Daruma Doll
#RoadtoTokyo
In the media meeting photos for these tournaments you will have seen an extra guest. Sat in the centre of the room was the trophy for the event, a Japanese Daruma doll which is to be award to the winning teams in Apeldoorn and Berlin.
It is a hollow, round, Japanese traditional doll modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen tradition of Buddhism. The Daruma has a design that is rich in symbolism and is regarded as a talisman of good luck to the Japanese.
Daruma dolls are seen as a symbol of perseverance, good luck and stand for encouragement. It was first made hundreds of years ago in Japan and it is used in a special way to help its owners achieve their goals.
Because of its round shape, Daruma can bring itself to its upright position whenever it falls. This relates to the Japanese saying “Nanakorobi-yaoki”, which translates to “Fall 7 times, rise 8 times”.
The Daruma will be given as a gift to congratulate the winning teams for their successful qualification to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. It is a lucky charm to support their team on their path to Tokyo as they compete on the ultimate sporting stage.