Prime Minister Narendra Modi was gifted a Daruma Doll, a traditional Japanese symbol of good luck, during his visit to Tokyo on Friday. Rev Seishi Hirose, chief priest of the Shorinzan Daruma-Ji Temple, presented the doll to Modi as part of his engagements in Japan. The Prime Minister is on a two-day official trip, which also includes attending the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit.
The Daruma Doll is a hollow, round, Japanese traditional doll modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen school of Buddhism. Typically red in color but available in different designs depending on the artist, the doll represents the Japanese idiom “fall down seven times, get up eight”.
Regarded as a good luck charm, the Daruma Doll is often used for goal-setting. Traditionally, one eye is filled in when a personal goal is set, while the second is completed upon achieving it. This serves as a constant reminder to strive toward fulfillment.
Modi’s Meetings with Former Japanese Leaders
Alongside his ceremonial engagements, Modi also held talks with Japan’s former prime ministers Yoshihide Suga and Fumio Kishida.
Speaking about his meeting with Yoshihide Suga, Modi wrote on X, “I had a very good meeting with Mr. Yoshihide Suga, former Prime Minister of Japan and Chairperson of the Japan-India Association. We spoke about the many dimensions of India-Japan cooperation and how we can further deepen it. Our discussions covered how to build closer collaboration, including in technology, AI, trade, investment and beyond.”
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On his meeting with Fumio Kishida, Modi added, “Had a wonderful meeting with the former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Fumio Kishida. He has always been a great advocate of closer India-Japan relations. We discussed the progress in our bilateral partnership across trade, critical technologies and human resource mobility. We also discussed the vast potential in emerging areas such as technology and semiconductors.”
Later, addressing the India-Japan Economic Forum, Modi called for deeper cooperation in manufacturing, technology, innovation, green energy, and skill development. He emphasized the synergy between the two nations, saying, “Japan’s excellence and India’s scale can create a perfect partnership.”
