Imai Daruma NAYA
Home of Japan’s artisanal DARUMA dolls, with over two hundred years of heritage, from Takasaki, Gunma.
Imai Daruma NAYA was established by the Imai family more than 90 years ago in Toyoka, Takasaki, the top daruma-producing region of Japan. With Hirohisa Imai, chief craftsman and the third generation owner of Imai Daruma NAYA at the helm, our mission is to constantly create new and modern daruma styles while preserving and protecting traditional techniques. The term “NAYA” comes from the Japanese words “na” for seven and “ya” for eight. It’s a reference to the Zen proverb: “Fall down seven times, get up eight.” As lucky talismans, the daruma reminds us that to fall is not to fail — it’s an opportunity to get up for a fresh start. Our artisans uphold time-honored crafting techniques, faithfully using authentic materials to hand-craft classic and contemporary Takasaki Daruma dolls. Each daruma is individually made with recycled paper papier-mache and clay soil, before being hand-painted with naturally derived pigments. Our dedication to the tradition of daruma also includes promoting the centuries-old craft to new generations and introducing new designs to keep the custom relevant and alive.