Overview

• Chief priest Rev Seishi Hirose of Shorinzan Daruma‑ji Temple presented the doll to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tokyo on Friday during his two‑day visit for the 15th India–Japan Annual Summit.
• The hollow, weighted figure symbolizes perseverance, resilience and good fortune, bouncing back upright to embody the saying “fall down seven times, get up eight.”
• Owners traditionally paint one eye when setting a goal and complete the second eye upon achievement, making it a common ritual in Japanese civic, business and personal life.
• Shorinzan Daruma‑ji in Takasaki is widely regarded as the cradle of the modern tradition and hosts annual festivals dedicated to the dolls.
• Reports framed the gift as a blessing and a sign of strengthening ties as Modi met former prime ministers Yoshihide Suga and Fumio Kishida and prepared for talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.