This work depicts a daruma. A daruma is a traditional Japanese doll whose figure is based on the Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism. Daruma are often depicted in this roundish shape because of a legend that the Bodhidharma stared at a wall in intense meditation for nine years, until both his arms and legs fell off. Daruma are traditionally depicted in red, but can appear in various colors with different meanings. They are considered good luck figures.
This top depicts Momotarō, sometimes translated as “The Peach Boy,” or “Peach Tarō,” a legendary figure originating in the Edo period (1600-1868). In many versions of the Momotarō legend, Momotarō is a boy who came to Earth inside a giant peach who is discovered by an elderly couple who then raise him. He later leaves his home to fight a band of demons on a distant island, meeting a talking dog, a monkey, and a pheasant on the way who joint him in his quest. Most versions of the legend end with Momotarō defeating the demons, taking their treasure and their chief captive, and then returning home to live happily ever after with his parents.
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Hiroi Michiaki: And this is, did this one have two faces? He’s facing backwards, and there’s another [face] in the front. This is Momotarō on the back, too. And he’s carrying dango (dumplings). Ahh, there it is, there it is. He’s carrying dango, Momotarō, too. And this is the back of the oni. I think the front is in here somewhere, too. This the reverse side of Momotarō.
This top depicts Momotarō, sometimes translated as “The Peach Boy,” or “Peach Tarō,” a legendary figure originating in the Edo period (1600-1868). In many versions of the Momotarō legend, Momotarō is a boy who came to Earth inside a giant peach who is discovered by an elderly couple who then raise him. He later leaves his home to fight a band of demons on a distant island, meeting a talking dog, a monkey, and a pheasant on the way who joint him in his quest. Most versions of the legend end with Momotarō defeating the demons, taking their treasure and their chief captive, and then returning home to live happily ever after with his parents.
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Hiroi Michiaki: And this is, did this one have two faces? He’s facing backwards, and there’s another [face] in the front. This is Momotarō on the back, too. And he’s carrying dango (dumplings). Ahh, there it is, there it is. He’s carrying dango, Momotarō, too. And this is the back of the oni. I think the front is in here somewhere, too. This the reverse side of Momotarō.
This top depicts a rabbit dressed as a clown beating a drum. It is called “rabbit antics” because of the whimsical image of a rabbit pretending to be a clown. Hiroi-sensei made it in honor of the year of the rabbit.
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Hiroi Michiaki: This is called “rabbit antics.” I made it in the year of the rabbit, so I made it a rabbit. The hands move in this kind of way. The hands are moving back and forth. When you spin this. Though really what the “rabbit antics” are is the rabbit is dressed as a clown.
This top depicts an oni from the Momotarō legend, which originates from the Edo period (1600-1868). Oni are a kind of supernatural monster from Japanese folklore, often translated as “demon” or “ogre.” In many versions of the Momotarō legend, Momotarō, who is a boy who came to Earth inside a giant peach, later leaves the home of the elderly couple who raised him to fight a band of demons on a distant island. Most versions of the legend end with Momotarō defeating the demons and living happily ever after with his parents.
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Hiroi Michiaki: This is an oni and Momotarō. I think there was another one that goes with this.