My XL nanoblock Daruma and Fukusuke

Here is my extra large nanoblock Daruma and Fukusuke that was specially commissioned for my exhibition in Liang Court mall in Singapore recently =)

The Daruma doll, also known as a Dharma doll, is a hollow, round, Japanese traditional doll modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism. These dolls, though typically red and depicting a bearded man (Dharma), vary greatly in color and design depending on region and artist. Though considered an omocha, meaning toy, Daruma has a design that is rich in symbolism and is regarded more as a talisman of good luck to the Japanese. Daruma dolls are seen as a symbol of perseverance and good luck, making them a popular gift of encouragement. - From Wikipedia

A Fukusuke doll is the depiction of a man kneeling seiza style, with a large head and a topknot. It was originally a doll enshrined in tea houses in the Edo period to bring good luck. In those days, it was considered that Fukusuke would bring "perennial youth, wealth and honor." - From Wikipedia

nanoblock Fukusuke Review

Reviewed by StealthEagle

Name: Fukusuke

Japanese name: 福助

Category: Mini Collections

Level: 2

Item Code: NBC_102

Fukusuke is a traditional china doll in Japan commonly associated with bringing good luck and prosperity to people and businesses. He is also one of the auspicious icons of the Japanese New Year. You can read more about Fukusuke by clicking here. 

Contents of the Package

I was attracted by the vibrant colours of the packaging and the blocks inside, and so I decided to get it as a future reference for creating human figures.

For someone who is out of the collecting scene, I was happy to see that the instructions are big enough so anyone doesn’t have to use a magnifying glass to read. There is a block count for each step so you can pick out the required blocks before building; I guess Kawada learnt some stuff from Lego.

There was one thing that puzzled me the most; no base plate was included.

360° of the completed model

My only complaint about this build was how difficult the first 2 steps were; it was very annoying to see blocks of the 1st layer shifted when I tried building the second layer. After getting the first few hurdles, everything went smoothly.

I love how the distinctive appearance like the shape and colours of Fukusuke’s kamishimo is captured beautifully in blocky style. If I don’t know the name of this little charm, I would have thought he is a caricature of a old Japanese cartoon .

As usual, Kawada is very generous on giving lots of extra blocks although there is very use of them unless I dissembled the Fukusuke model.

Extra flesh coloured and special blocks after building

I would like to see more of these Japanese lucky charms by Kawada in the future. Not only these are fun to collect, they are also educational to people who are interested in the culture of Japan.

Thanks to StealthEagle for this review.

NEW! nanoblock White Horse & Fukusuke

Hi guys, there are two new nanoblock set arrivals for the new year, the White Horse and Fukusuke. If there is enough interest in them, I will arrange a group buy. Buy 2 or more at RM30 each (Normal Price: RM35.90) and FREE shipping in Malaysia. If you are interested, just leave a message over here with which/how many you want