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Political charms
Daruma doll artisan Sumikazu Nakata holds up one of the figurines at his Daimonya studio in Takasaki, north of Tokyo, yesterday. The daruma-doll industry is getting busy prior to the Sept. 11 parliamentary elections. It is a Japanese tradition to paint a black pupil in the left eye of the daruma after entrusting wishes to it. If the wish is fulfilled, the other pupil is added. A symbol of good luck and protection in Japan, daruma dolls are used by election candidates during their campaigning. Politicians mainly purchase 75cm-high daruma at prices exceeding ?30,000 (US$272).
PHOTO: EPA
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