Hime Daruma (Princess Daruma Dolls)
Hime Daruma (Princess Daruma Dolls of Matsuyama)
Hime Daruma are good-luck folk toys handed down in Dogo, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture. They take the form of a plump figure in a red robe and are said to be associated with the legend that Empress Jingu conceived Emperor Ojin at Dogo Onsen. As charms for safe childbirth, the blessing of children and finding a good match, they have been given as gifts to celebrate weddings, births and new homes. The traditional hariko (papier-mâché) Hime Daruma is said to have been devised in the early Meiji period by Ryomura Kurazo, and the fifth generation of the Ryomura family still makes them by hand today. The body is hariko made of layered washi, and a face of unglazed fired clay is set into it. In the 1950s, Kinran Hime Daruma, whose robes are represented with gold brocade (kinran) fabric, also appeared and became widely known as a Matsuyama souvenir. In 2002 (Heisei 14), Hime Daruma was designated a Traditional Specialty Product (designated by Ehime Prefecture). In Matsuyama City, visitors can also try making Hime Daruma.
Origin
There are various theories about the origin of Hime Daruma. A commonly told legend is that they were made to commemorate Empress Jingu stopping at Dogo Onsen and conceiving the future Emperor Ojin. Some say they represent the empress during her pregnancy, while others say they represent the newborn Emperor Ojin. The paired 'Nishiki Daruma' is also said to represent the empress dressed as a man on her way to battle.
History
The hariko Hime Daruma is said to have been devised by Ryomura Kurazo in the early Meiji period and sold as a good-luck charm at shrines. In the 1950s, production began of Kinran Hime Daruma using gold brocade fabric. Their process was devised to be simpler to make than hariko, sales peaked in the 1960s, and it has been reported that at the height of their popularity there were more than 40 workshops in Matsuyama. At the time of the Crown Prince's wedding in the late 1950s, a large Hime Daruma was presented to the Shoda family, which is said to have made them known throughout Japan.
Features
For the hariko Hime Daruma, the body is made of washi hariko, and a separately made face of unglazed fired clay is set into it. Hoju (sacred jewels) are painted on the top of the head and on the chest, accompanied by gold-painted patterns. Because everything is done by hand, each one differs slightly in shape and expression. Sizes range from small pieces about 4.5 cm tall to large ones displayed as a pair.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Making Paste and Kami-gonashi
The work begins with making homemade paste from wheat flour. Sheets of paper are pasted together and softened in a step called 'kami-gonashi' so that they conform easily to the mold. Every step of the Ryomura family's hariko Hime Daruma is done by hand.
- 2
Pasting onto the Mold
The softened paper is pasted onto a mold to form the daruma's body. Once dry, it is removed from the mold and its shape is adjusted. 両村信恵, the fifth generation, is said to make the hariko using molds handed down in the family.
- 3
Painting and Drawing Patterns
The body is painted red and the patterns of the robe are drawn. Hoju are painted on the top of the head and on the chest, and gold-painted patterns are carefully added. The red robe is the part that defines the impression of the Hime Daruma, which is said to represent the empress's plump figure.
- 4
Making the Face and Painting the Expression
The face is made of clay, fired unglazed, and then painted. Finally, the expression is painted in and the face is set into the body to finish. Even when made from the same mold, each figure has a different expression.
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Artisans & Workshops
五代目 両村信恵（両村家）
The fifth generation of the family descended from Ryomura Kurazo, who is said to have devised the hariko Hime Daruma in the early Meiji period. Everything, from making the paste to painting the expressions, is done by hand. The dolls are said to be sold through only a very limited number of outlets.
大勝（田中勝美）
A maker born in Matsuyama City in 1938 (Showa 13) who has continued making Hime Daruma for more than 40 years. In March 2002 (Heisei 14), the maker was certified as an Ehime Traditional Craftsperson. Works carry a maker's tag reading '大勝作.'
How to Buy
- 港や (shop for Hime Daruma and Japanese goods)
- A shop listed in Ehime Prefecture materials as the contact for Hime Daruma. It carries Hime Daruma by Ehime Traditional Craftsperson 大勝; a pair in size No. 3 is 7,700 yen and size No. 1 is 13,200 yen (tax included). A size No. 4 female figure on its own is listed at 1,650 yen.Where to buy →PR
- 旅猫雑貨店 (online)
- An online shop that carries hariko Hime Daruma made by the fifth-generation Ryomura. The smallest, size No. 6 (about 4.5 cm tall), was listed at 1,320 yen (tax included). Because they are handmade, there are times when they are out of stock.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
Art Labo KASURI
愛媛県松山市大街道3-8-1
Visitors can make Hime Daruma using a dedicated kit. The fee is said to be 1,600 yen per person, taking about 60 minutes for two people. It is for ages 5 and up, and children must be accompanied by a guardian. A plan using Iyo Kasuri fabric is also offered.
FAQ
Q. What is the difference between Hime Daruma and Nishiki Daruma?
A. The plump Hime Daruma in a red robe is said to represent Empress Jingu during her pregnancy. The paired Nishiki Daruma is also said to represent the empress dressed as a man on her way to battle. They are often sold as a set to be displayed as a pair.
Q. How do hariko Hime Daruma and Kinran Hime Daruma differ?
A. Hariko Hime Daruma are made with the traditional method said to date from the early Meiji period, with layers of washi pasted onto the body. Kinran Hime Daruma began to be made in the 1950s; their robes are represented with gold brocade fabric, and they were devised to be simpler to make than hariko.
Q. Where can I buy Hime Daruma?
A. At 港や in Matsuyama City, works by an Ehime Traditional Craftsperson can be ordered online or by phone. Goods featuring 'Ai-chan,' a Hime Daruma character created by 港や, are also sold at places such as Matsuyama Airport, some hotels in Dogo and the Iyonada Service Area.