Overview
For centuries, Daruma dolls have been popular in Japan as talismans to bring good fortune. The largest producer of Daruma dolls in Japan is Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, where there are about 40 workshops. The nearby city of Kiryu has a different good-luck charm: decorated rakes that are sold at fairs. A famous local specialty is Himokawa udon: the noodles are cut extra-long and wide as a wish for longevity. Euan Craig is an Australian potter and longtime Gunma resident. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, he digs deep into the history and culture of these talismans and meets some of the people who produce them.
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16 - 1The Mountain Spirit of Shiiba Village February 04, 2025 -
16 - 2Kyushu: Land of Samurai Swords February 18, 2025 -
16 - 3Enku's 120,000 Smiles Over Gifu February 25, 2025 -
16 - 4Hokuriku 1: Foods and Flavors of the Trading Ships March 04, 2025 -
16 - 5 -
16 - 6Gunma: Raking in Good Luck March 18, 2025 -
16 - 7Hida: Deep Winter Escape March 25, 2025 -
16 - 8Hokkaido Sapporo: Sensing the City Through Its Architecture April 01, 2025 -
16 - 9NIIGATA: SNOW COUNTRY WONDERLAND April 15, 2025 -
16 - 10Wakayama: The Cradle of Japan's Flavors May 13, 2025 -
16 - 11Kure Port, Kochi — The Lure of Katsuo May 27, 2025 -
16 - 12Izu Peninsula: Volcanic Beauty June 10, 2025 -
16 - 13Nagaoka: Water, the Wellspring of Abundance June 24, 2025 -
16 - 14Matagi: Yamagata’s Spiritual Hunter-Gatherers July 01, 2025 -
16 - 15Nishio: Whisking up the Global Matcha Boom July 08, 2025 -
16 - 16Tochigi: Life Away from the Sea July 22, 2025 -
16 - 17Okinawa: A World in Bloom August 05, 2025 -
16 - 18With Isabella Bird — Part 6: On the Road to Biratori August 12, 2025 -
16 - 19SHAKOTAN: Out of the Blue, Into the Flames August 19, 2025 -
16 - 20The Ontake Kodo Path to Sacred Peak September 16, 2025 -
16 - 21Mishima: Festival Rhythms Run Deep September 30, 2025 -
16 - 22Higashikawa: Picture-Perfect Town October 14, 2025 -
16 - 23Kochi Shimanto River: Pristine Water and Premium Fishing October 28, 2025 -
16 - 24Discovering Japan's Hidden Christians November 18, 2025 -
16 - 25Hiking the San'in Coast: Tottori November 25, 2025 -
16 - 26Unearthing a Love for Seto December 16, 2025 -
16 - 27SHIMANE: In Search of Izumo's Gardens Past and Present December 23, 2025