Overview

• Rev Seishi Hirose, chief priest of Shorinzan Daruma‑ji Temple in Takasaki, gifted the traditional talisman to the prime minister on August 29.
• Modi thanked Hirose on X, describing Daruma as a key Japanese cultural symbol with an Indian connection.
• The papier‑mâché figure is weighted to spring upright and is used for goal‑setting by painting one eye when a goal is set and the other when it is achieved.
• The motif is linked to Bodhidharma of Kancheepuram—revered in Japan as Daruma Daishi—highlighting shared Buddhist heritage.
• The presentation occurred during the 15th India–Japan Annual Summit in Tokyo, where discussions covered trade, technology, semiconductors, green energy and human resource mobility.