

The Matsukawa Daruma, famed as the "Blue Daruma"

AbelovedSendaigoodluckcharm,the"MatsukawaDaruma"watchesoverourliveswithitsstrongyetendearinggazeTheMatsukawaDarumawasfirstcraftedduringtheTenpoerabySendaidomainsamuraiToyonoshinMatsukawatobringcomforttothecommonpeopleRowsoftheseDarumadolls,offeredatNewYear’svisitsandthe"Dontosai"festivalstalls,havebecomeafamiliarsightandacherishedNewYear’straditionforSendairesidents
AmongSendai'straditionalpapiermâchéfigures,suchas"Sparrow,""ChildRidingaCow,"andtheaffectionate"MarriedCoupleFukusuke,"the"MatsukawaDaruma"standsasthemosticonicItsuniquedesign,witharich,luxuriousdecorationfeaturingadeepindigooutlinearoundthefaceandsymbolslikethetreasureshipandgodsoffortune,exudesthe"Date"culturalstyleofSendaiwhichsetsitapartfromotherDarumaCraftedbyhand,eachMatsukawaDarumaismadewithSendai'sYanagiuWashipaperandappliedtowoodenmoldsMostoftheprocess,includingshapingthebaseandaddingclayforstability,isstilldonebyhand,followingtechniquespasseddownthroughgenerationsEachDarumahasauniquefacialexpression,addingtothewarmthandcharmthatonlyhandmadecraftscanprovide