Photo of daruma dolls from the collection of Itske and Anthony Stern. This photo was presented during a public program, Kokeshi: Not Just a Toy!, at the Japanese American National Museum on July 25, 2009 in conjunction with the Kokeshi: From Folk Art to Art Toy exhibition on display from July 11 through October 4, 2009.

Accompanying text from the original PowerPoint slide:

These wonderful little men are also made by kokeshi makers and some are made as toys. The daruma legend came from India and it is about a man who sat on a wall and worried about the problems of the world. He lost his legs from non use and his arms are folded around himself under his gown. They are such wonderful creatures!! The ones with the spinning tops are used as dice, and this is indicated by the numbers and directions (e.g. North/south/east/west) painted on the top. When the spinning top stops and tilts, it is read like a dice.

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COPYRIGHT 2005 - ITSKE STERN