Daruma dolls are considered to be an important part of New Year celebrations in Japan. It is believed to be a symbol of good luck and fortune. During their first visit to the shrine that year, people would buy daruma dolls, have them blessed and return their old dolls for ceremonial burning.

To start my bento series for the year I decided to make a Daruma bento. Daruma dolls are usually made out of paper mache. It comes in only one shape but in various sizes. It is traditionally red in color but nowadays you can find it other colors too like purple, white, yellow and gold.

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To make my daruma onigiri I used deco furi to color my rice red and used some cheese and nori strips for the facial details. For the sides I added rolled omelet, some chinese sausage, chicken kaarage and some diced cantaloupe and tomato.

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