A lively traditional event has returned to the town of Futaba after a long absence following the evacuation of the town after the earthquake and nuclear accident of March 2011. The Daruma (Dharma) Market is a major New Year’s event that has been held for some 300 years, based around the sales of brightly colored daruma dolls. These dolls are good luck talismans modeled after a zen Buddhist monk, and usually come with one eye unpainted. The eye is painted in with a wish to reach a certain life goal, a reminder to follow one’s dreams. The specially designed Futaba Daruma sold at market stalls comes in two types: one is adorned with the town symbol in gold, and the other features a blue border around its face and motifs of cherry blossoms and pheasant wings. A highlight of the event is the giant daruma pull, in which participants pull ropes attached to a large daruma doll. According to tradition, a bountiful harvest is the reward if the north side wins, while a prosperous business year is on tap if the south side is victorious. The event was held in Futaba in January 2023 for the first time in 12 years. It has been held by supporters in Iwaki since the evacuation, so the return to its hometown is a symbol of the community’s hopes for recovery and reconstruction.